Harry Redknapp backs decision to cancel QPR Christmas party

“I’m not a fan of Christmas parties and we’ve got nothing to celebrate,” Redknapp told  a news conference ahead of  today’s clash away to Wigan Athletic . “We need to focus on our football now – it’s the busiest time of the year. If we get out of this situation we can have a great big party at the end of the season.”

QPR, who sacked former Wales boss Mark Hughes last month and appointed former Tottenham manager Redknapp, are the only team in the top flight without a win this season.

They have six points from 15 games and are already seven points adrift of Sunderland, who sit just above the drop zone. During his Spurs tenure Redknapp banned his players from holding a Christmas party after finding out that striker Robbie Keane had organised a secret trip to Dublin in 2009.

Redknapp, without any  injury concerns other than goalkeeper Julio Cesar who is likely to miss the Wigan match with Rob Green set to continue, said he feels positive about the mammoth task ahead for the west London strugglers.

“The players have been very good in training,” he said. “There’s been a strong intensity about the sessions. That’s what we need to get out of this.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea have  received mixed news on the injury front with John Terry’s unavailability for the Fifa Club World Cup tempered by the imminent return of Frank Lampard. Terry has been advised against travelling to the tournament in Japan due to the possibility that his recovery from knee ligament damage may be hampered by inflammation during the 12-and-a-half hour flight.

Interim manager Rafael  Benitez has refused to set a date for his comeback, but was able to confirm that Lampard will participate in today’s Premier League clash with Sunderland.