By Sandy Lerman AMBITION! I have been thinking about this word recently, when thinking about QPR. I even noticed a thread of a similar nature when perusing Vital QPR this week – clearly, I am not alone in wondering if our club has any real ambition. My re

By Sandy Lerman

AMBITION! I have been thinking about this word recently, when thinking about QPR. I even noticed a thread of a similar nature when perusing Vital QPR this week - clearly, I am not alone in wondering if our club has any real ambition.

My recent mood, gloomy and grey like this weather, is in marked contrast with my feelings a few months ago when we were going through that purple patch. Back then, I was really enjoying myself as a QPR fan, but not now!

This is not another piece moaning about our board; although I clearly remember Flavio Briatore, in his larger-than-life manner, announcing that it was the board's intention to have the club back in the Premier League within three to five years and there we would stay!

However, almost three years on, we are nowhere near being a team capable of challenging for promotion, let alone winning promotion or staying in the Premier League.

This is not to cast aspersions on our current squad or on the latest manager. Many so-called football experts rate this squad as one of the most talented in our league.

But how on earth are we supposed to be serious challengers when we have no apparent ambition? This month, our board have shown a decided lack of desire to gamble on a throw of the 'transfer' dice.

Instead of buying serious players for serious money, they have opted to approach yet more loanees (our current goalie, Carl Ikeme) and players on free transfers (stand up, Nigel Quashie). And what ambition do we show by letting Patrick Agyemang go to Bristol City and selling Wayne Routledge to Newcastle? In my opinion this policy speaks volumes about the lack of ambition at our club.

I do not believe for one instance that a promotion-challenging team can be built around loan signings - however talented they may be. Quashie - well, we will see what he can bring but, since his contract is short-term, I wonder about his real desire.

And, more than anything else, we must firmly shut that managerial revolving door! A manager must be left alone for at least one season, if not more, to build his team, his way.

Only with a respected, full-time manager at the helm and a proper transfer policy of spending money on the right sort of players (whoever they are) - let alone a proper scouting system (!) - will we be able to become a serious contender for a tilt at playing with the 'big boys'.

I am grey and gloomy because, right now, I don't see that happening any time soon!