QPR squad split over wages, admits Redknapp

QPR boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed there are splits within the club’s dressing room over the earnings of top players at Loftus Road.

Redknapp, who arrived at Loftus Park in November
following the sacking of Mark Hughes, believes that rifts between players have
been evident for some time.

Owner Tony Fernandes has not been shy when it comes to
spending money this season, financing January moves for the likes of Christopher Samba and
Loic Remy in a bid to keep the club in the Premier League.

However, the gamble
looks set to have failed, with a defeat to Reading on Sunday enough to condemn the club
to the Championship and Redknapp says the wages offered to new signings have caused jealousy.

“There are splits in the camp,” he said. “I’d be liar if I said there wasn’t, it’s been obvious for everyone to see all year. It’s a problem, it’s not easy.

“People don’t mind others getting good money if they earn it.

“It’s not a problem if you play at a club with Robin van Persie, Steven Gerrard or someone and you know that he’s getting 140 grand a week and someone else is getting 50 grand, you don’t mind that because you know he’s worth it.

“But when players look and think ‘he’s not doing any better than me’,” it’s difficult.”

While the former
Spurs boss couldn’t be specific about which players didn’t see eye to eye on
their wage packets, he said it wasn’t something he had encountered anywhere
else.

Redknapp also claimed that he wasn’t privy to how much individual players were paid and said he was
unaware how the club would cope if they were to go down.

“I’ve
said before, it’s a different story with managers now than it was 15 or 20
years ago. We are not involved in that side, deals are done by chairmen and
chief executives,” he said.

“I
don’t know the wages really, I don’t ask what people are earning.”