GARETH AINSWORTH was nicknamed Wild Thing as a player at Wimbledon because of some of his off-field antics. Yesterday he was a model of managerial composure and diplomacy after QPR became the first visitors this season to take a point from the Madejski stadium, denying a team that had hitherto scored 21 goals in six victories in a row at home.

Ainsworth was given temporary charge of Rangers after the sacking of Iain Dowie on Friday. The 35-year-old Lancastrian, a Rangers player for six years, had been installed as reserve team manager by Dowie. Yesterday he was clearly determined to enjoy his probably brief flirtation with senior management.

It is unlikely to last. Several big names are in the frame to succeed Dowie. Whether, at 65, Terry Venables would relish returning to the club he played for from 1969-74 and managed between 1980 and 1984 is uncertain. Other possible successors include Roberto Mancini, Gianluca Vialli and Sam Allardyce.

But who is dictating selection policy and playing strategy? Dowie had taken charge of just 15 games in all competitions. Although QPR started this contest only five points adrift of their much-vaunted hosts and are in the last 16 of the Carling Cup, there had evidently been a deterioration in the relationship between Dowie and the Formula One Renault team boss Flavio Briatore, chairman of QPR’s holding company. Things reportedly came to a head over Briatore’s attempts to influence team matters.

Ainsworth said: “There are discussions about the team and discussions about players. Flavio has put a lot of money in the club and wants to know how his investments are going. Already we have made a point that we are going to be meeting regularly, not just with Flavio but with the other people who have put their money in, but I have the final input on who goes out there. He doesn’t discuss the strategies but he is a winner and he loves to be involved in sport.”

Yesterday’s changes to Dowie’s last starting line-up included the demotion of top scorer Dexter Blackstock in favour of Samuel Di Carmine, although Blackstock emerged late on. Rangers more than merited their point. The home side rarely looked capable of breaching a splendid rearguard. Rangers came closest to scoring, with Akos Buzsaky, Daniel Parejo, Lee Cook and Blackstock all testing Marcus Hahnemann before Andre Bikey was denied a late headed winner by Cerny.

Star man: Radek Cerny (QPR)

Referee: C Foy

Attendance: 20,571

READING: Hahnemann 7, Rosenior 6, Bikey 6, Ingimarsson 7, Armstrong 6, Kebe 7 (Long, 79min), Gunnarsson 5 (Harper, 72min), Karacan 6 (Cisse 72min), S Hunt 7, N Hunt 6, Doyle 7

QPR: Cerny 8, Leigertwood 7, Stewart 7, Hall 7, Connolly 6, Buzsaky 6, Mahon 6, Rowlands 7, Cook 7, Di Carmine 7 (Blackstock 60min, 6), Parejo 6 (Balanta 86min)