MACCA: TIGHT AT QPR

STEVE McCLAREN returns to a club that has moved a world away from where it was in his last spell at Loftus Road.

Back in 2013, QPR were still a Championship club during McClaren‘s threemonth stint as part of Harry Redknapp’s coaching team.

But the days of big spending in chasing the Premier League dream are now a thing of the past.

QPR owner Tony Fernandes no longer wants to get his fingers burnt in the midst of paying a large fine for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

Instead, McClaren (below) has to beg, borrow and steal new players after heading back to Rangers as manager.

His only signing so far is the free transfer of German defender Toni Leistner – and that underlines how it will be no easy task improving on last season’s 16th-placed finish achieved under Ian Holloway.

Ex-England boss McClaren, 57, said: “There is realism of where we are as a club now. To get in the top half would be progress. You can’t even think of promotion until you have a team consistently winning.

“It’s been up and down here. Finishing 16th and 18th over the last two seasons shows how far away we are.

“We’re going to need to be creative with what we do. But clubs like Millwall have proved you don’t need a massive budget to be a contender.

“Taking this club forward will be a big challenge – but it’s an exciting challenge.”

QPR have lost the experience of club captain Nedum Onuoha, and highlyrated keeper Alex Smithies was poached by Cardiff.

Luke Freeman and Massimo Luongo could exit before the transfer window closes.

At least McClaren can count on Ebere Eze and Paul Smyth as two very promising players to work with on his shoestring budget.