Planning will go on regardless, says Warne

ROTHERHAM United’s interim boss Paul Warne is focusing on coping with in-form QPR rather than the possible ramifications of defeat this weekend.

A loss at Loftus Road, combined with wins for Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest and a draw for Burton Albion, will see the club's three-year stay in the Championship officially end.

If relegation is confirmed, Warne says it will have no effect on the forward planning which has been going on behind the scenes. The priority for him is reminding his players about their responsibilities in the final nine games, starting against a side who have won four and drawn one of their last five under Ian Holloway.

“There has been too much upset and too much unrest and from a fans’ and coach’s point of view we have to make sure we don’t ever have a season like this one ever again.”

MATT HAMSHAW

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Warne told the Advertiser: "In the January window Ian (Holloway) got rid of all the players he didn't want and got in athletic players. QPR are really strong across the middle of the park and they've been playing 3-5-2 really successfully, probably the best I've seen a team do it.

"I'm not 100 per cent sure the way they'll approach things at home but they were excellent at Leeds last week. It was 0-0 but they were the better team, so it will be a tough one for us.

“It's not like our lads are playing under this massive pressure of survival because that looks more and more unrealistic unless we have the best run of form in history and others don't.

“I don't believe that once we are relegated it will have any effect on the psyche. I don't think we are so unrealistic to believe we are planning for the Championship next year. Behind the scenes we're preparing for League One, therefore I don't think relegation will have a massive psychological effect one way or the other.

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“This week the scouts and staff have been to about 12 games looking at players, we're doing everything we can to improve the squad and make it competitive for next season.”

His thoughts were echoed by interim coach Matt Hamshaw.

“There has been too much upset and too much unrest and from a fans’ and coach’s point of view we have to make sure we don’t ever have a season like this one ever again.”