JIM Magilton faces an anxious wait to find out if he will win the race to become QPR manager.

JIM Magilton faces an anxious wait to find out if he will win the race to become QPR manager.

Magilton is on a short-list of four for the Loftus Road job made available after Paulo Sousa was sacked last month and has had an initial interview.

Steve Cotterill, Adie Boothroyd and Colin Calderwood, are the other three that the London club are considering and have all met with QPR bosses.

But chairman Flavio Briatore is not expected to make a final decision until after he returns from the Monaco Grand Prix over the weekend.

QPR fans have been surprised at the short-list with many hoping a higher profile man would be appointed.

All the candidates have been told that while QPR may theoretically be the richest club in the world with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal part owners, they will not be given a blank cheque to buy success.

Patience is also in limited supply at Loftus Road as Sousa and Iain Dowie found in the past year and while the new man would be involved in the coaching, the buying and selling will be done by the Hoops' director of football.

Magilton, who was sacked by Ipswich last month, has also been linked with the vacancy at Blackpool after caretaker manager rejected the offer of a permanent contract after being dismayed at the deal on offer.

Although it is understood Magilton applied for the job he is not on the six-man short-list with Ian Holloway the leading contender.

Bury boss Alan Knill, Andy Ritchie, Gary Brabin and Steve Thompson are on the short list with one more late applicant, believed to be Boothroyd, also under consideration.

Magilton's family moved to the north-west while he was still Town manager and a move to the area would suit the Ulsterman.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk