Hasselbaink paid the price for failing to steer the side towards the head of the table with Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest leaving Rangers in 17th place and prompting the board to act.
Sherwood, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager, has a strong relationship with Les Ferdinand, the QPR director of football, with Ferdinand and academy director Chris Ramsey having been part of Sherwood’s coaching team at Spurs.
The international breaks gives the Championship club breathing space and Ferdinand will hope to complete the recruitment of Sherwood, 47, before the visit of Norwich on Saturday week.
Football Manager 2017: Championship transfer and wage budgets revealed
Wed, November 2, 2016Click through the gallery to see every Championship team's transfer and wage budgets on Football Manager 2017
Click through the gallery to see every Championship team's transfer and wage budgets on Football Manager 2017
Hasselbaink arrived at Loftus Road in December 2015 and has paid the price for a record that has brought just 14 wins in 47 games in charge.
Steve Sidwell rode an emotional rollercoaster after scoring the best goal of his career in the 2-0 win over Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
The Brighton midfielder cut short celebrations to publicly express condolences to team-mate Anthony Knockaert who was back in France mourning his dad’s death.
Moments after his spectacular 50-yard lob, Sidwell held Knockaert’s No 11 shirt aloft with the rest of his team in a touching show of support for their grieving colleague.
“I was smiling with joy but then automatically switched into serious mode and sympathy,” Sidwell, 33, said.
“I was wheeling away one second and next thing was into the mode of dedicating the goal to Anthony and his family with his own shirt.”