Les Ferdinand has joined QPR as head of football operations in an effort to help manager Harry Redknapp secure the London club's Barclays Premier League status.
The 47-year-old former England and QPR striker will "be charged with overseeing the structure of the footballing side of the club, focusing on improving the footballing philosophy at all levels", the Rs announced on Tuesday.
Ferdinand, who previously assisted Tim Sherwood at Tottenham, will have a coaching impact at all levels and will provide a link between the footballing side of events at QPR and the board of directors.
QPR are bottom of the Premier League after one win and one draw in seven games.
An offer made to Redknapp to extend his contract was withdrawn due to the club's current predicament, with the 67-year-old insisting he would not wish to stay if QPR were again relegated under his charge.
Redknapp and QPR chairman Tony Fernandes hope the presence of Ferdinand will help improve the club's position.
"Having someone like him involved with the club, someone who understands the history of it, can only be good for QPR," Redknapp said.
Fernandes added: "Les's experience of working with players at all levels, combined with his undoubted passion for the club, will help us build and improve."
Ferdinand added on qpr.co.uk: "When the opportunity to return here in this role came up I jumped at the opportunity.
"There's nothing I want more than for QPR to be successful in the short, medium and long term and I'm excited about the challenge ahead."
Ferdinand hopes QPR can develop home-grown talent.
"It's about time we started producing players that come through to the first-team from the academy," he added.
"QPR always had a tradition for doing that, but it seems to have gone away from it in recent years.
"I know the owners would like to get back to that, and they want that side of the club to develop."
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