QPR boss Harry Redknapp wants an ageing football hero or two to help his side back into the Premier League once the inevitable happens.

Someone with the pedigree of Teddy Sheringham and Paul Merson in their twilight years at Portsmouth when Harry was manager there will do nicely.

The Rs coach (pic) insists that what worked for him at Pompey in the past will do just as well at Loftus Road when relegation is confirmed as early as tomorrow at Reading, should they lose to the fellow strugglers in the lunchtime kick-off.

While Redknapp played down the idea of getting either Phil Neville or Michael Owen to change his mind about retiring, the manager says there are veteran stars out there who could make all the difference as Rs plan to bounce back at the first time of asking.

“Look at Sheringham when he was at Portsmouth,” he said. “Any young players watching Teddy in training was better than any coaching in the world. Get one of them and they’re worth their weight in gold.

"I need characters, and Merson on five grand a week from Villa who wanted to play, was perfect for us then.”

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