Former Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has been named as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers following the departure of Jim Magilton.

The 56-year-old left Portsmouth last month and will be in charge until the end of the season.

Former Luton boss Mick Harford, who had a spell in caretaker charge of Rangers in 2007, will be Hart's assistant.

Hart has set the players an immediate target of getting back into the Championship play-off places.

"I want the group to believe they can get back into the top six sooner rather than later.

"If we're there at the turn of the year, it'll be hard for us to be shifted," he told the club website.

Magilton and his assistant John Gorman left the Loftus Road club by mutual consent on Wednesday.

Magilton was suspended after an incident on 7 December at Vicarage Road, where QPR lost 3-1 to Watford.

After the match, Magilton admitted having a "difference of opinion" with midfielder Akos Buzsaky but has categorically denied any wrong-doing.

606: DEBATE Naturally wish Paul Hart all the best. But hate the sideshow our club has turned into ViewFromThePaddock

Hart said that what had happened between his predecessor and Buszaky was history and the Hungarian still had a part to play at the club.

"Akos Buzsaky is the same as all the players here," he said.

"They all come into reckoning - we have people out on loan, and we have to consider if they can help us. Everyone's back in the frame."

Youth coaches Steve Gallen and Marc Bircham were in charge for Monday's 2-2 draw at West Brom but Hart now becomes the ninth manager in just over two years since Flavio Briatore took over as chairman in August 2006.

Permanent bosses John Gregory, Luigi De Canio, Iain Dowie, Paulo Sousa and Magilton have all departed while Harford, Gareth Ainsworth (twice) and Gallen and Bircham had spells as caretaker managers.

Hart inherits a team lying 12th in the Championship, just three points away from the play-off places, having been out of the game for less than a month since leaving Premier League strugglers Portsmouth.

He has also had spells in charge of Chesterfield, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley and Rushden & Diamonds.

Harford left his position as manager of Blue Square Premier side Luton by mutual consent in October after a difficult time in charge of a club deducted a total of 40 points in two seasons for financial reasons.

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