QPR Community Trust chief Andy Evans has praised Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers over his handling of Raheem Sterling.
Evans has been with the trust for almost 20 years and has overseen a number of young players who have gone on to turn professional including Liverpool speed-merchant, Sterling.
"I think he's probably managed him quite well," Evans told the Fulham Chronicle. "He will be seeing and working with him every day throughout the year and it's a big jump going from a youth player to becoming a first team player in the Premier League at a big club.
"I'm sure Brendan and his staff will be managing his workload accordingly and that is probably why they took him out towards the end because it is difficult for a young player like that to maintain his level over the course of a whole season."
Sterling was snapped up by Liverpool in 2010 as a 14-year-old by former Reds manager Rafael Benitez and Evans conceded QPR were powerless to stop the move.
"He came into the academy here at QPR and at the time the club was quite challenged financially, as it was a few years before the big takeover," he said. "Liverpool came in for him with an offer the club couldn't really turn down and obviously it was a great opportunity for Raheem and his family as well.
"It was a shame we couldn't hold onto him and see him wear the blue and white hoops because it would have been great to see a real local kid go from the academy to the first team."