Queens Park Rangers have pounced for Crystal Palace's manager Neil Warnock and are talking to the South London's clubs administrators.

Loftus Road negotiators are discussing a compensation package thought to be worth £1m with administrator Brendan Guilfoyle with a view to the Yorkshire man taking over after the weekends fixtures.

Moving in the other direction could be sacked Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate.

Speaking after the FA Cup Fifth Round defeat to Aston Villa during the week he said

"This could have been my last game - but it won't be and we'll now get ready for Doncaster (on Saturday)," said the former Sheffield United manager.

Can I deny speculation about going to QPR? No."

Eagles' fans could see their season effectively ended at the stroke of a pen as Warnock was seen as the one thing that could stave off relegation into League One, the third tier of English football.

Selhurst Park have had an unlucky history with bosses taking flight for richer clubs - Steve Bruce leaving for Birmingham City, Ian Dowie for Fulham. Those with longer memories will recall the botched departure of Terry Venables - all parties are keen to reach an amicable compensation deal, if one can not be reached it is believed Warnock will stay at Palace.

For the West London side it would be their fifth manager this season - Mick Harford, currently in charge has been reported as saying the away game to Middlesbrough tomorrow "will be my last game in charge".

Palace are third from bottom of the Championship table, having been automatically docked 10 points in January for going into administration.

The club cannot make any new signings after a Football League transfer embargo - the club's second of the season - was imposed in November.