Harry Redknapp faces up to 'toughest' challenge at QPR and blames players for dreadful start to season

Harry Redknapp today warned his QPR players that laziness would not be tolerated as he faced up to his “toughest” challenge yet in management.

Redknapp has only been in the Rangers hotseat for two days but it took him little time to assess what had led his new side to make the worst start to a season in Barclays Premier League history.

The man who rescued Tottenham and Portsmouth from relegation said at his official unveiling this morning: "I know the situation. You don't have to be that clever to look at it.

"We've got four points from 13 games, which is an incredible, low total.

"We've got to do better. If we don't, we've got no chance. We've got to do better to give ourselves and opportunity to get out of this mess.

"It's going to be tough but we've all got to work hard. It's going to be full on for everybody. If they're not willing to work hard then they're not going to play. I need people that are going to work.

"When they lose the ball, chase it. It's what you learnt when you were at school. That's what you did in the playground.

"You chased after the ball if you lost it, you worked, you ran about. And that's what I need. I need 11 people with the ability to put effort in. And if they give that effort then we've got a chance of surviving.

"If they don't, they're not going to play to start with and I'll find another 11 who will run about and work hard."

He added: "I've got no time for people losing ball and throwing their arms up in air, and standing around with their hands on their hips.

"We're in a relegation battle, we've got four points.

"It's their fault - it's nobody else's fault.

"If everyone works, the ability's there. I've got to make them work and get the best out of them now.

"If they do that then we'll be okay, we'll survive."

Spurs and Portsmouth were also in dire trouble when Redknapp took charge but he transformed both club's fortunes in spectacular fashion.

But he said: "We mustn't kid ourselves. This is much tougher than those two jobs in my opinion, but I'm optimistic we can pull it off."

Redknapp, sacked by Tottenham in the summer, added: "I want to be successful here, really badly. I want to keep this team in the Premier League.

"If the players try as hard as I am going to try we'll be successful."

Redknapp confirmed a deal was being done to bring in long-time assistants Joe Jordan and Kevin Bond to assist him.

He accepted there would be no "wholesale spending" in January after the club recruited extensively during the previous three transfer windows, but admitted they were very short up front.

Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson are both long-term injury victims and the new boss said: "We are not overloaded with strikers here. That's certainly an area we are short in."

On the possibility of bring in David Beckham, he said: "I got a lovely text from David the other night, just wishing me well here.

"To have him at any football club would be a great influence on the club, but we've not discussed anything."

Redknapp insisted there would be no personality clashes with Adel Taarabt, whom he sold while manager of Tottenham.

"He wasn't a player I wanted to sell," he said.

"He couldn't get in the team at Tottenham.

"I always felt he had the ability to become a top player. I've got to get the best out of him."

PA