Ferdinand takes over as director of football at QPR

LONDON (AP) - Queens Park Rangers shook up its coaching set-up on Wednesday following Harry Redknapp's sudden resignation as manager, with Les Ferdinand taking the role of director of football and assistants Glenn Hoddle and Joe Jordan leaving the English Premier League struggler.

The 67-year-old Redknapp cited impending knee replacement surgery as the reason for unexpectedly relinquishing control of the team on Tuesday. QPR is next to last in the standings in its first season back in the top division.

While QPR seeks a replacement for Redknapp, the club has promoted Ferdinand, who enjoys cult status at the club after being its star striker from 1987-95, from his previous position as head of football operations.

"Ferdinand ... will now be responsible for overseeing the entire footballing department at Loftus Road, with a mandate of building for the future," the club said.

Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond, two of the coaching staff, will take temporary charge of QPR ahead of its league game against Southampton on Saturday.

Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood is the big favorite to become new manager.

"I've had many messages from supporters, of all ages, who aren't - for one reason or another - satisfied with what's going on at QPR at the moment," owner Tony Fernandes said, "but I can reassure all Rangers fans that we are putting the building blocks in place to move things in the right direction for the future.

"We've made a number of mistakes in the transfer market over the last few years and it's something we want to change. We don't want to be a buying club - we want to nurture young talent and build a young, ambitious team."