Queens Park Rangers coach Mark Bowen

The R’s assistant believes that club will progress next season

QPR assistant manager Mark Bowen believes the club will make ‘great strides’ next season after ensuring survival on the last day of the Premier League season.

The west Londoners finished above Bolton, who could only draw 2-2 with Stoke on the final day, by a single point.

The telling difference between the two sides was Rangers’ late-season home form – beating the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Stoke.

“This club can now make giant strides,” said Bowen on QPR’s official website.

“Everybody involved realised what that final day was all about.

“If we had gone down, this time next year we could have failed to get into the play-offs, or even slipped up within the play-offs.

“But I can guarantee you that this time next year we will be in a lot healthier position.

“We are going to have a nice summer where we can relax, but we will look forward to returning now we’re still in the Premier League.

“We have got a nice pre-season tour ahead of us to focus on next.”