Chris Ramsey is confident he will be asked to mastermind QPR's return to the Barclays Premier League
QPR were relegated to the Sky Bet Championship following their 6-0 rout at Manchester City on Sunday and the club must now decide whether to appoint Ramsey as their permanent manager.
The 53-year-old has presided over just two wins in 13 games since replacing Harry Redknapp in February, but the team he inherited was troubled by dressing-room issues and was already marooned in the bottom three.
Ramsey believes he should remain at the helm and expects to discover his fate within the next seven days.
"We're still talking. Nothing is 100 per cent yet but I'm hoping I'll be in charge next season," he said.
"I've brushed on it with the club. They've told me we will make an announcement within the next week. I'm hoping it's going to be me.
"I believe it will be me, as much as football will allow me to believe that! I do have that belief but I can't confirm it because there's been no pen put to paper regarding the situation.
"I think the players have shown a great response to me being here. The fact we've competed quite admirably in most of the games shows I do have the ability to take the club forward.
"We have a long-term vision and wanting to put foundations down so the club has a stable footing for a long time makes me ideal for this club."
Midfielder Joey Barton claimed before the drubbing by City that not all members of the squad were giving everything for the cause, referring to them as "bad eggs".
Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore have caused QPR supporters the greatest angst due to long-term concerns over their fitness, but Ramsey refuses to blame them for the club's relegation.
"Do I want them to be here next season? If they're fit and ready to play. It's purely a fitness issue that they've not been picked," Ramsey said.
"There's not been any other issue that I've been aware of other than they haven't been able to be in contention for team selection.
"Over the course of a season you can't pinpoint players and say 'because of you we've been relegated'.
"But having a limited squad always contributes to any negative period of the season because you have to pick players off form or injured.
"I wouldn't blame individuals, but we haven't had service of players in our original 25 which has hampered us."
Source: PA
