QPR manager Harry Redknapp will take a week off before he starts planning for life in the Premier League next season.
Bobby Zamora came off the bench to play the role of super-sub and break Derby County hearts with a stunning finish at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.
Today’s triumph under the arch secures top-flight football at Loftus Road in 2014-15 but the R’s will be a few weeks behind Burnley and Leicester in the race to be ready for next term.
Redknapp hasn’t even thought about potential recruits yet and wants a short break before taking on the challenge of building a new squad.
He said: “I’m looking forward to next season but I’m also looking forward to the break now. We’ll have a good look at it.
“I haven’t even thought about what next year brings. People come up with players but you can’t look at players. Everything was around today’s game. Now you know where you’re playing you can start looking.
“If people ring up and ask if you’re interested in you need to know what division you’re going to be playing in. We know if we’re going to bring in a few players we now know that they’ve got to be good enough to play in the division.”
Zamora was the match-winner at Wembley but won’t even be playing for the Hoops next season unless a new contract can be agreed.
However, he’s done his chances of earning another 12 months no harm whatsoever with his play-off final heroics.
Redknapp added: When Bobby’s fit he’s an excellent player. He hold the ball up well and brings people into play.
“When we had Gary sent off we had a problem and I had to leave Charlie Austin out wide. I needed to have two banks of four and had no options really. I stuck Armand Traore back to left full-back and it was a backs-to-the-wall job.
“We defended well with 10 men. Richard Dunne, Nedum Onouha and Rob Green were superb and defended for our lives back there. You couldn’t see it coming but I’m delighted. I was surprised. It was a fantastic finish.”
