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LONDON (AP) -Iain Dowie has been named the new coach of Queens Park Rangers.
The former Northern Ireland international striker, who has had spells as manager of Charlton, Crystal Palace, Oldham and Coventry, replaces Luigi Di Canio, who has returned home to Italy for personal reasons after only eight months with the League Championship club.
Dowie, who signed a two-year contract at Loftus Road, has moved to potentially one of the richest clubs in soccer.
Lakshmi Mittal, the wealthiest person in Britain, has a stake in the west London club along with Formula One head Bernie Ecclestone and Renault team managing director Flavio Briatore. Rangers has just hired Tottenham goalkeeper Radek Cerny and Newcastle defender Peter Ramage to strengthen its chances of promotion to the Premier League.
Rangers, at one time in danger of relegation to League One, wound up 14th under Di Canio.
"Iain Dowie has a proven track record in the Championship and we are delighted to have him on board," Rangers sporting director Gianni Paladini said on Wednesday.
Dowie's biggest achievement so far was taking Palace from the division-one relegation zone to promotion to the Premier League during 2004, when his team beat West Ham in the playoffs.
The former striker spent three years with Rangers as a player and also had spells as caretaker and assistant manager.
