It’s been a tough start for Steve McClaren at Loftus Road, with Queens Park Rangers amongst the early season strugglers in the Sky Bet Championship.  

McClaren has had more than a taste of the Championship before, but his side are up against it already this season following two defeats from their opening two fixtures.

Preston North End and Sheffield United have both picked up three points off them already this season, whilst McClaren’s playing squad is looking thin at this late stage of the summer.

Today, QPR have taken the decision to send Ryan Manning out on-loan, with the 22-year-old heading to Rotherham United on a temporary basis.

Manning is highly-rated, and last season, he played an impressive role under Ian Holloway, even chipping in with two goals.

It’s a decision that will benefit Manning, who had been pushed down the pecking order at Loftus Road, but it hasn’t sat well with QPR’s supporters, who are well within their rights to be disappointed.

Not only has a player who could offer something to their first-team departed, he is strengthening a Championship rival, who could potentially be fighting with QPR for survival later in the season.

Rotherham are amongst the favourites for relegation, whilst QPR’s early season form is a worry.

Supporters will not be naïve enough to think otherwise, and the transfer decision taken by the club today will leave a lot of people at Loftus Road scratching their heads.

It’s a decision that could come back to haunt McClaren.