QPR News Round Up

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Alan Macdonald Joins QPR as Coach
Daily Mirror rumour "exclusive" John Gregory coming to QPR
Player In: Goalie, Paul Jones Joins QPR
Player Out: Loan, Andy Thomas Returns to Blackburn
QPR's AGM Date Announced - March 3rd



BBC - McDonald returning to Loftus Road
McDonald is a legend at Loftus Road Alan McDonald is on his way back to QPR to work alongside former team-mate Gary Waddock at Loftus Road. McDonald had been linked with the manager's job at Glentoran but has accepted an offer to return to the club he spent 17 years with as a player. Waddock has taken charge after Ian Holloway was put on 'gardening leave'.
"I will now not be the next manager of Glentoran," said McDonald, who has been working as a coach with the Northern Ireland Under-21 team. McDonald explained: "Gary asked me if I would be interested in coming along and giving him a hand.
"It is a temporary role but I had many happy days at QPR and I'm delighted to help."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4699340.stm


QPR OFFICIAL - RETURN OF THE MAC
Former Rangers defender, Alan McDonald has joined QPR to assist Gary Waddock with his coaching duties.'Macca' made over 400 appearances for the Superhoops in a Loftus Road career that spanned from 1981 to 1997.A product of the youth set up, McDonald featured in the 1986 League Cup final and went on to experience both highs and lows with Rangers.The Northern Ireland international soared the dizzy heights when Rangers finished as the top London club in 1993, but also endured relegation from the top flight in 1996.He will arrive at Harlington tomorrow and will be 'on duty' for Saturday's home game against Millwall.Waddock said: "He's QPR through and through and has got a real passion for the club."But he's not just a QPR legend, he's a fully qualified coach who has worked at international level and he's just come back from Israel with the Northern Ireland U21 squad."It wasn't a difficult job to convince him, he's got blue and white blood running though his veins."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~781085,00.html


Belfast Telegraph QPR and the Glens are Big Mac fans
By Stuart McKinley: FOOTBALL10 February 2006

The offer of a temporary coaching position at his former club Queens Park Rangers won't affect Alan McDonald's availability to become the next Glentoran manager.McDonald is the new favourite for the vacant Oval position after the club's first choice, Roy Walker, turned down the job.The Glens board met yesterday and it is understood that the former Northern Ireland captain is now the favoured candidate. Their next move will be to contact McDonald about the possibility of succeeding Roy Coyle, who resigned a week ago.McDonald has already given strong indications of his interest in the job, particularly as he is due to move back to Northern Ireland next month, but the club must make the first move."I would be interested in speaking to Glentoran, but I won't be applying for the job and I haven't had any contact from anyone at the club as yet," said McDonald.One club that has been in touch with McDonald is QPR. The Loftus Road side put manager Ian Holloway on 'gardening leave' earlier this week and handed the reins to reserve team coach Gary Waddock on a temporary basis.They have now invited their ex-skipper to join Waddock in taking charge of team affairs, but McDonald insists that reports on their official website saying that he has already returned to the club are premature."I received a call from Queens Park Rangers when I was with the under-21 squad in Israel asking if I would like to go back and do some coaching," said McDonald."Things happened at the club this week that were completely out of the blue, Gary Waddock is a good friend of mine and he asked if I would be interested in helping him."We are still talking about one or two things, nothing has been decided and nothing has been agreed."If it does happen it will only be a temporary thing for me anyway as my plans to come back to Northern Ireland haven't changed."
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/story.jsp?story=678703


DAILY MIRROR - FRIDAY 10 February 2006
GREGORY'S WHIRL AS QPR BOSS
EXCLUSIVE By Martin Rogers
JOHN GREGORY was last night handed the chance to return to football when he was offered the QPR manager's job.
The former Aston Villa and Derby boss is an old Rangers player and chairman Gianni Paladini wants him to replace the suspended Ian Holloway.
Gregory is keen to get back into management and is expected to agree terms quickly with the Loftus Road club.
He has been out of the game for three years since parting company with Derby. Yet Paladini is confident he is the right man to take the club out of mid-table obscurity in the Championship.
Gary Waddock, a close friend of Gregory's, was placed in temporary charge and the pair are expected to work together.
Holloway was placed on gardening leave by Paladini last week after holding talks with Leicester over their vacant managerial position.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16687142%26method=full%26siteid=94762% 26headline=gregory%2ds%2dwhirl%2das%2dqpr%2dboss%2 d-name_page.html


BBC - Keeper Jones completes QPR move
Queens Park Rangers have signed keeper Paul Jones until the end of the season.
The 38-year-old Wales international was a free agent after being released by Wolves, and had subsequently spent time on trial at West Ham.
But he has decided to join QPR and he told the Stellar Group website: "It has all happened pretty quickly."
"But once I spoke to the club and heard their thoughts on what they were looking for from me, I had little hesitation in signing."
Jones won 44 caps for Wales and spent three months on loan at Millwall earlier this season, with Watford, Liverpool, Southampton, Stockport and Kidderminster his other former clubs.
"It was just one of those things with Wolves, my contract was up in June anyway so we decided to go our separate ways," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.
"As for Wales, I'm still keeping myself fit and available if needed.
"Helping out on the coaching side with our young keepers has been fantastic, so if I can pass something on to them and maybe pick up another few caps that's great."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4698294.stm


EastSleepSports - Jones joins Hoops Fri, Feb 10 2006
QPR have snapped up veteran keeper Paul Jones until the summer following the former Wales international's release from Wolves.
The 38-year-old had been on trial at West Ham after leaving Molineux last month but is pleased to team up with Rangers.
"I trained with the lads this morning and I'm very happy to sign until the end of the season," he told the club's official website.
"Tony Roberts phoned me last week to see if I could play at Leeds but I was on trial at West Ham - I'm very happy to be able to join Rangers this week.
"When a manager has his first game there is normally a big buzz around the ground so I'm hoping to do my part in helping Gary (Waddock) get his first victory.
"I don't know Simon Royce personally but I do know he's a very good goalkeeper. It's up to me to try and impress the new boss and hopefully give him a hard decision to make in the near future."
Jones has made more than 300 League appearances during a 15-year professional career that has included stints at Kidderminster Harriers, Wolves, Stockport County and Southampton.
He has also enjoyed loan spells with Liverpool, Watford and Millwall in the last two years.
http://www.eatsleepsport.com/news_details.aspx?story_id=306261&l_id=2&t_id=64

[News Release from Stellar
Paul Jones signs for QPR until the end of the season
Former Wolves, Liverpool and Wales goalkeeper Paul Jones has joined Championship side QPR until the end of the season after agreeing terms with the London club earlier today.
Paul, who earnt 44 caps for his country, had been invited to spend a few days training with Premiership side West Ham following the release from his contract at Wolves, but following talks at Loftus Road, he has decided his future lies in West London, not East.
The 38 year-old, who has enjoyed a career that has taken him to Wolves, Southampton and Liverpool amongst others, spent three months on loan at Millwall earlier this season. But his first team opportunities were limited at Molineux on his return and he will now hope to compete successfully with current Rangers number one Simon Royce.
Paul spoke to http://www.stellargroup.co.uk/ once he had signed his new contract and spoke of his desire to carry on playing to as high a level as possible:
"I am really pleased to have signed for QPR. It has all happened pretty quickly, but once I spoke to the club and heard their thoughts on what they were looking for from me, I had little hesitation in signing until the end of the season.
"I am going to train as hard as possible and hopefully force my way into the team. But I know a lot about Simon Royce and he is a very good goalkeeper so it should be a very interesting few months and hopefully there will be a good competition for the goalkeepers spot."
http://www.stellargroup.co.uk/news.php?newsid=1527


QPR OFFICIAL - TAYLOR RECALLED
Left back Andy Taylor has been recalled to Blackburn Rovers.
The defender was told by Gary Waddock that he was wasn't going to be used for Saturday's game against Millwall and the Premiership side then called him back to Ewood Park.
Taylor started for Rangers up at Leeds United and came on as a sub against Southampton and Luton Town.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~781479,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - AGM DETAILS
The Eighth Annual General Meeting of QPR Holdings Ltd will be held at the Loftus Road Stadium at 2pm on Friday, March 3.
The meeting is open only to shareholders and not to general members of the public.The 2005 Annual Report is being printed and sent out to shareholders......
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~781534,00.html