The man who earned QPR their £9million sell-on windfall from the sale of Raheem Sterling is now trying to dig up more talent eight miles up the Uxbridge Road.

John Creith, a lifelong Rs fan, was heavily involved in youth football in the Brent area, where Sterling grew up, when he started work for the QPR community team in 2004, a role which quickly turned into academy scout under Joe Gallen, and then head of recruitment.

On his watch, the likes of Jordan Gibbons, Bruno Andrade and Tafari Moore flourished in the Loftus Road youth system, and he also spotted Sterling, then a skinny 11 year old, playing for both Oakington Manor Primary School and Alpha & Omega Youth Club.

Former Ranger: New Manchester City signing Raheem Sterling

Creith left QPR in 2008, two years before Sterling was snaffled away by Liverpool for a mere £500,000, but not before the Rs had inserted a tasty 20 per cent sell on clause.

Sterling's £49million move to Man City this week earned Rangers the tidy sum, which smashed the existing UK record for a sell-on fee.

But Creith's part in Sterling's early career, as well as the cash injection it has earned his first love, has not been forgotten by Rs fans, who this week tweeted him their thanks.

As for Creith himself, after leaving Loftus Road he spent some time working for the academies at Watford and Brentford, and also took his first steps in senior football management with Kentish Town.

When his club resigned from the Spartan South Midlands League last summer, Creith moved to their Division One rivals Amersham Town a few months later, but was let go in April after his new club's relegation was confirmed.

However, he is now hoping to rebuild his managerial career with Southall, where former QPR striker and current director of football Les Ferdinand started his career, and where he has been appointed assistant manager to Emanuel Asare.

Sir Les: Rs legend Ferdinand started his career at Southall

Asare said: “I've known John for years since we ran the teams for Brent Schools. I've always liked the way he handles himself and we share the same ideas on football. Perhaps he could help us find the next Raheem Sterling right here in Southall!”

Southall also brought on board former Newcastle and Sunderland striker Michael Chopra as a 'brand ambassador' earlier in the summer, with a brief for helping get more ethnic minority youngsters involved in the game.

Asare said: “We met Michael when he was looking to set up his own soccer school in the area. We really want to get more South Asian kids involved in the game.”

Ambassador: Michael Chopra with Southall MP Virendra Sharma

Southall reached the FA Vase final in their halcyon days of 1986, when Ferdinand was banging in their goals, but are now struggling in Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League following years of decline which almost saw them go out of business.

Asare is determined to change all that though. He said: “We want to be going for promotion next season. It's high time Southall FC had something to shout about again.”