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Thursday, May 28, 2026

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Karl Watson is new QPR boss

Queen’s Park Rangers  are delighted to confirm the appointment of Karl Watson as our new Women’s Head Coach.

Watson joins the club from Moneyfields, where he enjoyed a hugely successful eight years after helping to establish their women’s team in 2017. Under his guidance, Moneyfields FC Women rose through the Hampshire County and Southern Region Women’s leagues, before joining the FA Women’s National League in 2022.

Watson came close to achieving promotion again in 2025-26, just missing out on winning National League Division 1 South West – Tier 4 – before suffering play-off heartache, losing to Norwich City on penalties.

Now he is ready for a new challenge with QPR.

“I’m excited - and a little bit blown away by everything,” he said. “The project at the club was just too good to turn away and I can't wait to get going now.”

Watson, who enjoyed an incredible 76% win ratio across 224 matches with Moneyfields, added: “QPR itself is obviously a massive club. It's got a great, ambitious project behind it now, and it was just so attractive that the timing felt right.

“To have this opportunity now at such a big club with such good support, it was just a no-brainer.”

Watson will be training his players at the club’s TSG Training Centre and while he is excited to use the state-of-the facilities at his disposal, he doesn’t want that to be the talking point when it comes to the Women’s team.

“The first time I came in, you're walking around just pinching yourself, understanding just what tools you now have to work with and what work's going to look like,” he said.

“It's an incredible opportunity, but I don't want the facilities to be what we're talking about. I want the team, the results, the trophies, the promotions.

“This is all worth nothing without trophies.”

QPR’s immediate ambitions for the Women’s team are to achieve promotion from Tier 4 at the earliest opportunity – and that is a demand which Watson is relishing.

He continued: “In my previous roles, we're worrying about where we're training; if we've got a home ground; we're doing 60-mile-round trips, have I got the petrol money to get the players up there?

“Pressure's a privilege in this kind of industry. If you're competing, it comes with pressure.

“I just can’t wait to get going now.”

QPR CEO Christian Nourry said: “It is great to welcome our new Women’s first-team coaching staff.

“Will (Lambert, Head of Women’s Operations), Jon de Souza (Head of Methodology) and the team have worked diligently to first focus on what our priorities should be in our women’s coaching staff, to identify good profiles and ultimately undertake a thorough interview process which has culminated in our decision to hire Karl.

“We believe that Karl’s energy, outlook on football and life, and prior success in the Women’s game will enable us to reach for the highest goals next season and beyond.”

Watson will be joined by assistant coaches Jamie Kiernan and Damian Briggs.

Kiernan previously worked with Hampton & Richmond and Dorking Wanderers. He will combine his new role with QPR with being the Head of Women’s Football Academy at UCFB.

Briggs was previously Head Coach of Trinidad & Tobago Women’s national team, and led them through their 2026 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign, which ended in April.

Meanwhile, Karl Milgate has left the club. Karl was the interim Head Coach of the Women’s team for the final five fixtures of the 2025-26 season. Everyone at QPR wishes Karl well for the future and thanks him for his efforts and professionalism during his time with the club.

 

Source: qpr.co.uk