Redknapp quit QPR, second-bottom in the table, on Tuesday with the 67-year-old Englishman saying impending knee replacement surgery, rather than a reported row over transfer policy, meant it was impossible for him to continue to do the job as he wished.
Former QPR, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and England striker Ferdinand, who returned to Loftus Road in a backroom role in October, was put in caretaker charge of the first team on Tuesday along with coaches Chris Ramsey and Kevin Bond.
Now Ferdinand has been given an expanded role by the club's Malaysian chairman Tony Fernandes, best known as the founder of the AirAsia budget carrier
Former Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood, who worked with Ferdinand and Ramsey at White Hart Lane, has been tipped to succeed Redknapp but now possibly as head coach, rather than manager, under the new QPR set-up.
Sherwood has not had a frontline role in football since leaving Spurs in May.
Meanwhile the Hoops confirmed Wednesday that two members of Redknapp's coaching staff, his longstanding assistant Joe Jordan and former England manager Glenn Hoddle had also left Loftus Road.
Fernandes, explaining Ferdinand's new position, told www.qpr.co.uk: "I've been really impressed with the job Les has done in his short time here and as such I am keen for his role to evolve.
"This is a new strategy for us
Our recruitment policy at QPR is changing.
"We want to develop a philosophy of buying young, hungry players, who can go on to forge decent careers with us.
"Premier League survival is our priority in the short term, but in the medium and long term we want to make sure everything is in place, from the academy upwards, to create a culture and philosophy within the club that QPR fans can be proud of.
"Les bleeds blue and white and working closely with the first team and academy management, particularly in recruitment, he is going to play a key role in moving us forward over the coming months and years."
Ferdinand, 48, added: "Working closely with Tony and the Board, I can assure QPR fans that they are desperate to create a lasting legacy at Loftus Road and the role of director of football will be hugely important in terms of where we want to take this club in the future."
QPR have failed to win a single one of their 11 league matches away from home so far this season.
Redknapp was renowned for his dealings in the transfer market but Fernandes signalled a change of approach on Monday's final day of the January window when he tweeted: "No more cheque book."
QPR, with only Leicester below them in the table, are one point shy of safety and a favourable result at home to Southampton on Saturday could see the west London club climb out of the bottom three.
Source : AFP
Source: AFP