Former Reading assistant manager has been appointed goalkeeper coach on a short-term basis at Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers.

Sparkes followed Ruben Selles from Southampton to Berkshire over the summer and was his right-hand man with the Royals.

However, Sparkes was made redundant earlier this month as a cost-cutting measure along with Eddie Niedzwiecki.

QPR sit in the Championship relegation zone, three points adrift of safety, and have hired Sparkes on a temporary basis while Gavin Ward undergoes knee surgery.

Sparkes enjoyed a seven-year spell in the MLS with New York Red Bulls, working with the U23 and U18 goalkeepers before spending a year with FC Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.