QPR REPORT

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Blast from the past
Maradona helps Argentina beat Brazil in exhibition
February 19, 2006 BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) -- Diego Maradona scored two goals to lead Argentina 8-4 over Brazil in an indoor soccer exhibition between former national team players from both countries on Saturday.
The match, watched by more than 10,000 fans at Nilson Nelson arena in Brasilia, was the first of three scheduled between the countries. The other two will take place in the coming months, one in Argentina and another in Brazil.
Former national team players for Brazil included Dunga, Bebeto, Zetti, Aldair, Careca and Muller. The Argentine side included Alejandro Mancuso, Jose Basualdo, Sergio Goycochea and Jorge Burruchaga.
After the match, Brazil's Sports Minister Angnelo Queiroz awarded Maradona the Juscelino Kubitschek trophy.
It was Maradona's first visit to Brazil since he was detained while trying to leave the country after playing a charity match in December.
Argentina's 1986 World Cup hero was detained briefly by airport police after showing contempt to authorities following his late arrival for a flight. He was released after being interrogated and was allowed to return to Argentina. Maradona said that a police officer pointed a gun at his neck during the incident
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/02/19/brazil.maradona.ap/x

Rio delights at Trophy as Dunga turns back clock
20 January 2006by FIFAworldcup.com
It was a typical summer's day in Rio, with plenty of sun, heat and crowded beaches. But it wasn't just any old day. Friday 20 January, a holiday in the city, was marked by the public display of the FIFA World Cup™ trophy. Over 13,000 people made the journey to the old fort on Copacabana beach to take a closer look at the most famous and coveted Trophy in the world.
Anyone who expected to arrive and walk right up to the trophy, however, was in for a surprise. A magnificent structure had been prepared to receive the public and provide them with every possible comfort. In an area covering 12,000 square metres, everyone who went along to see the cup saw a whole lot more.
First, there was a large entertainment area, with games and activities for all ages, including video games, table football (known in Brazil as totó or pebolim), balloons, body painting and other attractions mainly aimed at children. The youngest could learn about, and the oldest recall, historic moments from the FIFA World Cup by walking through a 'time tunnel' adorned by panels showing headlines from old newspapers and magazines. Many were thrilled at the sight of sticker albums and other memorabilia.
Another notable attraction was a ten-minute film made especially for the Trophy Tour. Many of those who saw it were amazed by the production. "Fascinating", "Ten out of ten" and "Out of this world" were some of the comments heard after the showing. But the general view was that nothing could surpass the excitement of seeing the Trophy itself up close. "Simply beautiful," said advertising student Nathercio Carreiro.
Enlarge PhotoPhoto Gallery
"It was very exciting," added radiologist Loren Oliveira. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Daniel said: "I couldn't even sleep properly because I was dreaming about seeing the Cup, and now that I've seen it, I'm dreaming about winning it as a player." Fernanda Gomes, a 22-year-old student, summed up the general mood of those who had seen the exhibition: "It was better than I expected."
Reliving the momentThe best, however, was saved for the end of the day. As it would have been impossible to accommodate everyone who wanted to see the trophy in a closed space, the event organisers put on a big party on Flamengo beach, with a music show and a special guest in Dunga, Brazil's victorious captain at USA 94.
Amid an explosion of confetti and light, Dunga, who had received special authorisation from FIFA to touch the Trophy, repeated the gesture that every Brazilian remembers when he lifted the Cup in triumph 12 years ago – albeit this time to the delirious cheers of 100,000 people packed onto the sands. Then it was over to the Brazilian band Skank to close the proceedings, their act beginning with the hit song 'It's a football match'.
Captain's emotionShortly before repeating the gesture which immortalised him in 1994, the now retired Dunga told FIFAworldcup.com what it felt like to be at the party. He also spoke of the excitement of lifting the FIFA World Cup first time round - and gave his opinion on the importance of the Trophy Tour.
FIFAworldcup.com: How did you feel before seeing the FIFA World Cup again?
Dunga: I felt a little nervous, but not too much. If you've played in a World Cup final, these things are easier to deal with.
What's going through your head now?
It's like I'm watching a movie. Those memories are unique. On that day (when Brazil beat Italy on penalties to win the Cup), we fulfilled the dream of every Brazilian.
It looked like you were screaming when you lifted the Cup in 1994.
It wasn't out of sorrow or rage. I was shouting at a selfish journalist who wanted me to strike a pose. After 24 years without a title, posing for a photo was the last thing on my mind.
And are you going to pose today?
I'm going to lift the cup up as high as possible so that everyone can see it. The Brazilian people deserve it.
What do you think of FIFA and Coca-Cola's idea to promote a Trophy Tour?
I believe that many of the world's problems can be solved through football. In football, in the World Cup, everyone is equal. There are no differences of race, religion or class. A single passion unites the whole world. That's why it's important that this tour is passing through a few economically deprived countries, especially some of the countries who won't be competing for the Cup in Germany. By doing this, FIFA is promoting development in these countries by attracting the attention of sponsors.
When a country like South Africa hosts a World Cup, it will be able to develop much more quickly as the competition attracts many investors. This is a praiseworthy initiative as it's also democratic. The great majority of people here cannot afford to go to the World Cup, but they can get to see the Cup up close as FIFA has brought it to them.
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060124/1/5wm9.html

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Sunday Mirror - Jason Roberts Praise for Holloway
February 26, 2006
Jason Roberts had his career turned round on a muddy, miserable afternoon of swearing, shouting and personal insults.The giant striker's career hits a new high today when he leads Wigan into their first major final. And he's got there thanks to a lot of hard work - and a bit of brutal bullying by former boss Ian Holloway.
Roberts is one of the graduates of Holloway's amazing Premiership centre-forward school that has also groomed West Ham's Bobby Zamora, West Brom's Nathan Ellington and Liverpool's giant Peter Crouch.It was Holloway who rescued Roberts when he was failing in the reserves at Wolves and then nurtured his raw talent. Holloway said: "Jason was all raw pace, power and hunger with a great desire to get better but a burning anger that he couldn't live up to his family reputation."
Everywhere he went he was compared to his uncle Cyrille Regis, and at 15 or 16 he even stopped playing altogether because he couldn't deal with it." When we signed him at Bristol Rovers my No.2 Gary Penrice, who had been a striker himself, explained his problem was that because of all that was in his head he couldn't focus."Gary used to try to put him off during shooting practice and suddenly Jason started ignoring him and nearly everything he hit went in."He hasn't looked back and nobody will be more proud than me to see him walk out for a Cup final this weekend."

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-Guardian -Blades barred but Rangers run riotMike Anstead at Bramall LaneMonday February 27, 2006The Guardian
Neil Warnock has asked Sheffield United's fans to unite as the club pursues Premiership football. The manager's promotion plan now includes a pub ban on his players, invoked after Alan Quinn's alleged brawl with a Sheffield Wednesday fan over a game of pool in The Pheasant a day after United's derby win last weekend.The former Wednesday midfielder avoided being fined two weeks' wages despite being arrested and bailed until April pending further inquiries but Warnock and United's fans are now on pub-watch.The players won't be going in any pubs until the end of the season. We can't let anything detract from what we want to do," the United manager said. "If anybody sees any of my lads in any pubs between now and the end of the season, I'd love them to let me know so I can get a couple of weeks' wages off the players."Asked if there was now an alcohol ban, Warnock joked: "No, they can get pissed at home if they want."United's hold on the second automatic promotion place is being watered down and this defeat means Watford are now just seven points behind. Supporters are craving for a return to the Premiership after an extended spell of underachievement and frustrations were again aired at Bramall Lane."You've got to be a little bit patient but the fans are so frustrated being where they are for so many years. It's easy to criticise but the fans don't think what damage it does to certain players," said Warnock, who is favouring a calmer approach. "It wasn't a time for throwing teacups after the game. Everyone was disappointed and it should hurt. It's not a teacup time at the moment but I'm sure by the end of the season there might be the odd one."Warnock and his opposite number, QPR's caretaker manager Gary Waddock, agreed that the game's turning point was Paul Jones's save from Paul Ifill's penalty at the start of the second half when the hosts were leading 2-1. Had Ifill scored, United would have undoubtedly gone on to win but the agility of the 38-year-old Jones inspired Rangers to an unlikely victory. The visitors were soon level when Chris Morgan edged Marc Nygaard's header into his own goal.It was hardly a day of celebration for the United captain, who was making his 100th league start for the club. Morgan was later outwitted by Paul Furlong, who drove home the winner from 10 yards."No one gave us a chance coming up here. It should have been about 5-3 to us," said the Rangers midfielder Marc Bircham, and he was right. Bircham's own-goal straight from Chris Armstrong's corner ensured United led at half-time after Ade Akinbiyi's glancing header had cancelled out Nygaard's fortunate opener.
Bircham heads a group of leading Rangers players eager to see Waddock and his caretaker assistant Alan McDonald installed on a permanent basis once the chairman, Gianni Paladini, comes to an agreement with Ian Holloway, who is currently on "gardening leave" after applying for the vacancy at Leicester City.
Having stuck posters of his temporary management team on his wall as a young boy, Bircham, a lifelong QPR fan, is looking no further for Holloway's replacement. "You can't get two more QPR people than Gary Waddock and Alan McDonald. I've been watching them for years," Bircham said, his eyes lighting up at the mere thought of working with men he once attempted to imitate in the playground."Wadds was probably my first hero at QPR with his auburn barnet. He was Rangers through and through, and Macca was there for 12 years as a professional. Whatever they say is gospel. If Wadds got the job I think everyone in the dressing room would be happy."Waddock, 43, will be offered - and gladly accept - his first permanent manager's job at the end of the season should results like this continue.
Warnock has 20 years of managerial experience and would no doubt offer a few wise words for one so new to the game, just maybe not over a pint and a game of pool in his South Yorkshire local.
Man of the match Paddy KennyThe Republic of Ireland goalkeeper saved his side from a heavier defeat with a series of quality saves as the weakened United defence was cut apart by QPR's rampant forwards. Best moment Soaring full stretch to his left, he palmed away Lee Cook's curling free-kick, destined for the top corner, towards the end of the first-half when United were ahead. http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1718786,00.html


THE TIMES Waddock offers food for thoughtBy Phil
IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY that Ian Holloway would have actually spent Saturday afternoon digging over his flower beds or pottering around the shed as his “gardening leave” from Queens Park Rangers stretched into another week. But if he was anywhere near a radio providing commentary from Bramall Lane, he will now know that there is more chance of him having a gold medal-winning entry at the Chelsea Flower Show than returning to the manager’s post at Loftus Road.On the evidence of a second win in his absence, QPR have already moved on and there can be no going back regardless of whether he makes peace with Gianni Paladini, the chairman.Paladini could have by now been ruing his controversial decision a fortnight ago to remove Holloway from his job of the past six years after he apparently showed an interest in moving to Leicester City. But Gary Waddock, the caretaker manager, has ensured that the uncertainty away from the pitch has not distracted the players. Indeed, the apparent ease with which they have coped with the loss of Holloway could appear almost indecent.
Marc Bircham would seem to represent a consensus of opinion from within the dressing-room. “Everybody loved Ian Holloway,” the midfield player said. “It was the weirdest feeling when he stepped down. I wanted to feel disappointed, but then I was excited because Gary Waddock has come in.“Gary is a fantastic coach. He was my first hero when I started watching QPR. He has done a great job so far and we think he is more than capable of doing well if he gets the job on a full-time basis.“Ian is officially on gardening leave, but I think we all know he is not coming back because of the way he left a couple of weeks ago. He has, though, left a legacy after six brilliant years at the club.”
A few more battling victories such as this and Waddock could yet be leading QPR into the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs. Waddock, however, prefers not to look beyond the next game. “I will just do what I can until a decision is made,” he said. “I am working on a game-to-game basis. I am enjoying every moment of it, though. I joined this club when I was 13 and have played at every level for them. So it is magnificent to be the caretaker manager.”United, who started the game ten points clear in second place but are now anxiously casting a glance at Watford and Leeds United, were stunned when the pace of Marc Nygaard, the QPR striker, led to them conceding after six minutes.Nygaard looked ungainly as he bore down on Paddy Kenny in the United goal, but was composed enough to shake off the challenge of two home defenders before rounding the goalkeeper.Ade Akinbiyi scored his first goal at Bramall Lane since completing a £1.75 million transfer from Burnley with a back-header in the 21st minute. Eight minutes later they were ahead through Bircham’s own goal from a corner and United, with only one win from the past five matches, would possibly have secured maximum points had Paul Ifill’s weak penalty not been saved by Paul Jones.United wilted and conceded an equaliser seven minutes later when Chris Morgan turned the ball into the roof of his own net from a punt by Lee Cook into the six-yard box.QPR secured the win 16 minutes from time when Paul Furlong completed a torrid second half for Morgan by turning him with ease before guiding a left-footed shot beyond Kennyhttp://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-2060103,00.html


INDEPENDENTWarnock imposes promotion pub watch By Jon Culley
Published: 27 February 2006Sheffield United's players have had better weekends. As if a second home defeat in three games were not enough, encouraging Watford and Leeds to believe they might yet deprive them of automatic promotion, they have also had to stomach the news that if they are spotted drinking in public between now and the end of April they will be fined two weeks' wages.What is more, manager Neil Warnock is encouraging United fans to "shop" their heroes if they see them flouting the ban.It follows a disturbance in a public house the day after United won the Sheffield derby the previous weekend in the wake of which United's former Wednesday midfielder Alan Quinn was arrested.Warnock said that Quinn, who is currently out of the side through injury, will be cleared of any wrongdoing and therefore escape disciplinary action. But he is so determined that nothing will undermine United's Premiership ambitions Warnock will not allow his players into a pub even for a soft drink."I've spoken to a number of people about the incident and Alan is in the clear as far as I am concerned, even though going into a Wednesday pub was not the brightest thing to do the day after the derby," Warnock said. "But none of my players will be going into a pub between now and the end of the season because you can get into trouble even if you are only drinking orange juice."We cannot let anything detract from what we want to do," he added, "and I'll tell the fans in my programme notes for the game against Crewe next Friday that if they see one of my players in a pub I'd love them to let me know."Meanwhile, Warnock will tell his players that the Crewe game is their opportunity to right the wrongs committed on the field on Saturday, when United recovered from the loss of an early goal to lead 2-1 at half-time but then missed a penalty before allowing managerless Queen's Park Rangers to record their first away win of 2006.The result loosens his side's grip on second place to the extent that Watford are now within seven points of catching them. Leeds, due at Bramall Lane in April, are a further point adrift with a game in hand."After we missed the penalty a few heads went down and we are not used to that," Warnock said. "It is now about how we bounce back."Marc Nygaard had put Rangers ahead but Ade Akinbiyi equalised before a Marc Bircham own goal gave United the lead. Had Paul Ifill's spot-kick early in the second half not been saved by Paul Jones, United might have taken a stranglehold. Instead, Chris Morgan put through his own net to bring Rangers level and the 37-year-old Paul Furlong ran on to the excellent Lee Cook's pass to clinch victory."We deserved the result although the penalty was a turning point," QPR's stand-in manager, Gary Waddock, said..http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article347984.ece


TELEGRAPH -Sheffield steel starting to lose its edge
By Peter Gardner (Filed: 27/02/2006)Gary Waddock, the caretaker manager of Queens Park Rangers, enhanced his prospects of securing the position on a permanent basis with a surprise, but richly deserved, victory that left Sheffield United anxiously eyeing the two clubs immediately below them.Watford and Leeds are seven and eight points, respectively, behind Neil Warnock's team, and Leeds in particular have a realistic opportunity to overhaul them because they have a game in hand and have still to visit Bramall Lane.Sheffield are enduring an inconsistent period, particularly at home where they have taken just one point from the last three matches. Indeed, apart from the victories over neighbouring Wednesday and equally struggling Derby, United have suffered an indifferent February.It has left their supporters more than a little disgruntled and many expressed their dissatisfaction as Rangers became the first team this season to secure a double over United.However, Warnock remained bullish. He said: "Whatever points we have at this moment with 10 games to go, we would have been absolutely delighted to be in that position before the season started. What is important now is how we cope and respond."Like me, the fans are frustrated. But sometimes they don't realise the damage it does to certain players who started to get rid of the ball earlier than they otherwise would have done."Paul Ifill was a particular target for abuse, doubtless because of his 50th-minute penalty miss - Paul Jones saved after Ian Evatt had fouled Chris Morgan - which proved the defining moment. It would have put United 3-1 ahead and Warnock said: "Heads dropped after that."
Penalties are a rarity for United whose previous one came in the opening game, although Warnock refused to blame Ifill for the miss."It can happen to anyone. We don't get many penalties and that's why we were out of practice," Warnock added.Nevertheless, United might have lost more emphatically as Rangers created to greater effect in the second half. Veteran Paul Furlong struck the crossbar and substitute Sammy Youssof scorned an even better opportunity when one-on-one with home goalkeeper Paddy Kenny who had earlier denied Furlong and Lee Cook.Marc Nygaard's fifth-minute opener was followed by an Ade Akinbiyi headed equaliser before Marc Bircham's own goal put United ahead. A further own goal by Morgan levelled for Rangers whose superiority was confirmed by Furlong.
Bircham, although backing Waddock for the full-time job, was critical of the way Ian Holloway had been removed from the position three weeks ago.Bircham said: "If 'Wads' got the job, I think everyone in that dressing room would be happy."They say Olly's on gardening leave but all of us know he isn't really coming back. The way it happened, that was the only disappointment. If he's going to leave, then it should be done properly. Whatever happens, he's left a legacy at the club."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=PR2UG2B5NMI2RQFIQMGCFF4AVCBQUIV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/27/sfgshe27.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/27/ixfooty.html

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Daily Mail 'reports/claims''- Holloway Accepts QPR Deal...staying on payroll.
BBC Gossip' 'cites the Daily Mail - "Former QPR boss Ian Holloway has accepted a deal from the club where he will stay on the payroll for the remainder of his contract." (Daily Mail) http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/4753884.stm

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[Not sure what the record books will say about how long Holloway was QPR manager. But most QPR fans are grateful for what he did in much of his time at QPR .
A reminder of Holloway at http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/hollowayspeech.asp ]


BBC - February 26, 2001
QPR name Holloway as boss
Queens Park Rangers have named Ian Holloway as the new manager at Loftus Road.
Former QPR midfielder Holloway - sacked as Bristol Rovers boss last month - takes over from Gerry Francis who announced he was standing down 10 days ago.
I can't wait to take it on and I feel we can kick on from this
QPR boss Ian Holloway
He said: "I'm absolutely delighted to take this challenge on and motivate some of these players.
"It was a huge part of my playing career and I felt so proud. Anybody that watched me play could see what I was - whole-hearted and determined.
"This is the biggest club I ever played for and what we achieved in those five years, I was delighted.
"I can't wait to take it on and I feel we can kick on from this."
Optimistic
Holloway has joined Rangers on a contract for the remainder of this season and the whole of next term with options for an extension.
He is optimistic that he can keep the struggling club in the First Division, but insists that it is not just down to him.
"The players have got to work hard and they'll get honesty and enthusiasm from me and hopefully that will rub off.
"We are fully realistic of where we are and what we've got to do."
The former Rovers boss takes charge of first-team affairs on Tuesday and will work alongside his former mentor Francis, who has become the club's director of football.
But Holloway's appointment - which Francis is widely reported to have supported - throws the future of Rangers' assistant manager Iain Dowie into doubt.
Dowie was desperate to take over but, having failed in his second bid to land the job, could be set to leave the club altogether especially if - as expected - Holloway brings in Gary Penrice as his assistant. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1190402.stm


Monday, February 26, 2001 :
Soccer: Holloway named QPR boss
1:27:06 PM Ian Holloway has been named as the new manager of struggling First Division side Queens Park Rangers.Holloway was sacked as manager of Second Division Bristol Rovers last month and takes over from Gerry Francis, who recently resigned as QPR boss.Holloway made more than 200 appearances for the Loftus Road club between 1991 and 1996.He will take over another club fighting relegation - Rangers are fourth bottom of Division One and were on the wrong end of a 5-0 drubbing at Wimbledon on Saturday.Bristol Rovers almost won a play-off place under Holloway last season, but have endured a dramatic change of fortune this season.Despite beating Everton in the Worthington Cup under Holloway, they failed to win a home game prior to his departure on January 30.
http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2001/02/26/story5110.asp

[Just one of the scores of interviews and profiles of Ian Hollway which show the man as much as the manager.]

November 2003 Observer Interview with Holloway
Interview: Ian Holloway
Triumph and despair 'Having three deaf children out of four is so rare. We had the same chance of winning the lottery five times over.' The Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway talks candidly about being a 'bolshie parent' - and how doing the best by his family disrupted his football career. Interview by Denis CampbellSunday November 2, 2003
It was a real shock when we found out that Eve and Chloe were deaf. You take it for granted with babies that there will never be anything wrong. William, our first born, had normal hearing. The twins looked fine. When they were born 14 years ago the doctors said they were perfectly healthy. But then, deafness is an invisible disability. After about six months we began to suspect something was wrong when we saw one of them mouthing words but with no sound coming out of her mouth.
We were confused because they could laugh and cry and we thought they wouldn't be able to do that if they had a hearing problem, but apparently they're natural things that all children do. Hearing tests were inconclusive, the medical people kept saying not to worry, and it wasn't until they were 16 months old that they were confirmed as being profoundly deaf. A hearing specialist came round, got a big heavy bell out of her bag and waved it behind the girls. They didn't react at all. Then we knew for sure that something was wrong.
We were shocked and suddenly out of our depth. We knew nothing about deafness and didn't really understand it either. I mean, even if you really shove your fingers into your own ears, you still can't make yourself deaf, so it's a very difficult condition to appreciate. The scariest thing was not knowing how to communicate with them, so we got a deaf woman called Christina in to teach us British Sign Language. That helped get rid of our frustration at not being able to get through to our daughters; it unlocked the door to communication.
After the girls, Kim was worried that if we had another child he or she would be deaf too. But the doctors told us that there was only a remote probability of that happening, even though both Kim and I carry a gene that means we're much more likely to have a deaf child. Then two years later we had Harriet and she was deaf too. Having three deaf children out of four is unbelievably rare. Statistically, we had the same chance of winning the Lottery five times over.
Eve and Chloe's birth was the start of a long fight and we're still angry that nobody told us just how big a challenge it was going to be having deaf twins. We had to learn basic things such as how you get a deaf child's attention. With a hearing child you can just shout: 'Oi!' But that obviously wouldn't work with the girls. If you want to tell off a hearing child, you just get louder and louder until they stop doing something. But if you're telling off a deaf child, they'll shield their eyes and won't look at you. Christina taught us that leaving the room is the best response.
The situation nearly did drive us crazy at one stage. We had three children, two of them deaf, Kim was pregnant again, and the twins' behaviour was out of control. As well as not being able to hear, they also had glue ear, which is horrendously painful. They would wake up screaming in the middle of the night, and I'd have to run outside with them and let the fresh air shock them out of it. They were deeply frustrated that the only way they could communicate with us was through sign language. They threw terrible tantrums.
It's been a fight all the way along to get proper provision for the girls, especially a good education. There's been rows, tribunals, appeals and endless phone calls. We have been labelled as bolshie parents. My view is that every child in the world has the right to be educated properly and whether your eyes or ears don't work is irrelevant. But the system at the moment makes that difficult. It's all about how much money each education authority wants to hand out to their minority of deaf people.
We've twice had to move home to get what we wanted for them. The first time was when I was playing for Queens Park Rangers in the mid-1990s. We were living in Camberley in Surrey, but the nursery school they were in had only basic sign language, so we moved back to Bristol, where we both come from, so they could attend Elmfield School for the Deaf there.
Our view was that the girls' development had suffered enough and that we shouldn't lose any more time. But moving there meant that every day for three and a half years I had a 250-mile round trip from Bristol to QPR's training ground in west London then back home again. Gerry Francis, my manager at the time, was sympathetic.
But it didn't help my care er. I developed terrible sciatica from sitting in the car all that time, even if the journey to London was a relief sometimes because it was an escape from the pressures of being at home. It was a chance to have a couple of hours to myself to think and reflect, which was nice.
We moved again from Bristol to St Albans in Hertfordshire, where we live now, so that Eve, Chloe and Hattie would be in the catchment area to attend a brilliant secondary school here called Heathlands, where 70 deaf children are taught alongside hundreds of hearing children. It's a great place and means the kids haven't become isolated by going to a school for the deaf. The full national curriculum is taught by sign language and the headmistress is deaf herself; she's the only deaf head in the country.
We still feel that we're lucky. Yes, our children have a disability, but it's an invisible disability and in every other way they're perfect, and we're so thankful for that. To experience the sheer trust and the love of a deaf child is amazing. The girls' deafness has touched and enhanced our lives. We're better people because of it.
The life facts
Born on 12 March 1963 in Bristol, Ian Holloway played 561 league games during a 19-year career as a midfielder with Bristol Rovers, Wimbledon, Torquay, Brentford and Queens Park Rangers. He became player-manager of Bristol Rovers in 1996, aged just 33, and since February 2001 has been the boss of QPR, whom he took to the Second Division play-off final last May. He is married to Kim and they live with their four children - William, twins Eve and Chloe, and Harriet - in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,1072689,00.html

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SUPPORT FOR WADDOCK TO GET THE JOB....CRITICISM OF THE WAY HOLLOWAY WAS TREATED
"...the clamour in the QPR camp is growing for caretaker-boss Gary Waddock to be handed the reins full time after a second win in just his third match in charge.Having spent his entire playing career at Loftus Road, Waddock admits he would jump at the chance once Ian Holloway's gardening leave is resolved.And midfielder Marc Bircham would love to see his "hero" and assistant Alan McDonald remain at the helm. "If Wads got the job, I think everyone in that dressing room would be happy," said the boyhood Rangers fan."Waddo is more than capable. He's a fantastic coach and he's got the tactical know-how with the managers he's played under."He's played under some of the best managers like George Graham and Terry Venables and he can take the best bits under those managers and bring them to this side."Wadds was probably my first hero at QPR. He was Rangers through and through and Macca was there as a professional for 12 years."They've come in and done a brilliant job."You can't get two more QPR people than Gary Waddock and Alan McDonald - I remember watching them for years."However, Bircham was critical of the manner of Holloway's departure almost three weeks ago, calling him "the best manager I've ever played under"."They say Olly's on gardening leave but all of us know he isn't really coming back," Bircham said."The way it happened, that was the only disappointment. If he's going to leave the club, then it should be done properly."Whatever happens, he's left a legacy at the football club."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/26/SOCCER_Sheff_Utd.html



PA Sports -BOO-BOYS DOING DAMAGE - WARNOCK
By Ben Rumsby, PA Sport
The Bramall Lane boo-boys are endangering Sheffield United's Coca-Cola Championship promotion charge, according to Blades boss Neil Warnock.
QPR became the first side to do the double over Warnock's men this season with a 3-2 win on Saturday which put arguably the biggest dent yet in United's Barclays Premiership ambitions.
The defeat means the Blades have won only one of their last five games, and with Leeds and Watford both winning, what was a 10-point gap to third place could be down to just two should Leeds win at Bramall Lane on Easter Monday.
It might have been so different had Paul Ifill netted a penalty when United were 2-1 up, but sloppy defending allowed Rangers to climb off the ropes, much to the ire of the home supporters.
In fact, certain sections of the crowd began venting their frustrations as early as the sixth minute, when Marc Nygaard took full advantage of a sleepwalking United defence to put Rangers ahead.
A lifelong Blades fan himself, Warnock insists he can understand the supporters' fears of throwing away their best chance of a top-flight return since relegation 12 years ago but argues such pessimism is counter-productive.
"Most of them just feel like I do." he said. "I think they're so frustrated, the fans, having been where they are for so many years.
"It is easy to criticise but unfortunately fans don't think about the damage it does to certain players.
"It was very frustrating in the first five minutes. I thought it was unfair really and put more pressure on people.
"Three or four lads, early doors, got rid of the ball a lot quicker than they should and they were knocking long balls rather than keeping possession.
"We've got to stand up and make sure we don't respond to that. The crowds are going to be frustrated at times but 15 minutes, 20 minutes later we're winning 2-1.
"As I said to them at half-time, it's 'Warnock out' or 'Warnock for England'."
Despite insisting he was not concerned about the threat of Leeds, Warnock admitted he would rather be playing them next than rock-bottom Crewe.
He said: "We haven't got to worry too much about the doom-and-gloom merchants, we've got to get on with the job in hand now, which is getting back to winning ways on Friday night.
"We've got bottom of the league next and I wish it was Leeds next week and not Crewe."

While Warnock has his critics, the clamour in the QPR camp is growing for caretaker-boss Gary Waddock to be handed the reins full time after a second win in just his third match in charge.
Having spent his entire playing career at Loftus Road, Waddock admits he would jump at the chance once Ian Holloway's gardening leave is resolved.
And midfielder Marc Bircham would love to see his "hero" and assistant Alan McDonald remain at the helm. "If Wads got the job, I think everyone in that dressing room would be happy," said the boyhood Rangers fan.
"Waddo is more than capable. He's a fantastic coach and he's got the tactical know-how with the managers he's played under.
"He's played under some of the best managers like George Graham and Terry Venables and he can take the best bits under those managers and bring them to this side.
"Wadds was probably my first hero at QPR. He was Rangers through and through and Macca was there as a professional for 12 years.
"They've come in and done a brilliant job.
"You can't get two more QPR people than Gary Waddock and Alan McDonald - I remember watching them for years."
However, Bircham was critical of the manner of Holloway's departure almost three weeks ago, calling him "the best manager I've ever played under".
"They say Olly's on gardening leave but all of us know he isn't really coming back," Bircham said.
"The way it happened, that was the only disappointment. If he's going to leave the club, then it should be done properly.
"Whatever happens, he's left a legacy at the football club."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/26/SOCCER_Sheff_Utd.html


The Sunday Times Blades’ soft centre exposed
Alan Combes at Bramall Lane
NOT just the result but the manner of Sheffield United’s defeat should give succour to the chasing pack in the Championship. This game showed that for all their embarrassment of riches up front, United have failed woefully to develop an effective rearguard and remain vulnerable to pace and height.
What was demonstrated so clearly in the 4-1 home defeat by Watford three weeks ago was given further substance here as Queens Park Rangers completed an improbable league double.
A glimpse at the substitutes’ bench is said to be the most effective method of assessing a strong team in England’s top two divisions these days. So it must have been with a heavy heart that QPR fans noted that the Blades contained strikers in reserve such as Neil Shipperley, Danny Webber and Steve Kabba. Rangers’ caretaker manager Gary Waddock could only dream about having such talent at his disposal.
Imbued with fresh confidence after impressive displays against Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, United opened with unaccountable caution. QPR’s Steve Lomas staked his claim to run the show from the outset and he was the one who dug the ball out of midfield and found Marc Nygaard on the halfway line. Nygaard was more effective than pretty as he wove his path through Chris Armstrong and Neil Collins, but he was the one to emerge with the ball when Chris Morgan and Paddy Kenny jumped into the fray. Finding the net was the easy part of his task and Rangers led with just six minutes on the clock.
The game developed into a curious mix of intricate passing that would have graced a higher level and devil-may-care clearances of park football quality. United might have looked vulnerable at the back, but it was inevitable that a Michael Tonge cross would find a striker’s head. So it was that Ade Akinbiyi was the man to float his header past Paul Jones for the 21st-minute equaliser. Self-belief had returned to the Blades’ ranks and, eight minutes later, an Armstrong corner was headed into his own net by Marc Bircham under pressure from Chris Morgan.
With Paul Ifill causing problems down Rangers’ left flank, United were in the ascendancy. However, a Lomas free kick that brought a stunning save from Kenny and Paul Furlong’s wasting of a good chance reminded the Blades that QPR were far from a spent force.
Neil Collins’s free kick just after the interval led to a hotly-disputed penalty when Ian Evatt brought down Morgan in the six-yard box. But United spurned their chance of a two-goal comfort zone when Ifill sacrificed power for direction with his spot kick and Jones pounced on the ball inside his right post.
Rangers bounced back in the 56th minute when Matthew Rose and Cook worked a neat corner that found Nygaard’s head and entered the net via Morgan’s abortive clearance.
Lee Cook, whose stature had grown with every touch of the ball, ran fearlessly at the heart of United’s defence before laying off to Furlong. Neatly sidestepping Morgan, Furlong effortlessly dispatched the ball past Kenny. With a combination of aerial power and incisive promptings from midfield, Rangers had wrestled control of a game they had never looked like winning at half-time.
Warnock threw on his three substitutes, but by the time they had settled Rangers had the game firmly in their grip. They did have two lucky escapes in the closing seconds, when first David Unsworth fired narrowly wide after his own free kick and Armstrong scuffed an opening created by Webber.
STAR MAN: Lee Cook (QPR)
Player ratings: Sheffield United: Kenny 6, Kozluk 6, Collins 5, Morgan 3, Armstrong 5, Ifill 4, Jagielka 6, Montgomery 5 (Unsworth 63min, 3), Tonge 7, Horsfield 5 (Webber 66min, 6), Akinbiyi 6 (Shipperley 78min, 5)
QPR: Jones 6, Bignot 5, Shittu 6, Evatt 5, Rose 6, Langley 6, Bircham 5, Lomas 7 (Santos 90min, 5), Cook 8, Furlong 7, Nygaard 7 (Youssouf 72min, 5)
Scorers: Sheffield United: Akinbiyi 21, Bircham og 29
QPR: Nygaard 6, Morgan og 56, Furlong 74
Referee: K Friend
Attendance: 25,360
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2058851,00.html


Independent - Sheffield Utd 2 QPR 3:
Blades off the rails in the final furlong
By Jon Culley at Bramall Lane
Published: 26 February 2006
United remain strong favourites to accompany Reading in claiming automatic promotion to the Premiership but nerves are beginning to jangle at Bramall Lane, where Queen's Park Rangers delivered the shock of a second home defeat within a month for Neil Warnock's team, who have won only twice in seven matches.
Yesterday, United went behind early, recovered to lead 2-1, but then missed a penalty and conceded an own goal before the veteran striker Paul Furlong fired in a 74th-minute winner for Rangers.
The consequence is that the gap between the Sheffield side and the nearest pretender to second place is down to seven points following Watford's win over Cardiff. None the less, Warnock says his side should not allow doubts to undermine them.
"If we'd known before the season started that we would be in this position with 10 games left we would have been delighted," he said. "It is how we react to this that is important but if we look after ourselves we needn't fear Leeds or anyone else." Their fans do not see things the same way. After Marc Nygaard had beaten Paddy Kenny at the second attempt to give Rangers a sixth-minute lead, some supporters vented their frustration and Warnock admitted that his players had been affected.
Rangers surrendered their advantage in the 22nd minute with a soft goal. Their goalkeeper Paul Jones was caught flat-footed by Michael Tonge's cross and Ade Akinbiyi beat him with a looping header.
If that was a gift, United's second goal required even less work, the mere presence of the captain, Chris Morgan, at his shoulder was enough to force Marc Bircham to turn Chris Armstrong's inswinging corner into his own net. It was an advantage to which United should have added five minutes following the restart after Morgan had been hauled down by Ian Evatt inside the Rangers penalty area. But Jones dived to his right to save Paul Ifill's penalty kick.
Even QPR's temporary manager, Gary Waddock, admitted that a 3-1 lead for United would have been difficult to overturn. Instead, the cost of Ifill's miss increased seven minutes later as Morgan put the ball into his own net. With 16 minutes left, Lee Cook set up Furlong to send a diagonal shot beyond Kenny and win the points for Rangers.
United remain strong favourites to accompany Reading in claiming automatic promotion to the Premiership but nerves are beginning to jangle at Bramall Lane, where Queen's Park Rangers delivered the shock of a second home defeat within a month for Neil Warnock's team, who have won only twice in seven matches.
Yesterday, United went behind early, recovered to lead 2-1, but then missed a penalty and conceded an own goal before the veteran striker Paul Furlong fired in a 74th-minute winner for Rangers.
The consequence is that the gap between the Sheffield side and the nearest pretender to second place is down to seven points following Watford's win over Cardiff. None the less, Warnock says his side should not allow doubts to undermine them.
"If we'd known before the season started that we would be in this position with 10 games left we would have been delighted," he said. "It is how we react to this that is important but if we look after ourselves we needn't fear Leeds or anyone else." Their fans do not see things the same way. After Marc Nygaard had beaten Paddy Kenny at the second attempt to give Rangers a sixth-minute lead, some supporters vented their frustration and Warnock admitted that his players had been affected.
Rangers surrendered their advantage in the 22nd minute with a soft goal. Their goalkeeper Paul Jones was caught flat-footed by Michael Tonge's cross and Ade Akinbiyi beat him with a looping header.
If that was a gift, United's second goal required even less work, the mere presence of the captain, Chris Morgan, at his shoulder was enough to force Marc Bircham to turn Chris Armstrong's inswinging corner into his own net. It was an advantage to which United should have added five minutes following the restart after Morgan had been hauled down by Ian Evatt inside the Rangers penalty area. But Jones dived to his right to save Paul Ifill's penalty kick.
Even QPR's temporary manager, Gary Waddock, admitted that a 3-1 lead for United would have been difficult to overturn. Instead, the cost of Ifill's miss increased seven minutes later as Morgan put the ball into his own net. With 16 minutes left, Lee Cook set up Furlong to send a diagonal shot beyond Kenny and win the points for Rangers
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article347786.ece

QPR Club Call - Waddock on future
Q.P.R caretaker manager Gary Waddock has said he will look at his position only on a 'game by game' basis, following the 3-2 victory against Sheffield United on Saturday.
"I have enjoyed every minute of it," said Warnock on his role.
"To be caretaker manager of a club that I joined when I was 12 and played at every age group and then been given this wonderful opportunity to manage and come to places like this and get a result is amazing.
"I am doing it on a caretaker basis, I am looking at it on a game to game basis. Olly is on gardening leave and is still the manager of this football club and I will do the best I can in charge of it.
"He gave me the opportunity at the footballl club to coach and I owe him a lot."
Waddock believed the turning point in the game was Paul Jones penalty save from Ifill on 49 minutes at Brammal Lane.
"It was the turning point," said Waddock.
"Sometimes you need a bit of luck, and we got that today and we went on to get a good result.
"If you're coming up to Sheffield United you are not going to dominate the game, there are going to be spells when you are under pressure.
"We defended well and we created a lot of chances in the second-half."
"The group of players have worked their socks off. We dug deep, and got a fantastic result.
"I have enjoyed every minute of it.
http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-234805-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html


Sheffield United Clubcall - Warnock: Pen miss crucial
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock believed Paul Ifill's 49th minute penalty miss was the turning point in the game, following the 3-2 defeat against Q.P.R on Saturday.
Rangers took the lead through Nygaard (6), but the Blades hit back through Akinbiyi (21) and Bircham (og 29). The visitors scored twice in the second-half through Morgan (og 56) and Furlong (74), and the Blades boss blamed the penalty miss.
"I knew it was a crucial time in the game," said Warnock.
"I thought we would have gone on to win the game, but football has that nasty habit sometimes and I think we got well beat in the end.
"It was a game we should have won comfortably and we ended up not getting anything from it.
"Everyone was distraught in the dressing room but you have to look at the positives. We've got a game in six days and then we are on the road. We haven't got to worry too much, and we must get back to winning ways.
"You could see their heads go down, it happens everywhere, possibly you learn more about some players in poor games, it is how we cope now and how we respond.
"We don't like losing games but it has happened.
"It was a game we should have won, but we were slow to get out of the gates."
http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-234802-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDOCK'S RESPONSE
Gary Waddock was delighted after his side pulled off an amazing 3-2 victory over high flying Sheffield United.
It certainly wasn't a smash or grab raid either, Rangers narrowly trailed after half time before dominating the second half.
"In the second half it could of been four or five, but I'll happily take what we've got."
With the game poised at 2-1, Sheffield United won a penalty which brought a great save from Paul Jones.
"The penalty was a vital moment, we could of been trailing 3-1, but sometimes you need a bit of luck. "
"I was pleased with the way we kept the ball, if the opposition don't have the ball they can't hurt you."
"I wanted to change the style of play and the players are taking that on board. I'm sure any Rangers fans here today would have enjoyed the way we played."
"It was an excellent performance and a excellent result and I'll be going home with a big smile on my face tonight!"
Although their were many great performers at Bramall Lane, Waddock was keen not to mention any individuals.
"Everybody played their part, I don't want to pick out any individuals, we will become successful together."
"Everybody wrote us off, i told the players that in the team meeting and look what we achieved!"
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~794266,00.html



PA Sport- QPR JOB IS DREAM FOR WADDOCK
By Ben Rumsby, PA Sport
Gary Waddock admitted he is "loving every minute" of being in charge of QPR after watching his side come from behind to complete an unlikely double over Sheffield United.
The caretaker boss hailed his players' character as they threw away an early lead before veteran striker Paul Furlong wrapped up a 3-2 win at Bramall Lane.
It was Waddock's second victory in his third match in charge of the club where he has spent his entire playing career.
Asked whether the job was everything he expected, Waddock replied: "And more. To be caretaker manager of the club I joined when I was probably 12, 13, played every age group and then be given this wonderful opportunity, I can't describe how I feel."
"I've enjoyed every minute of it."
He also enjoyed a large slice of luck when Paul Ifill missed a second-half penalty which would have made it 3-1 to the Blades, a moment Waddock acknowledged turned the game.
"Definitely the turning point," he said. "Sometimes you need a little bit of luck and we got that today.
"If you come up to Sheffield United you're not going to dominate the game. But we defended well and then had a few chances in the second half. We could've come away with one or two more goals.
"The group of players that are downstairs and on the training pitch this week have worked their socks off."
They needed to after finding themselves 2-1 down at half-time, Marc Nygaard's early strike cancelled out by a fantastic Ade Akinbiyi header and Marc Bircham's calamitous own goal, the midfielder heading Chris Armstrong's corner into his own net.
"It was a case of saying at half-time I felt we were still in the game," Waddock said.
He also hailed Furlong's matchwinning contribution, the 37-year-old rolling back the years to turn United skipper Chris Morgan inside out for the winning goal.
"Fantastic, 37 - played like a 17-year-old," Waddock said. "He's been excellent since he came here."
Furlong is coming to the end of his playing career, but as for 43-year-old Waddock's foray into football management he admits he would "most definitely" want the job full-time once Ian Holloway's situation is resolved.
The defeat is a serious setback for United's promotion bid, with leaders Reading and closest challengers Leeds and Watford all winning."If you look at it in too much detail then we committed suicide, but it's not as bad as that," said Blades boss Neil Warnock.
"We've got 10 games to go. We would have been absolutely delighted to be in our position at the start of the season."
Today's result could have been even worse for Warnock's men had Furlong and substitute Sammy Youssouf taken gilt-edged chances to kill them off.
"We were well-beaten in the end," he admitted.
"You get these disappointments in football but it's how you bounce back."
Warnock denied thinking three points were in the bag for his side when Ian Evatt felled Morgan in the box and Ifill put the ball on the spot.
"Not until it hit the back of the net," he said, before insisting had the winger converted it would have been game over.
"I thought we would have gone on and won it comfortably.
"You could see the heads go down on certain lads and you can't say why that happens. It happens everywhere - even at the top level."
Warnock refused to single out his defence for criticism after they went to sleep for the first goal, Morgan sliced Nygaard's header into his own net for their second, and they were caught on the break for the third.
"It's not just the back lads," he said. "We were slow coming out of the gates to start with."
However, Warnock did concede had Craig Short been fit, he may have made a difference defensively.
"I suppose that's where your Craig Shorts come into it," he said, before insisting he is not concerned about Leeds and Watford, with United now enjoying only a seven-point advantage in second place.
"The threat would come from anybody if we lost every game," he added. "We've got to stand up and be counted http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/25/SOCCER_Sheff_Utd_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1

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QPR come from being 2-1 down (and with Sheff Ut almost making it 3-1 -having a penalty saved) to win 3-2.

QPR Official Site
An inspiring performance from Rangers in a truly enthralling game saw the Superhoops complete a season's double over the Blades.
Goals from Marc Nygaard and Paul Furlong came either side of a Chris Morgan own goal in an end to end game.
The first half was a game of swings and roundabouts as United went in ahead after Rangers had gone in front.
Marc Nygaard had given Rangers the lead with just six minutes on the clock.
But Ade Akinbiyi's header, following by a Marc Bircham own goal turned the game on its head before the break.
The suspension of Gareth Ainsworth and Mauro Milanese meant the return of Paul Furlong and Marc Bircham.
Paul Jones' penalty save early in the second half meant the game was kept on a knife edge for the remainder and when Chris Morgan headed into the back of his own net - it was game on once more.
When Furlong applied the finishing touch to Cook's through ball, Rangers were in front once more, leading to a nail biting final 15 minutes.
The opening exchanges were fairly quiet and Rangers passed the ball around neatly.
The wide open spaces were providing the Superhoops with the perfect stage to play their new improved passing game.
And it soon paid off when Marcus Bignot played through Marc Nygaard into acres of space.
His huge strides took him into the area where he was faced with Paddy Kenny, Rob Kozluk and Chris Morgan.
Somehow Nygaard continued to carry the ball and just as it looked as though he had missed his chance to strike, the ball cannoned off a stray leg and fell back into his path.
Seizing his opportunity, Nygaard side footed the ball straight down the middle and into the back of the net.Rangers took the lead in their stride and were determined not to let the lead change their game plan.
Meanwhile the Blades crowd was beginning to get on their teams back for failing to deal with Rangers' dominance.
Paul Jones was called into action when Chris Armstrong's free kick needed a touch to send it over the bar, but after that, it was back to Rangers enjoying the possession.
Despite this, United pulled level on 22 minutes when Ade Akinbiyi's looping header seemed to hang in their air before inching up and over Jones to hit the back of the net.
Buoyed by their equaliser, United then enjoyed their period of dominance and made it count when Bircham caught the ball from an inswinging corner and flick it into his own net.
The fact that Paul Jones had been pinned to his line incensed the Rangers players, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.
Cook had a great chance to level the game before the break when his free kick looked to be every inch the goal, but Kenny parried clear.
Kenny was again called to rescue the Blades when Cook squared for Furlong. All the front man had to do was add the finish, but Kenny was on hand to get down and hold the ball.
The second half began disastrously for Rangers after Ian Evatt pulled down Morgan in the box.
But when Paul Ifill stepped up to take the spot kick, his poor effort was easily saved by Jones who guessed correctly.
Suddenly the impetus was with Rangers and the own goal stakes were levelled when Morgan headed into the Rangers net.
Cook's delivery after a short corner was flicked on by Nygaard and the Blades captain took the slightest of touches to get the better of his own keeper.
An injury to Marc Nygaard allowed Sammy Youssof to enter the field and freshen up the attack.
Within minutes Rangers had taken the lead, thanks again to some slick passing in the midfield.
Lee Cook stormed through and put through the diagonal ball into the path of Furlong and the Rangers man applied the perfect finish to give Rangers the lead once more.
Rangers could have had a two goal cushion seconds later when Cook's fierce drive looked to have been under control, but Kenny dropped the ball into the path of Furlong.
The ever green Furlong had the whole goal to aim at, but his first time strike cannoned off the cross bar to gift United the luckiest of escapes.
It was a tense finale, but Rangers held out for an impressive double over the high flying Blades.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Morgan, Jagielka, Ifill, Akinbiyi (Shipperley 78), Kozluk, Montgomery (Unsworth 63), Tonge, Armstrong, Collins, Horsfield (Webber 66)Subs: Flitcroft, KabbaScorers: Akinbiyi 22, Bircham (OG) 29Bookings: TongeRangers: Jones, Bignot, Evatt, Shittu, Rose, Bircham, Cook, Furlong, Nygaard (Youssof 71), Lomas (Santos 90), LangleySubs: Bailey, Baidoo, ThomasScorers: Nygaard 6, Morgan (OG) 56, Furlong 74Bookings: Nygaard, Langley, Shittu, LomasRef: K FriendAtt: 25,360
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~31190,00.html


LEAGUE TABLE AFTER TODAY
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/tables/default.stm

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MEL EVES

Profile of former Wolves footballer and current agent, Mel Eves (whose clients include Robert Earnshaw) - and who has been involved, to some extent in a couple of QPR Transfers (Ian Evatt and Dean Sturridge)


Mel Eves Talks about his post-Wolves career, how he became an agent & some of his Clients

(scroll down to pages 6 and 7 at the link below)
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:iyBgIlNMw-0J:www.wolverhamptongrammarschool.com/Wulfrunian/PDF/2004/61-84.pdf+%22Mel+eves%22+agent&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=37


Eves was with Paladini at FSC INVESTMENTS
"Professional Football Player and Sportsperson Financial Planning ServiceProfessional sportsmen and women are some of our highest paid earners, but if they are not careful with their money the end of their career can come all too soon. Injury is just one of the pitfalls awaiting a highly competitive sportsperson, we all want to be winners and if you have had a career full of success you will want your financial life to be a success as well.We have specialist knowledge of the market as we have professional introducers like Mel Eves - England International, ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion, Gianni Paladini - FIFA Players Agent - ex-Juventus and Italy, Tony Daly - England International, ex- Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers." (from a couple of years ago)
http://www.fscinvestments.co.uk/specialist.html


How Eves and Paladini brought Italian, Enzo Maresca to West Bromwich Albion
Italian U20 International - (Captain)Enzo Maresca is a product of the youth set-up at AC Milan. He captained the Italy U20 team, and spent two years at Milan before moving to Cagliari where he chalked up 20 League appearances. A brilliant young midfielder who usually plays just in front of the defence, he is also capable of taking an attacking midfield role. Enzo left his family home in Salerno at the age of 11, to join Milan AC and pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
His performances at Cagliari brought him to the attention of FIFA agents Gianni Paladini and Mel Eves, who recommended the out of contract player to West Bromwich Albion. The club signed him in 1998 on a free transfer. He went on to make 60 first team appearances, scoring five goals during an 18 month stint and becoming a firm favourite with Albion’s fans.
At the time West Bromwich Albion were in all sorts of difficulties, so agents Gianni Paladini and Mel Eves arranged the sale of Maresca to Juventus in February 2000 for £5 million, in a deal that meant Enzo literally saved the club.
More about Enzo MarescaEnzo moves from Juventus to Piacenza FC22 year old Enzo Maresca joined Piacenza FC, signing on the 25th June 2002, from the Italian Serie A champions Juventus FC for a fee of £2.5 million. The Italian champions have a clause in the contract allowing them to buy the player back at the end of the season [2002/03] if they wish. Piacenza Coach “I’m very happy about his arrival,” Andrea Agostinelli, the Piacenza coach, said. “Maresca is still very young but has already a great experience and he can play in several roles in midfield. I like those midfielders who are able to use the gaps and go for goals, and he is excellent at that. But he is also good at blocking the opponents in midfield, and that is very important too.”Spell with West Bromwich Albion in EnglandBorn near Salerno in the South of Italy, Maresca joined Milan AC at the age of only eleven. In 1994, he moved to Cagliari Calcio. When his contract expired, he left the Sardinian club to play for England's West Bromwich Albion FC, where he played 60 First Division matches, scoring five goals.Serie A Championship winnerIn 1999 he returned to Italy and made his Serie A debut for Juventus. The following season he was loaned to Bologna FC. After a successful season, he returned to Juventus in 2001 to win the Italian league title. However, due to an injury suffered in a league match against Perugia AC at the beginning of April, Maresca was out of action for two months and missed the UEFA European Under 21 Championship with the Italian national team.Honours Italian Championship (2001/02)
http://www.msmsport.com/pfull.php?nid=108

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Sporting Life - UNSWORTH RETURNS FOR BLADES
Sheffield United welcome back experienced defender David Unsworth to the squad but could be missing a handful of other players against QPR.
Craig Short, Leigh Bromby and Alan Quinn all missed the Sheffield derby with knocks and are likely to be absent once again.
That means on-loan Neill Collins, who made his Blades bow in that match, and Chris Armstrong could continue in defence with Unsworth slotting in at left-back.
Phil Jagielka has suffered from illness recently but is expected to be fit, while Danny Webber could make his return to the side after hamstring problems.
Alan Wright has left the club to join Derby on a one month loan deal.
Marc Bircham should return to the QPR squad after missing the .
2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace with a calf injury.
His return is welcome news for caretaker-manager Gary Waddock, who learned earlier this week that winger Martin Rowlands would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Waddock will also be without winger Gareth Ainsworth and defender Mauro Milanese at Bramall Lane. Both picked up their fifth bookings of the season in the 1-0 win over Millwall on February 11, and serve one-match bans.
Waddock had also hoped that skipper Kevin Gallen might recover from a back injury to feature in this match, but the 30-year-old forward missed the reserve clash with Reading.
Goalkeeper Simon Royce (hip) and defender Dominic Shimmin (groin) miss out, while striker Paul Furlong hopes for a recall after stepping off the bench to score at Palace
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=nonwire_soccer/06/02/24/manual_110439.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


SHEFFIELD UNITED OFFICIAL SITE

Warnock on strike options
Neil Warnock looks set to be overloaded with striking talent ahead of Saturday's vital Championship showdown with QPR.
Bruce Dyer and Ade Akinbiyi have been the starting duo for the past two games but Geoff Horsfield and Danny Webber are now available.
Steven Kabba has been on the substitutes bench recently, whilst Neil Shipperley and Brian Deane both played in the reserves in midweek.
Warnock revealed: "Geoff has had a good week in training, so have one or two others, I've never had such a large and competitive squad but you can only pick so many.
"If Webber had been involved in the reserves in midweek I may have been tempted to start with him, although we did have a practice match with him involved. He is bursting to get back into the team.
"I don't think no-one knows our best strike partnership but I think, now the transfer window is in place, that you need at least six strikers."

Blades v QPR - team news
United have David Unsworth and Danny Webber available for the visit of QPR.
Unsworth has served a three-match ban following his sending off against Watford, whilst Webber has finally strugged off the hamstring problem he sustained at Ipswich last month.
Central defenders Chris Morgan and Neill Collins are OK, despite playing in last week's Sheffield derby with injuries, whilst Phil Jagielka is likely to be fit after missing training in midweek due to illness.
United will be without Leigh Bromby (groin), Alan Quinn (leg) and Craig Short (hamstring), who will all be attempting to regain their fitness ahead of the visit of Crewe next week.
Former Blades target Marc Bircham could return to the QPR team after coming through a midweek reserve game but Gareth Ainsworth and Mauro Milanese are both suspended.
Kevin Gallen and goalkeeper Simon Royce have recommenced training after injury problems but are unlikely to be considered, whilst young striker Scott Donnelly is out with a bruised foot.
Rangers have added 16-year-old left-back Andrew Howell to their squad to make the trip.
http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/PreMatchAnalysis/0,,10418~793775,00.html


Confident Warnock lets rivals do all the worrying
NEIL Warnock hadn't picked Phil Barnes' brain ahead of yesterday's media briefing before holding court with the press.
Barnes, Sheffield United's goalkeeping number two, has the lowdown on QPR having been signed as an emergency stop-gap by then manager Ian Holloway for the Londoners' recent trip to Leeds.But those lucky enough to have an invite into Warnock's inner sanctum at Shirecliffe were left in no doubt that gleaning inside information on tomorrow's visitors to Bramall Lane did not top his list of priorities.Instead, with promotion to the Premiership now tantalisingly close, United's commader-in-chief is determined his troops will focus only on themselves during the 11 games which will decide where they are plying their trades next season
.Pouring over details of the oppositions' strengths and weaknesses is not foremost in Warnock's mind."For me, we've got to concentrate on what we can do, not worry about anyone else," he said."We know all about QPR and we know they've got players who are capable of hurting other teams."After all, we've had Paul Furlong here and Danny Shittu is one of the best centre-halves around at this level."
But we've got plenty of strengths and it's important we don't forget that."The theory behind Warnock's thinking is plain to see.United will start the afternoon in second place, 10 points ahead of their nearest challengers, Watford.QPR, having failed to become the sum total of their parts, are drifting in mid-table.With a new manager at the helm, QPR's approach may be slightly different to the one they employed in August at Loftus Road, Warnock conceded.Although the reasons behind the 2-1 defeat United suffered that day have long since evaporated - "That was then, this is now," the Lane boss insisted - this wily old streetfighter has ensured the memory has lingered around the training ground this week."We didn't impose ourselves down there, they got the goal and because of that we couldn't get back into it," continued Warnock."We put in the effort without really putting our stamp on things and that can't happen again."I've heard their manager saying he wants to play a bit more football but, and I mean no disrespect by this, I tend to take things like that with a pinch of salt."With Alan Quinn, Leigh Bromby and Craig Short all likely to return next week, Warnock is set to continue with the same squad of players who beat Sheffeld Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough last Saturday.But with a welter of options at his disposal in midfield and attack, he reserved the right to tinker slightly with the starting line-up."Everyone knows that they've got to hit top marks to keep a hold of the shirt now," said Warnock."
Often, picking the subsitutes bench has been the hardest thing to do in recent weeks because telling a player he's not going to be involved at all is tough."But, in fairness to all the lads, they've been superb."They know the situation and although it might appear to be easier to get up for a game against Wednesday let me assure you that's not actually the case."Every game left is a cup final which means no one game is bigger than another."
Geoff Horsfield is pressing hard for a starting role after appearing as a second-half substitute during last weekend's 2-1 win at Wednesday while Bruce Dyer, Neil Shipperley, Steven Kabba and possibly even Danny Webber are also vying for a place alongside Ade Akinbiyi.David Unsworth's return from suspension was a major factor behind the decision to allow Alan Wright to join Derby County on loan yesterday.n Tomorrow's game has been designated a 'Kids for a Quid' fixture with under-16s able to take advantage of the discounted rate providing they purchase a ticket by close of business today.Tickets for the visit of QPR are selling well and supporters are strongly advised to reserve their seat in advance to avoid disappointment.The Global Windows stand is already sold out, apart from Blocks G and H where identification is needed both at point of sale and on entry to the stadium. The Hfs Family Enclosure is nearing capacity, while the Bramall Lane Upper Tier is again open to home supporters. Adult ticket prices begin at £19 for this category B fixture.For more information contact the Blades Box Office on 0870 787 1960.james.shield@sheffieldnewspapers.co.uk
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=59&ArticleID=1365406


Sheffield Today - Less colour as Ian goes gardening
IN football, the only thing you learn to expect is the unexpected.
But by placing Ian Holloway on gardening leave, QPR's hierarchy have ensured that Bramall Lane will be a less colourful place when the Londoners visit South Yorkshire tomorrow.This, after all, is the manager who once predicted during a particularly miserable run of form that: "If I fell in a barrel of boobs, I'd come out sucking my thumb!"Later he celebrating his team's return to winning ways with the memorable phrase: "I couldn't be more chuffed if I were a badger at the start of the mating season."With Holloway tending his begonias at home in St Albans, the post-match press conference may no longer be the hottest ticket in town.But the man charged with reversing QPR's fortunes is convinced that his players possess the ability not only to bring Sheffield United's march to a halt but also ensure a difficult season is remembered for more than just soundbites.Like Holloway, who according to chairman Gianni Paladini has been suspended rather than sacked, Gary Waddock is a popular figure at Loftus Road having made 240 appearances for the club as a player.His first match in charge produced a 1-0 win over Millwall but a 2-1 reverse at the hands of Crystal Palace has left him battling to keep his managerial account in the black.
Despite Paladini's insistence that there is no way back for Holloway, who had been heavily linked with a move to Leicester before the Italian wielded the axe, Waddock's position remains far from secure.But he has already embarked on a complete makeover of the playing style which threatened to serve QPR well at the start of the season before they drifted into mid-table."Everyone has their own ideas about how they want the game played and I have mine," said Waddock, who will be assisted by another QPR old boy Alan McDonald. "I want us to pass the ball and I want plenty of movement. That's the football I believe in.
http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=59&ArticleID=1365410

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QPR Clubcall
Waddock on search for experience EXCLUSIVE
Queens Park Rangers caretaker-manager Gary Waddock says he would be happy to stick with the coaching staff currently in place and may shelve plans to bring in an 'experienced head.'
Waddock had been hoping to bring someone with experience in to help him in his first managerial role, but with Alan McDonald installed as an assistant and Joe Gallen also on board, the Rangers caretaker boss will go with what he has for the rest of the season.
'I was looking to bring somebody else in but at the moment the current situation is that Ollie is still the manager and I am only here on a caretaker capacity,' Waddock exclusively told clubcall.
'I am going to just go with it as it is. Me, Macca and Joe are going to get on with it. I think there is enough experience there to sort things out.
'It would be nice [to bring someone in], but with the current situation I don't want to change things around too much as I am only here as a caretaker. I am happy with what we have got and we will continue to go with that.'...
http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-234420-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Scott Donnelly has signed his first professional contract for the club.
The young midfielder put pen to paper on a two and a half year deal ....
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~793589,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE
16 Year old Defender, Andrew Howell in the Squad
Sixteen year old left back Andrew Howell has been called up to the first team squad to face Sheffield United. Head of Youth Joe Gallen said: "Andrew had the choice to either join the Commandos or QPR - I'm so glad he picked us. He has been doing very well and has been rewarded for his hard work. "He is as hard as nails as a footballer and I'm sure he'll be able to cope with the step up."
In other news Kevin Gallen is now back in full training and Simon Royce has started doing light work.
Scott Donnelly will miss the trip to Bramall Lane with a bruised foot, while Gareth Ainsworth and Mauro Milanese are both suspended.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~793403,00.html


Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times
Waddock on Rowlands and Doherty

QPR will resist the temptation to delve into the loan market again despite losing Martin Rowlands for the rest of the season.The Rangers midfielder is out until the summer after tearing his knee ligaments for the second time this season during a training session last Friday.With Tommy Doherty also a long-term injury absentee and Marc Bircham still to regain full match fitness, the Rs' midfield options look limited as they prepare to face Sheffield United this weekend.
But caretaker manager Gary Waddock - who sent three loan players back to their clubs immediately after taking charge - has no plans to borrow a replacement midfielder."The squad is big enough at the moment, the players we've got here are good enough and I want to look at everybody and give them a chance," said Waddock."We need competition to keep everyone on their toes and I feel we've still got that."It's a big blow losing Rowly. He's the type of player you want in your side and he's desperate to play."He's one of those who can't hold back when he comes in to training and maybe it makes him more prone to injuries, but that's part and parcel of being a professional footballer."Rowlands had been out since early January with a calf strain and injuries have restricted him to just 15 appearances this season.Doherty, who made a promising start to his QPR career after a summer move from Bristol City, has been sidelined for three months."Doc has to get reserve games under his belt before he comes back into contention," said Waddock. "All the training in the world helps, but games are what he needs."Better news for Rangers is that skipper Kevin Gallen returned to training this week and could be in line to play against Wolves a week on Saturday.
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED23%20Feb%202006%2011%3A47%3A29%3A480


QPR DISPLAY THEIR HOME & AWAY STRIPS for Next Season
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~793339,00.html

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The last time QPR were looking for a manager....Five Years ago

BBC-February 19, 2001
Bassett snubs QPR job
Bassett does not want to succeed Gerry Francis
Dave Bassett, favourite to take over as QPR manager, has ruled himself out of the running.
It is believed Bassett was scared off by speculation concerning the club's finances.
The former Wimbledon, Sheffield United and Barnsley manager was widely tipped as being favourite to land the post vacated by Gerry Francis.
Marsh claims denied
Bassett's withdrawal leaves Iain Dowie, Steve Bruce, Roy McFarland and Ray Graydon, who are all also believed to be on Rangers' short-list, still in the running.
But Rangers have dismissed claims by former star Rodney Marsh that the club are £20m in debt.
Speaking to BBC Ceefax, a Loftus Road spokesman said: "The accounts are there and anybody can look at them.
"As a television pundit, Rodney Marsh is paid to say controversial things. We are not £20m in debt as the accounts show."
Meanwhile, Brentford owner Ron Noades is reported to be ready to sell the club, re-invest his money and take the reins at QPR.
The former Crystal Palace supremo is believed to by eyeing a return to the limelight, and could soon make QPR chief Chris Wright an offer for the Loftus Road club, according to the Daily Star.
Wright is willing to sell, after becoming a target for fans' abuse as the team battles against the threat of relegation. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1178204.stm

BBC - February 20, 2001
Jewell plays down QPR link
Bruce is favourite to take the helm
Paul Jewell has played down speculation linking him with the vacant manager's post at Queen's Park Rangers.
The former Sheffield Wednesday boss said he won't be rushed into a return so soon after getting the sack at Hillsborough.
I have had a quick chat with an official connected with the club which lasted two minutes at the most and that is as far as its gone
Paul Jewell
"I want to get back into the game, but I'm not going to jump at the first job that comes along," he said.
"I've read that I've been interviewed about the QPR job - but it's quite funny really because I was in bed all day on Monday with cold - so that was quite interesting.
"I have had a quick chat with an official connected with the club which lasted two minutes at the most and that is as far as its gone.
"But you can never say never, if it's right for me and it's the right job I would be interested."
Steve Bruce, Ian Holloway and Iain Dowie are all in the frame for the job with the Londoners.
Bruce has emerged as the hot favourite after Dave Bassett ruled himself out of the running on Monday. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1180779.stm

BBC - February 21, 2001
QPR suffer Bruce snub
Steve Bruce has pulled out of the running for the QPR job.
The former Huddersfield Town boss was linked with the post following Gerry Francis' decision to stand down.
Rangers had been expected to unveil a new manager before the weekend but it now seems likely that Francis will still be in charge for the game against Wimbledon.
A statement released on behalf of Bruce said: "Further to discussions with the board of QPR, Steve Bruce has decided against having any further active discussion regarding the managerial position at the club.
I want to retire and I'm not going to change my mind
Gerry Francis
"The situation that Steve perceived as a long-term commitment seems to be clouded with uncertainty and Steve now understands that the club may be seeking a replacement only for the short term.
"On that basis Steve has decided to pull out but wishes to thank the board for their initial interest."
QPR have won twice - recording their first away win of the season against Gillingham on Tuesday - and have climbed out of the relegation zone since Francis announced his retirement from the game.
But the former England captain has made it clear that he has no intention of changing his mind despite the recent turnaround in the club's fortunes.
"I'm delighted with the six points we've gained in the last two games and obviously we are in a much better position now but my decision to go was never based on positions in the league," he said.
"I'm under no pressure from the board apart from the pressure to sign a new contract for next season but I've told them I don't want to do that. I want to retire and I'm not going to change my mind."
Former QPR midfielder Ian Holloway, recently sacked by Bristol Rovers, is thought to top the much-shortened candidate list.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1182049.stm


Until finally....
BBC - February 26, 2001
QPR name Holloway as boss
Queens Park Rangers have named Ian Holloway as the new manager at Loftus Road.
Former QPR midfielder Holloway - sacked as Bristol Rovers boss last month - takes over from Gerry Francis who announced he was standing down 10 days ago.
I can't wait to take it on and I feel we can kick on from this
QPR boss Ian Holloway
He said: "I'm absolutely delighted to take this challenge on and motivate some of these players.
"It was a huge part of my playing career and I felt so proud. Anybody that watched me play could see what I was - whole-hearted and determined.
"This is the biggest club I ever played for and what we achieved in those five years, I was delighted.
"I can't wait to take it on and I feel we can kick on from this."
Optimistic
Holloway has joined Rangers on a contract for the remainder of this season and the whole of next term with options for an extension.
He is optimistic that he can keep the struggling club in the First Division, but insists that it is not just down to him.
"The players have got to work hard and they'll get honesty and enthusiasm from me and hopefully that will rub off.
"We are fully realistic of where we are and what we've got to do."
The former Rovers boss takes charge of first-team affairs on Tuesday and will work alongside his former mentor Francis, who has become the club's director of football.
But Holloway's appointment - which Francis is widely reported to have supported - throws the future of Rangers' assistant manager Iain Dowie into doubt.
Dowie was desperate to take over but, having failed in his second bid to land the job, could be set to leave the club altogether especially if - as expected - Holloway brings in Gary Penrice as his assistant. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1190402.stm

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BIRTHDAYS TODAY

Ian Dawes - February 22, 1963- For about five years, was an ever-present in the QPR team. Part of the Venables-led 1982/1983 Division 2 Champions Team (a back four of Neil Wicks Fenwick and Dawes!)
See http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=5578

Andy Gray - February 22, 1964Signed by Trevor Francis...Sold by Trevor Francis a few months later

Juergenn Sommer February 22, 1964-Our goalie, signed by Ray Wilkins for 600,000 pounds in our relegation season

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AGM RESCHEDULED
QPR OFFICIAL SITE
The eighth Annual General Meeting of QPR Holdings Ltd will be held at Loftus Road Stadium at 2pm on Friday 17th March 2006.
The date has had to be deferred due to a couple of technical problems and we apologise if the change causes any inconvenience for our shareholders.
The meeting is open only to shareholders and not to members of the general public.
The 2005 Annual Report & AGM notice has been printed and will be posted to shareholders within the next two days.
Last year about 400 Annual Reports were returned due to shareholders not updating their details with the share registrars when they moved address.If you have recently moved address but have not updated your details with Lloyds TSB you will not receive the 2005 Annual Report. However, you can write to Lloyds TSB to update them of the change in your details to ensure that you will receive future shareholder mailings. Please write to: Lloyds TSB Registrars, The Causeway, Worthing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA and quote 'QPR Holdings Ltd' in your correspondence with them.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~786008,00.html

ORIGINAL DATE ANNOUNCEMENT
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.Last year about 400 Annual Reports were returned due to shareholders not updating their details with the share registrars when they moved their address.If you have recently moved address but have not updated your details with Lloyds TSB you will not receive the 2005 Annual Report.However you can write to Lloyds TSB to update them of the change in your details to ensure that you will receive future shareholder mailings.Please write to:Lloyds TSB Registrars, The Causeway, Worthing, West Sussex BN99 6DA and quote "QPR Holdings Ltd" in your correspondence with them.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~781534,00.html

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Oli Hits the Winner for Grays vs John Hollins' Crawley
Grays Ath 1-0 Crawley
Dennis Oli was the hero for Grays as he came off the bench to grab the only goal of the game against Crawley.
Michael Kightly went close for the hosts early on but saw his well-struck volley and header go wide of the goal.
A double substitution at half-time paid dividends for Grays with Jamie Slabber and Brett Johnson being replaced by Oli and Cam Mawer.
And Oli was immediately in the thick of things as he collected a Kightly pass to rifle home the winner on 69 minutes.
Grays Athletic: Bayes, Sambrook, Hanson, Johnson (Mawer 45), Nutter, Kightly, Thurgood, Williamson, Martin (Poole 78), Slabber (Oli 45), McLean.Subs Not Used: Eyre, Battersby.
Booked: McLean. Goals: Oli 70.
Crawley Town: Smith, Simpemba (Wormull 84), Mendy, Woozley, Judge, Armstrong, Blackburn (Ekoku 77), Jenkins (Coleman 77), Opinel, Scully, Clare.Subs Not Used: Ward, Giles.
Att: 1,038. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4680692.stm


John Hollins -Hollins backs Crawley to stay up
February 14, 2006
Crawley Town boss John Hollins insists he will keep them in the Conference.
The Red Devils are bottom of the table after winning just five games in a season that has been dogged by difficulties since day one.
Hollins has found it tough to turn the tide since his appointment at the end of November but is adamant that relegation will be avoided.
"We will do stay up. With 16 games to go we will be all right," Hollins told BBC Sport.
Hollins added: "I did not come here to mess about. I came here to do a job. I'm positive.
"It's not easy. If we were top of the league it would be a doddle, although even that has its difficulties. It's easy to fall off. Look at Chelsea, they are only 12 points clear now!"
The task of trying to revive Crawley's fortunes is a far cry from Hollins's days as a player and manager at Stamford Bridge.
New owners with new money and fresh ideas did arrive at Crawley last year but their investment is yet to pay off.
The club's form nose-dived in the final third of last season - their first at Conference level - and Crawley were about to kick-off in August when the team suddenly switched to full-time status.
"Results showed at the end of last season that things were not right," said Hollins.
"Going full-time was a brave step and a good step by the owners, who have put their money where their mouth is.
"But having been a part-time team - and you would find this with most teams, not just us - the change-over is not easy, especially if it's done prior to the first game.
"All of a sudden you are bringing a lot of players in and panicking because you haven't got enough, because that's what professional teams have a decent squad.
"You have to have a pre-season and I don't think we had that. The fitness levels were down and we have been trying to get everyone fit and playing the right way through matches and trial and error."
Hollins, who was appointed following the sacking of Francis Vines, has so far guided Crawley to just one Conference victory.
And supporters vented their anger at the club's current plight following a home defeat in the FA Trophy by Boreham Wood earlier this month.
To his credit, Hollins fronted up to the fans and plans to be at the Broadfield Stadium for the long-term.
He added: "It's not easy at times and supporters get frustrated. I understand that.
"Everything comes around to if we have got enough (about us) to do what we want to do. We are instilling the belief that we can do it.
"We are still trying to get players to come in and help us through this situation.
"We keep working hard trying to install systems and structures and work to budgets, which is all difficult. They are problems, but problems can be solved.
"We are looking at ourselves and the players have to look at themselves. We have all had to pull together since 6 August, nothing has changed."
What must change is Crawley's current form, although Hollins was buoyed by his side's performance in losing by a single goal at Grays Athletic last Saturday.
The recent fixture list has not been kind but Crawley now face a number of games against sides in the bottom half of the table.
"They are ones we've got to win," said Hollins.
"We have been losing by the odd goal and people have been saying we're the best team they have played.
"I want us to be the worst team and win 1-0, even though we want to play the right way." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crawley_town/4712712.stm


Alan Mullery Leaves Crawley - Mullery ends his stint at Crawley
Feb 8, 2006
Alan Mullery has severed his links with Conference strugglers Crawley.
The former England international joined the Red Devils in a consultancy capacity last September but says his services are no longer required.
"My brief when I came in was to help the club become more professional and I think I have done that," Mullery said.
"If they want to ask me anything they can ring me up at any time but otherwise I'll let them get on with it," Mullery told the Brighton Argus.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/crawley_town/4692860.stm


Meanwhile at Aldershot, ex-QPR players: Hamilton, Bull, Griffiths
Aldershot 1-1 Burton Albion

Aaron Webster converted Kris Taylor's right-wing cross to put Burton ahead before Aldershot won a penalty after Darren Tinson handled inside the box.
Saul Deeney saved Dixon's strike but could not prevent the striker from converting the rebound.
Deeney also saved from Dixon prior to the equaliser and Nick Crittenden later on, while Nikki Bull made a superb late save from Shaun Harrad's header.
Aldershot: Bull, Somner, Brough, Heald, Hamilton, Crittenden, Watson, Holloway, Williams (Sulaiman 81), Dixon, Griffiths.Subs Not Used: Weait, Scott, Hudson, Elphick.
Booked: Holloway.
Goals: Dixon 45. Burton Albion: Deeney, Corbett, Tinson, Austin, Webster, Chris Hall, Kris Taylor, Rowett (Henshaw 83), Gilroy (Ducros 61), Shaw, Harrad (Christian Moore 86).Subs Not Used: Martin Taylor, Clough. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4703920.stm

See Aldershot squad
http://www.theshots.co.uk/SquadDisplay.ink


And at Dagenham, Roberts and Bruce

Dag & Red 2-2 Stevenage
Dagenham and Stevenage shared four goals in 20 first-half minutes but were unable to find a winner between them.
Borough went ahead straight away when Adam Miller found Jon Nurse who made no mistake from close range.
Dino Maamria made it 2-0 from the penalty spot but Daggers pulled one back when Tim Cole crashed the ball in.
Sam Saunders levelled when he found the net with a superb long-range free-kick. He hit the bar in the second-half before the game petered out to a draw.
Dag & Red: Roberts, Blackett, Cole, Uddin, Saunders, Southam, Foster, Bruce, Griffiths, Moore, Mackail-Smith (Akurang 68).Subs Not Used: Hogan, Vickers, Johnson, Lettejallon.
Booked: Roberts, Southam, Bruce.
Goals: Cole 11, Saunders 17.
Stevenage: Julian, Henry, Warner, Quinn, Perpetuini (Gregory 79), Miller, Maamria, Bulman, Boyd, Nurse (Obinna 45), Louis (Berquez 72).Subs Not Used: Goodliffe, Hocking.
Booked: Perpetuini, Bulman, Maamria.
Goals: Nurse 1, Maamria 6 pen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4703946.stm

'Dagenham Squad
http://www.daggers.co.uk/maindex.cfm?section=players&page=players

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Since taking over at QPR, six months ago, QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini made a number of comments about QPR Manager Ian Holloway, who has now been put on "Gardening Leave" (Not included here are the December denials re Jim Smith to QPR or various comments by Holloway himself about the managership.)


SEPTEMBER 2005 QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENT - BRIGHT FUTURE
"Gianni Paladini has promised a bright future for Queens Park Rangers following the changes at Boardroom level last week. ...
"...Paladini also believes that the root of stability lies with the manager and that is why he hopes to sit down with Ian Holloway this week to discuss a new contract. "Ollie is responsible for so much that has happened here during the past few years. Our successes on the pitch are down to him and he should be rewarded accordingly." http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~706682,00.html

LSA Meeting with Paladini- September 5 2005
LSA reported: " A Member asked why we are considering offering Ian Holloway a longer contract when he has only just signed one for three years. GP said that Ian Holloway wants another two years on his contract. http://www.qpr-lsa.co.uk/05setpoct.html

QPR 1st Meeting with Paladini - September 15 2005
"Ian Holloway was inevitably mentioned at one stage, with TS showing GP a print out of the article that had appeared on the BBC website that very day regarding his proposed new role and asked if it were true. GP, who had not seen the article, read through it briefly and confirmed that the article was the gist of what they were negotiating, saying that basically IH would have control over which players come into the club, whilst Gianni himself would deal with the agent part of any deal/transfer seeing as he is experienced in that particular area.
We asked if he was now happy with IH, which was rather different to a year ago when the Board had considered bringing in a change of manager in Ramon Diaz. GP said he is happy now, that last year for the first 4/5 games he wasn't impressed, but that these days he has a good relationship with IH. http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/trustclubmeetsep2005.htm

QPR 1st - Meeting with Paladini -October 21st 2005
Ian Holloway: The final question to be asked related to Ian Holloway, and if there were any news on a new contract for him? GP refused to be drawn on the subject and just said that Ian Holloway is the manager, and that any talks of new contracts would occur as and when. http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/documents/GandAminutes.doc

LSA Meeting with Paladini- November2005 .
Ian Holloway’s Contract In answer to a question about the extension of Ian Holloway’s contract Gianni Paladini (GP) said the club cannot afford to pay Ian Holloway what he is asking for. http://www.qpr-lsa.co.uk/05novdec.html

Q&A With Paladini - Official Site December? 2005
Q: "Do you think that Ian Holloway has taken the club as far as he can, and do we need a manager that will be able to take us to the next level?"
A: I think Ian is the man to take us forward, that's why we gave him a three year contract. Ian is a very good manager and I think he is the man to take us forward.Our relationship is very good, we speak everyday. I have commented on our relationship very often. I love Ian.
Q: How much truth was there in the rumour of Ramon Diaz coming to Rangers?"
A: l When I first joined I didn't know Ian Holloway. My friend Ramon Diaz came to watch our matches but he couldn't work for us anyway due to work permits. But once I got to know Ian then I knew he was the man for the job. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/QA/0,,10373,00.html

Q&A with Paladini- December 2005 QPRnet.com:
Q: What were your expectations for the first team at the start of this season and what are they now?
GP: I was hoping we would get into the play offs, now it’s a case of lets see what happens. We need to get points and we must stay in this division whatever it takes. I’m confident and the players are confident that they are better than the last two games (Brighton and Coventry). That’s not the type of football I like at all.
QPRnet.com: Do you target Ian Holloway before each season as to a league finish?
GP: At the beginning of the season I targeted him to finish in the play offs and to improve on last season as a minimum. Anything less than that is disappointing, we have to improve, there is no other way, so let’s see what happens
QPRnet.com: What were your thoughts on our Club President calling for Ian Holloway to be sacked recently?
GP: He’s been a supporter of QPR for years and years and years has Harold. He’s a very passionate man, lovely fella and he’s helped the club many times. He has his own ideas and they haven’t changed, he was like this ever since I’ve known him. He’s not on the board and he doesn’t interfere but he’s entitled to his opinion and I’ve no problem with that. I said to Ian that I take stick as well and you have to get on with it.
QPRnet.com: So what about you? You said recently that you loved Ian and wanted him to be the man who builds the clubs future – do you stand by that?
GP: I like Ian as a man, he’s been very close to me over the years but at the end of the day we all know in football you forget about the good times very quickly. There’s a time span for everyone in football for me and for Ian but it won’t be me that ever sacks him it will be the fans, they will decide what’s right. If it comes to that then it doesn’t matter how much you love somebody, you have to make a decision you don’t want to. At the end of the day, Ian knows his job as a football manager is to be successful and I know my job is to run this football club and make sure the finances are sound and if either of us don’t do that then we have to go. It’s OK being a lovely friendly person but if you are not a success then you can only be a failure. QPRnet.com: Are you and Ian both aware that the fan base is split over his future?
GP: Of course but that happens at every football club, you can be the most successful manager in the world but the moment things don’t go right you get moved on. Look at the pressure Alex Ferguson is under after everything he has done. http://qprnet.com/interviews/paladini.shtml

NEW YEAR 2006 OFFICIAL SITE
"As you all know, as a club we went through difficult times and the new board had to bear quite a challenge and responsibility."Thanks to some huge efforts in renewing its organization and bringing in some new investments, QPR are now sailing in safe waters."We are optimistic when looking ahead for the New Year and for the whole of 2006, especially as we know we can always count on your continuous support."Our hope and aim is that QPR will never again have to struggle against organizational confusion and financial distress that have badly hit the good name of our glorious club."
A special mention must go to Ian Holloway, who has shown his passion and devotion to the club and as someone who gives us positive hopes for promotion."We are proud of our players and we are confident that we can continue to strengthen our team with some new arrivals at the beginning of the next year....... http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~761280,00.html



HOLLOWAY ON GARDENING LEAVE

OFFICIAL SITECLUB STATEMENT
QPR have announced that Ian Holloway has been placed on 'gardening leave.'Gary Waddock has been appointed as caretaker manager and will be taking first team training as of today.Waddock is currently being consulted about a potential caretaker assistant manager to join him in the next few days.The move follows speculation about Holloway joining Leicester City as their new manager.The club is keen to avoid any distraction to the playing side and to move forward with the rest of the season as speedily as possible.It has therefore put Ian Holloway and his managerial staff, Gary Penrice and Tim Breacker, on gardening leave with immediate effect.Gary Waddock started at work on Monday morning in training with the players and in preparation for next Saturday's derby game against Millwall.
Gianni Paladini said: "QPR has not sacked Ian, but we are concerned about recent performances and the effect the speculation about Ian joining Leicester City might have on the players."I hope we can sort something out with Ian as soon as possible. QPR will always be enormously grateful for the contribution he has made over the past five years, in particular gaining promotion for us in 2004."However, it is crucial the team are focussed and able to move forward, which is why we have appointed Gary as Caretaker Manager. I hope the fans will get behind Gary for the home derby against Millwall on Saturday."http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~779128,00.html

"....Paladini added: "I hope we can sort something out with Ian as soon as possible."QPR will always be enormously grateful for the contribution he has made for the past five years, in particular gaining promotion for us in 2004."However, it is crucial the team are focused and able to move forward, which is why we have appointed Gary as caretaker manager.".

“He hasn’t been sacked — we will honour his contract until the end,” Paladini said, before explaining why Holloway will not stay in his post. “If a man is happily married, why would he look for another woman? If you get the opportunity to speak to someone, it’s your choice whether to go or to stay. But maybe it’s better for him to move. Once he applied for the job at Leicester, we felt he couldn’ t concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He’s done a tremendous job.”Holloway could not prevent QPR’s relegation from the second tier when he took over towards the end of the 2000-01 season, but he has since taken them up to mid-table in the Coca-Cola Championship. Jim Smith, a former manager of the club, has rejected the chance to assist Waddock, feeling that it would be inappropriate, given Holloway’s state of limbo....http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2030016,00.html

ClubcallPaladini on Holloway departure07 Feb 2006 16:23Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has spoken of his reasons behind placing Ian Holloway on gardening leave and revealed the decision was taken after an approach from the Foxes for Holloway to take over at the Walkers Stadium.Paladini was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday where he confirmed that caretaker boss Gary Waddock is likely to remain in charge until the end of the season at Loftus Road and that the former Rangers player is a serious consider for the job on a full-timeWaddock has taken over from Holloway after the Rangers boss was the subject of an approach from Leicester last week and Paladini felt it was affecting the team: "I had a phonecall from Leicester the day after we played them last week asking for permission to speak to Ian," said Paladini."I told Ian and his agent and they wanted to speak to Leicester, so they did. It was very difficult because Ian has been fantastic for QPR over the last five years and it has been a privilege to work with him"My feeling was that if you are happily married why whould you look for another woman? I felt that it was better for us to move in a different direction and for him to maybe move on after a long time here. But I have nothing but praise for the man."Jim Smith has been linked with a role of Loftus Road but Paladini revealed he was only spoken to about the possibility of coming in to help out Waddock: "The idea was for Jim to come in on a consultancy basis. What we asked him to do for us he couldn't do it because he job was never offered to him as the manager," said Paladini."We felt he could come and help Gary but we could not offer him what he wanted and he has moved on. We wanted him to come in without a contract and to help it but things never happened." http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-230009-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html


PA Sport/Sporting LifeHOLLOWAY WILL NOT BE SACKEDBy Andy Sims, PA SportQPR chairman Gianni Paladini has admitted there is no way back for Ian Holloway at Loftus Road as he unveiled reserve-team coach Gary Waddock as the club's new caretaker manager.Holloway was put on 'gardening leave' by Paladini after asking permission to speak to Coca-Cola Championship rivals Leicester, who are in search of a new manager after sacking Craig Levein.Paladini also revealed he will not sack Holloway even if he is not offered the manager's role at Leicester, and if necessary would continue to pay the 42-year-old for the duration of his two-year contract."If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?" said Paladini."If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay."But maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking."Once he applied for the job at Leicester we felt he couldn't concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He's done a tremendous job."But I spoke to Leicester on Wednesday, then spoke to his agent, and he went to see them."But he hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."Paladini also revealed that Jim Smith had been offered a role at the club, but only in a consultancy capacity.Smith, who led Rangers to the Milk Cup final in 1986, turned down a position at Loftus Road, claiming it would be "politically incorrect"."Gary is caretaker manager and knows Jim well," Paladini added. "It was mainly consultancy that we asked him to do, we never asked him to be manager."It's a big job for Gary to take on, so getting Jim to come in might have been the right thing to do but we never discussed a position."But this is an opportunity for Gary to take charge. Hopefully he will do well."Waddock admitted he would like the role on a permanent basis and will be looking to make an instant impact."

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/07/SOCCER_QPR_Nightlead.htmlBBC - QPR chief says no Holloway returnHolloway has two years left on his contract at QPRQPR chairman Gianni Paladini says there is no way back for former manager Ian Holloway at Loftus Road, but is adamant he will not sack him.Holloway was suspended on Monday for asking to speak to Leicester City about their vacant manager's job."Once he applied for the Leicester job we felt he could not concentrate on our team," Paladini said.Paladini added that Holloway will be paid for the rest of his two-year QPR contract if he does not get a new job.He added: "He hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."Paladini felt Holloway's mind was no longer on the job at Loftus Road, saying: "If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?"If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay."Maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking."Holloway cannot speak about his departure from QPR for legal reasons, but BBC Sport has tried unsuccessfully to contact his agent.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4690636.stm


SKY -Paladini: No way back for OllieBy Andy Clarke - Created on 7 Feb 2006...

And he says he is prepared to pay Holloway for the remainder of his contract if necessary and will not be sacking the former Bristol Rovers manager, even if Leicester do not offer him the job."If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?" said Paladini."If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay. But maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking."Once he applied for the job at Leicester we felt he couldn't concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He's done a tremendous job."I spoke to Leicester on Wednesday, then spoke to his agent, and he went to see them. But he hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."Smith has turned down Paladini's approach, at least for the time being, but could yet be back at the club he managed for three years in the 80s."Gary is caretaker manager and knows Jim well," Paladini said. "It was mainly consultancy that we asked him to do, we never asked him to be manager."It's a big job for Gary to take on, so getting Jim to come in might have been the right thing to do but we never discussed a position." HLID=361381&CPID=10&title=Paladini:+No+way+back+for+Ollie&lid=2&channel=Football_Home&f=rss#


Over a Hundred Applications for Holloway's Job
-[From Last week's Kilburn Times)Hats in the ring to follow Ollie Ben Kosky, Kilburn Times, 9 February 2006
"QPR have already received more than 100 applications for the manager's job - even though, technically, there is no vacancy at Loftus Road....Waddock will be caretaker boss for the foreseeable future but, according to chairman Gianni Paladini, Rangers have been inundated with interest from numerous would-be managers."I cannot believe the amount of applications I've received already," said Paladini. "There have been floods of them coming in from all over the world - it must be at least 100."I've had applications from France, Spain, Israel and I've even had one from a young lad who's 19 years of age. It just shows how important QPR is to so many people."But Paladini insists that, for the time being, Waddock is the front-runner to take over on a permanent basis - as long as he can guide Rangers to safety in the Championship.....Gary's got 14 games, we only need to win four of them and we'll be safe, then we can start building for next season," Paladini added.....http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED09%20Feb%202006%2016%3A03%3A04%3A007

RECENT BIRTHDAYS

Mick McGovern - February 15, 1951
- At one time, a major QPR prospects, who didn't play too many QPR games. We sold him to Swindon and I believe he made his debut against QPR in 1971 or 1972 (QPR winning 5-0)

Ernie Howe - February 15, 1953
- Signed from Fulham for 50,000 by Frank Sibley, after we (foolishly) sold David Needham to the coming Champions, Nottingham Forrest for 140,000 pounds. (Needham has been Sexton's last signing six months earlier from Notts County, for 90,000 as a replacement for Frank McClintock)

Leighton James, February 16, 1953
Brilliant (at times) winger, signed by Frank Sibley, from Derby County in a straight swop for Don Masson...Another major part of the QPR 75/76 "Championship" Team, sold off.
James basically came in a few months after Dave Thomas had been sold.

Paul Bruce, February 18, 1978
- Part of QPR for several years, who never quite achieved it at QPR

FORTHCOMING BIRTHDAYS

Ian Dawes February 22, 1963
- For about five years, was an ever-present in the QPR team.

Andy Gray - February 22, 1964
Signed by Trevor Francis...Sold by Trevor Francis a few months later

Juergenn Sommer February 22, 1964
-Our goalie, signed by Ray Wilkins for 600,000 pounds in our relegation season

Richard Teale, February 27, 1952
-Backup goalie, signed from non-league

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Martin Rowlands is out for the rest of the season Rowlands Out for the Season....

Recent Blackburn Loanee, Andy Taylor joined Blackbool on loan, talked about his QPR experience "..."I was due to be at QPR on loan for the rest of the season but with the manager and the situation down there I was bought back to Blackburn...."The QPR experience was interesting to put it mildly. It was a big like being in a soap opera because there were so many things going on behind the scenes at the club."I only played one game, then Ian Holloway was put on gardening leave and I was being bought back."It was a massive setback to leave and I would've preferred to play a bit more but it was certainly an eye opener."But I didn't have any doubts about coming to Blackpool, despite their league position. I just wanted to play football at a good level and this is a good level."....* http://www.blackpoolonline.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=64&ArticleID=1357484

Elsewhere: 29-year old, Paul Murray has returned from Portugal and re-signed with his original club, Carlisle United - Murray seals Brunton Park return ........Leicester failed with a one-month loan effort for Plymouth's Rufus Brevett Leicester fail with Brevett offer .........
34-year old Former QPR's Striker Lee Charles has joined non-league Lynn from Worthing.
... Lee Charles Joins Lynn ........Chris Plummer -who surely had more than enough bad luck at QPR, with injuries - has testicular cancer - Plummer to have cancer operation


QPR Official Site - ROWLY BLOW
Rangers have suffered a blow with news that Martin Rowlands is out for the rest of the season.
Rowlands injured himself after making a challenge in training on Friday.
Rangers physio Prav Mathema said "It is still early days with regard to diagnosis but it looks like he will be out for six weeks, which effectively ends his season." "It looks as if Martin has suffered a tear to his medial ligament on his right knee. This is the same injury that he had earlier in the season, but with three months full training and eight first teams starts I am 100% confident that this is a totally new injury."Rowlands will be assessed further next week http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~785242,00.html

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Five years ago today, Gerry Francis announced he was resigning as manager of QPR (for the second time) - and then stayed in charge of the team, on for a couple more weeks.


BBC - Friday, 16 February, 2001
Francis ends QPR love affair
Francis: Ended his managerial love affair with QPR
BBC Sport Online's Peter Sanderson looks at Gerry Francis' career in management after his decision to stand down as director of football at QPR.
Gerry Francis is a member of that increasingly rare band of people who have enjoyed success at a club as both player and manager.
On Friday, however, the former Bristol Rovers and Tottenham boss cut a forlorn figure as he ended his managerial love affair with Queens Park Rangers and almost certainly severed his ties with football.
Apart from his most recent spell at QPR, Francis has an outstanding record in management.
However, at Loftus Road this year, the tide was so strongly against him that even sailing sensation Ellen MacArthur could not have steered the club to safety.
I will do everything I can to help the new manager
Gerry Francis The secret to his success has been a combination of talent, honesty, endeavour and an unrivalled desire to succeed.
But even a man as diligent as Francis deserves a break.
He admitted: "In football, I have only had one break since 1967 which is a hell of a long time.
"I did not miss the game in the 11 months I had away from football after I left Spurs and I don't think I will when I move on at the end of the season.
"My job at QPR was to keep them in this Division last year and I did that despite us being nine points adrift.
"I then let my heart rule my head and decided to stay on as manager this year.
Francis: "QPR can stay up""But the club is now experiencing major problems with a number of players contracts coming to a close in the summer and very little cash to bring anyone in.
"It is time for someone else to take over. They need time to turn things round and I need time to spend with my family and of course with the pigeons."
Few would believe this was the same man who twice turned down the opportunity to manage his country.
Both times he was interviewed for the England he ruled himself out of consideration.
But England could have done a lot worse - and, once or twice in recent years, have done.
Now Francis can devote his time to his family and enjoy the peace and quiet of his pigeon loft.
The reason for his departure is simple. He is a family man and his recent spell with QPR was more of an effort to help out an old friend than improve his already dazzling reputation in management.
But it was clear from the pained expression on Francis' face that he has had enough football for one lifetime.
As he spoke of the troubled times the club are experiencing, he was speaking from his heart as a fan and not a manager.
Francis was arguably a victim of his own managerial success.
Needed more than a miracle
The former England midfielder always possessed an unwavering confidence in his own ability.
However, he built up such an impressive CV at Bristol Rovers and QPR that he could no longer continue to perform the miracles.
But QPR needed more than a miracle to save them this time.
Their troubles far exceed their lowly position at the foot of Division One.
Behind the scenes the club are in disarray.
Their over-achievements in the 1990s, when they finished fifth in the Premiership and enjoyed as spell as London's top club, make their current position even harder to tolerate.
Young bargains
But Francis insists the club can still survive.
Since he returned in October 1998, he has made a number of strong signings for QPR, scouring the non-league for Jermaine Darlington and Stuart Wardley.
He has also picked up young bargains like Clarke Carlisle and Peter Crouch and groomed Richard Langley and Mark Perry into tremendous players.
These are the players that Francis believes should keep QPR in the First Division and more importantly, keep the club in business.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1174221.stm


Profile of Francis
http://www.nobok.co.uk/Football/Legends/Other/Gerry%20Francis.aspx

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Birch's banter, Camden Times
nwl.sport@archant.co.uk15 February 2006

THE crowd on Saturday wasn't by any means one of the biggest we've had this season, but I thought they were absolutely fantastic.I t was absolutely right that everyone showed their appreciation for Ollie and then got right behind Gary Waddock, Alan McDonald and the team - I think that pretty much reflects how the players feel too.
On the one hand I feel gutted that Ollie's gone, on the other hand I'm 100 per cent behind Waddo and Macca and so's everyone else.After what's happened, it was clever to bring Macca back, because that's the only antidote the fans will swallow - he's a big hero and QPR has always been his club.It was so disappointing the way the club let him go to Swindon without offering him a job, but it's brilliant to have him back and it'd be even better if he stayed.
Little things have changed already in the pre-match preparation, the warm-up and so on - and it seems to be working because we got the result against Millwall.We were totally in control and should really have scored more goals, but it was good to get the result. ....
http://www.camdentimes.co.uk/content/camden/camdentimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportcamt&itemid=WeED15%20Feb%202006%2012%3A32%3A34%3A693

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[From Last week's Kilburn Times)

Hats in the ring to follow Ollie
Ben Kosky, Kilburn Times, 9 February 2006

QPR have already received more than 100 applications for the manager's job - even though, technically, there is no vacancy at Loftus Road....Waddock will be caretaker boss for the foreseeable future but, according to chairman Gianni Paladini, Rangers have been inundated with interest from numerous would-be managers.
"I cannot believe the amount of applications I've received already," said Paladini. "There have been floods of them coming in from all over the world - it must be at least 100."I've had applications from France, Spain, Israel and I've even had one from a young lad who's 19 years of age. It just shows how important QPR is to so many people."
But Paladini insists that, for the time being, Waddock is the front-runner to take over on a permanent basis - as long as he can guide Rangers to safety in the Championship.....Gary's got 14 games, we only need to win four of them and we'll be safe, then we can start building for next season," Paladini added.....
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED09%20Feb%202006%2016%3A03%3A04%3A007

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Waddock Assessment - QPR Official Site
Gary Waddock spoke of his learning curve after Rangers fell 2-1 at Palace, despite their best efforts.
Waddock had gone to Sehurst Park experimenting with a 4-1-4-1 formation, but when Palace took a 2-0 lead in the first half, he wasn't afraid to change things round.
"When the opposition take a lead that early, the game plan goes right out the window. We had to change things round and move to a 4-4-2.
"We mixed up the team a bit beforehand due to Marc Bircham having taken a knock and Gareth Ainsworth suffering with illness.
"But I've learnt a lot tonight and I'm disappointed that we couldn't have taken something from the game.
"I felt that our second half performance warranted something and the football we played was worthy of a draw.
"We're still lacking a bit of pace, but I can't do anything about that right now. I'm only doing this job on a day-to-day basis and we cross the bridge of making any improvements to the squad when we come to it.
"This is certainly a steep learning curve and tonight showed me a lot of things.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~783458,00.html


DOWIE'S ASSESSMENT - CRYSTAL PALACE OFFICIAL SITE
"WE were disappointed with our second-half display, but having said that we still created one or two clear cut opportunities and should have put the game to bed. But we were down to the bare bones, and there were a few tired legs out there at the end. Clinton, Wayne and Tom haven't played much football lately, so they were always likely to struggle to keep running for 90 minutes. But the win was all-important, and our first-half performance was particularly pleasing. QPR came with a plan to stop us trying to play our natural game, but that went out the window in the first five minutes. We were very forceful in the opening 20 minutes of the game, and could have been out of sight.
"Some of the lads will have been very disappointed they didn't get on the scoresheet tonight. We didn't work their 'keeper nearly as much as we should've done. Another disappointment was the injury to Jon Macken. He's had a horrendous time with his hamstring and back this season, and it seems his injury curse has struck again. The fans felt he was running around, but the fact is his hamstring had gone. So it's a real concern for us and Jon at the moment."
"There was a little edginess in the stands when they pulled a goal back, and sometimes that translates itself onto the pitch. The surface isn't ideal, which didn't help our passing, but that's true of a lot of clubs at the moment. So whilst I'm not delighted with the display, I am with the result, because I was always confident we were going to win the game.
"And we can't get too caught up in the performance, because were were missing key players. So the players who came in did well to make light of the loss. I was particularly pleased with Michael Hughes' contribution, because he steadied the ship well when he came on. And I was also delighted with Gary Borrowdale, who deservedly won the man of the match award. I've got a lot of time for Gary, because he's worked hard in training despite the fact that he hasn't featured much this year. But the more he plays, the better he'll get.
The crowd was 17,550, and we are hoping for at least 20,000 - particularly when we are challenging for the play-offs. I heard a few rumbles among the fans, and sometimes we forget that we were fourth from bottom in Christmas 2003 when I took over as manager. Sometimes the edginess in the crowd gets to the players
"Looking ahead to Saturday's game at Millwall, we'll have Fitz Hall and Mark Hudson both back from suspension, which will be a big bonus. It should be a nice, friendly atmosphere at the Den - I'm sure they'll welcome us with open arms!"
http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10323~783557,00.html

Crystal Palace Official Site - Match Report
THIS Valentine's Day affair was not particularly pretty, but Palace fans ultimately returned to their loved ones with a warm glow in their hearts after seeing their side do the double over their city rivals.
Palace's performance was neither especially polished nor sparkling, and at times they were put under intense pressure by a resolute Rangers' side, particularly in the second half.
But a win, they say, is a win, and in the long-term this could prove to be a precious one, more so as it was achieved without star striker Andy Johnson.
AJ was not the only absentee, as a catalogue of injuries had forced Iain Dowie into a number of changes.
The walking wounded also included Marco Reich and Aki Riihilahti, whilst suspensions deprived Dowie of the services of Fitz Hall and Mark Hudson.
As a result there were returns to the starting line-up for the likes of Gary Borrowdale, Ben Watson, Tom Soares, Wayne Andrews, Jon Macken and Clinton Morrison.
The Palace bench, meanwhile, was a mixture of youth and experience, with young guns Arron Fray and Lewis Grabban alongside veteran campaigners Michael Hughes and Dougie Freedman.
The visitors' line-up featured a variety of faces familiar to the Eagles, particularly in midfield where Steve Lomas and Richard Langley - who both trained with Palace in pre-season - were given the chance to prove their worth.
However, there was no place for charismatic playmaker Marc Bircham, who failed a fitness test. Rangers' strike force was spearheaded by Saturday's match winner Marc Nygaard, with Paul Furlong handed a watching brief on the bench.
A bright opening period for Palace culminated in a third minute goal for Morrison, who capitalised on some indecision in the QPR defence to fire a firm volley past Paul Jones and so send the Selhurst faithful into raptures.
It was just the start Dowie would have hoped for to banish the memories of a sub-standard showing in Yorkshire at the weekend.
Langley had an immediate chance to draw the sides level, but instead skewed his right-footed volley from the edge of the area horribly wide of his intended target.
Nygaard went much closer with a curling effort in the 13th minute, but again Gabor Kiraly was not called into action.
Palace physio Paul Caton was, however, when Macken pulled up with what appeared to be a recurrence of his hamstring strain, and was promptly replaced by Freedman.
But the change failed to disrupt Palace's rhythm, and moments later they almost doubled their advantage when a quickly-taken free-kick saw Andrews fire a volley narrowly over Jones' bar.
On the 20-minute mark Darren Ward did likewise with a header as the pressure on the visitors continued.
But Rangers rallied impressively, most notably when Simon Donnelly - making his first start for the Superhoops - broke down the right and whipped in a cross-shot which Langley narrowly failed to connect with at the far post.
After half an hour, however, the home side doubled their advantage through the Sunshine Kid McAnuff, who was left with a fairly straightforward task after Freedman had robbed Ian Evatt and delivered a pinpoint pass.
The goal prompted a change of tactics by Rangers' caretaker boss Gary Waddock who, with the introduction of striker Furlong in place of defender Marcus Bignot, abandoned his somewhat negative 4-1-4-1 system in favour of a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.
The final act of a disappointing first-half for the visitors saw Donnelly curl his free-kick high over Kiraly's bar.
Palace began the second period much the same as the first, and came close to scoring a third through Andrews, whose run and shot was thwarted by Jones' outstretched palm.
Rangers responded with a Cook shot which was dealt with by a diving Kiraly, who moments before had intervened when a scuffle had threatened to break out between Leigertwood and Nygaard. Both protagonists were booked for their troubles.
In action of a more positive nature Lanagley curled his shot narrowly wide when well placed. The visitors had certainly enjoyed more than their fair share of chances, but had by and large failed to find the target.
After 55 minutes, however, Furlong did just that with an emphatic header which was past Kiraly before the Hungarian could react. Suddenly, we had a game on our hands.
Soon afterwards Watson had the chance to restore Palace's two goal advantage, but instead ended up with a face as red as his hair when he kicked more of the ground than the ball, and promptly injured himself in the process.
But the midfielder redeemed himself moments later with a dipping corner which Furlong cleared from underneath his own bar.
At the other end, meanwhile, Rose fired in a low shot which Kiraly gathered in a crowded penalty area.
McAnuff responded in turn with a shot of his own, but his radar was slightly awry and he failed to test Jones.
The 'keeper was again untested in the 70th minute, when Freedman spurned a gilt-edged chance by blazing his shot high into the Whitehorse Lane End.
Two minutes later Ward did find the target, but Jones was equal to the task.
At the other end Kiraly, had to be equally alert to prevent Cook's inswinging corner from the left from levelling the scores.
In a bid to bolster his midfield Dowie threw fans' favourite Michael Hughes into the action, but the visitors continued to push forward and Nygaard narrowly failed to beat Kiraly to Evatt's knock down.
With ten minutes remaining Morrison should have put the result beyond doubt, but found only the side netting.
As the clock at SelhurstPark ticked slowly down to zero Rangers pushed forward with ever increasing urgency, but the Eagles hung on to record the season's second victory over the Superhoops.
http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10323~30832,00.html

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The Guardian - Morrison seizes the day as Palace stave off gallant Rangers Rob Smyth at Selhurst Park Wednesday February 15, 2006The Guardian

Rarely are matches as two-faced as this. For the first half Crystal Palace ignored the absence of the injured Andy Johnson to give an attacking display of thrilling verve and electricity. A 2-0 lead was the least they deserved. By the end, however, their victory was barely deserved. QPR, reinvigorated by a crucial tactical change, ran them ragged for much of the second half and probably should have had more to show for it than Paul Furlong's bullet header.
Palace made six changes to the side that drew at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, including the enforced absence of Johnson with a thigh injury. That meant the return of Clinton Morrison, who injected instant urgency and capped Palace's rampant start with the opening goal in the third minute. Ian Evatt's lumbering challenge was poor but Morrison rolled him expertly to lash a close-range volley past Paul Jones.
If Morrison was the epitome of carpe diem, his palpably unfit strike partner Jon Macken looked like he would seize up any minute; he lasted 15 before being substituted to the delight of an unsympathetic crowd. No matter, it was all Palace before and after: so unemployed was their goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly that his distinctive pyjama pants could have been used in a Persil advert.
At the other end, Palace's attacking play remained whiter than white. Ben Watson's short free-kick was raked just over the bar by Wayne Andrews, Darren Ward got under a header six yards out, and the inevitable second goal came when the pitiful Evatt was beaten by substitute Dougie Freedman, whose deliberate pull-back was sidefooted in by Jobi McAnuff.
QPR's caretaker manager Gary Waddock attempted to shut the stable door by bringing on Furlong and switching to 4-4-2 before half-time, and his side were much more threatening after the break. Lee Cook finally worked Kiraly from the edge of the box after a sinuous run and then Richard Langley, teed up immaculately by Marc Nygaard, curved his shot just wide. It was left to Furlong to bring Rangers back into the game after 55 minutes, thumping a splendid header into the bottom corner from Scott Donnelly's cross.
From there, Palace lost their composure completely. Watson smashed a free-kick straight off McAnuff's head and later needed treatment after comically hoofing the ground. Rangers carried the cohesive threat, most notably when Cook's corner was bundled onto the underside of the bar. Palace survived, but it should never have been quite so hairy.
Crystal Palace -Gabor Kiraly, Emmerson Boyce, Mikele Leigertwood, Darren Ward, Gary Borrowdale, Jobi McAnuff, Tom Soares, Ben Watson, Wayne Andrews (Michael Hughes), Jon Macken (Dougie Freedman), Clinton Morrison
QPR - Paul Jones, Marcus Bignot (Paul Furlong), Ian Evatt, Mauro Milanese, Matthew Rose, Daniel Shittu, Richard Langley, Steve Lomas, Lee Cook, Scott Donnelly (Shabazz Baidoo), Marc Nygaard
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1710039,00.html


SPORTING LIFE DOWIE LAMENTS 'EDGINESS'
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie urged the home fans to temper their expectations after the 2-1 win over QPR.
First-half goals from Clinton Morrison and Jobi McAnuff were enough for Palace to seal victory and strengthen their place in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off zone, although Rangers showed plenty of spirit after the break and pulled a goal back through substitute Paul Furlong.
And Dowie - who came within a whisker of keeping Palace in the Barclays Premiership last term after promotion the previous season - believes some supporters have forgotten how quickly their club has risen over the past three years.
"The crowd was 17,550 tonight, and we are hoping for at least 20,000 - particularly when we are challenging for the play-offs," Dowie said.
"I heard a few rumbles among the fans, and sometimes we forget that we were fourth from bottom in Christmas 2003 when I took over as manager.
"Sometimes the edginess in the crowd gets to the players. The fans get anxious and so the players get anxious - even when you try to make them relaxed."
Dowie admitted his team had not been at their best in the second period, when they were fortunate not to concede an equaliser as Rangers pressed.
But Palace also wasted chances of their own. Substitute Dougie Freedman, Darren Ward and Morrison all went close to restoring their two-goal advantage.
"We dominated the first half totally and created plenty of chances in the second," Dowie continued. "But Rangers will always make it hard for you at set pieces, because they have so many tall players.
"We have played better than that this season and lost. What is most pleasing about the result is that is has allowed us to re-assert ourselves in the play-off picture."
Rangers caretaker-boss Gary Waddock was left to rue Morrison's third-minute goal that put his team on the back foot from the beginning.
The west Londoners looked far more comfortable when they switched from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 - but Waddock denied he had been too cautious at the outset.
"Letting in that goal in the third minute meant our gameplan went out of the window," Waddock admitted.
"But we were really positive in the second half, and gave them a run for their money."
Waddock continues to search for an experienced coach as he takes his first steps in management - this was only his second game in charge after replacing Ian Holloway, who was put on gardening leave last week.
Waddock added: "I'm speaking to two or three people. I know who I want - but they might say no.
"We don't have a game until February 25, and I will use this period to stamp my authority on the squad."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/14/SOCCER_Palace_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~30832,00.html

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BBC Hollins backs Crawley to stay up

Crawley Town boss John Hollins insists he will keep them in the Conference.
The Red Devils are bottom of the table after winning just five games in a season that has been dogged by difficulties since day one.
Hollins has found it tough to turn the tide since his appointment at the end of November but is adamant that relegation will be avoided.
"We will do stay up. With 16 games to go we will be all right," Hollins told BBC Sport.
Hollins added: "I did not come here to mess about. I came here to do a job. I'm positive.
"It's not easy. If we were top of the league it would be a doddle, although even that has its difficulties. It's easy to fall off. Look at Chelsea, they are only 12 points clear now!"
The task of trying to revive Crawley's fortunes is a far cry from Hollins's days as a player and manager at Stamford Bridge.
New owners with new money and fresh ideas did arrive at Crawley last year but their investment is yet to pay off.
The club's form nose-dived in the final third of last season - their first at Conference level - and Crawley were about to kick-off in August when the team suddenly switched to full-time status.
"Results showed at the end of last season that things were not right," said Hollins.
"Going full-time was a brave step and a good step by the owners, who have put their money where their mouth is.
"But having been a part-time team - and you would find this with most teams, not just us - the change-over is not easy, especially if it's done prior to the first game.
"All of a sudden you are bringing a lot of players in and panicking because you haven't got enough, because that's what professional teams have a decent squad.
"You have to have a pre-season and I don't think we had that. The fitness levels were down and we have been trying to get everyone fit and playing the right way through matches and trial and error."
Hollins, who was appointed following the sacking of Francis Vines, has so far guided Crawley to just one Conference victory.
And supporters vented their anger at the club's current plight following a home defeat in the FA Trophy by Boreham Wood earlier this month.
To his credit, Hollins fronted up to the fans and plans to be at the Broadfield Stadium for the long-term.
He added: "It's not easy at times and supporters get frustrated. I understand that.
"Everything comes around to if we have got enough (about us) to do what we want to do. We are instilling the belief that we can do it.
"We are still trying to get players to come in and help us through this situation.
"We keep working hard trying to install systems and structures and work to budgets, which is all difficult. They are problems, but problems can be solved.
"We are looking at ourselves and the players have to look at themselves. We have all had to pull together since 6 August, nothing has changed."
What must change is Crawley's current form, although Hollins was buoyed by his side's performance in losing by a single goal at Grays Athletic last Saturday.
The recent fixture list has not been kind but Crawley now face a number of games against sides in the bottom half of the table.
"They are ones we've got to win," said Hollins.
"We have been losing by the odd goal and people have been saying we're the best team they have played.
"I want us to be the worst team and win 1-0, even though we want to play the right way."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/crawley_town/4712712.stm

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David Fairclough - HOW BOB PAISLEY LEFT ME IN TEARS David Fairclough 14 February 2006

As the man who gifted me the opportunity to fulfil my childhood dream of playing for Liverpool Football Club, I have a lot to thank Bob Paisley for. The most successful manager in Liverpool’s history, his achievements will never be forgotten and in this week, 10 years since he died, those memories are now being rekindled. In his role as assistant manager to Bill Shankly he was seen as the hard man of the partnership so I found it surprising when he would take me aside to give me advice as I progressed through the junior ranks. He possibly spotted some potential because within 16 months of him becoming manager he gave me my debut against Middlesbrough as a stunned 18-year old. To then be part of the squad that won the League title and UEFA Cup in 1975/76, was an incredible time. It was only Bob's second season in charge. The run of games at the back end of that season which saw us clinch the title from under the nose of QPR were especially memorable culminating with the title clinching game at Wolves. Then there were the games with Barcelona and Club Bruges that secured our European success of that year. They are very rarely recalled, even though they were two of Liverpool's all-time great European performances.
....http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG151462060214-1731.htm

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GERRY FRANCIS?
Independent - Francis is surprise England candidate
By Glenn Moore 14 February 2006

Gerry Francis, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Queen's Park Rangers manager, has emerged as a dark-horse contender to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach. Francis, who captained England as a player, confirmed yesterday that the Football Association had contacted him to ask if he was interested in being part of the coaching structure after the World Cup. This has been interpreted as meaning a back-up role, or one working with a junior age-group side.
However, The Independent understands he was also sounded out regarding the top job and expressed an interest. His selection would be, on the face of it, a shock. Francis has not managed since resigning from Bristol Rovers four seasons ago because two close family members were in intensive care. He has not managed in the Premiership since November 1997 when he stepped down at White Hart Lane. Yet his top-flight management record is superior to those of Alan Curbishley, Sam Allardyce and Stuart Pearce, the leading English contenders for the soon-to-be vacant post. Only Pearce, still to complete a year as a manager, has a superior international playing record. Francis also played and managed in European competition and is the only man to have guided different teams to the status of top-placed London club. Age is not a problem: at 54 he is four years younger than Eriksson and just three and six years older than Allardyce and Curbishley.
His recent spell out of the game, during which he has kept in touch as a pundit, gives him the advantage of neutrality and mental freshness. Given that he is also happily married, and has never even featured in off-the-record gossip about "bungs", it is not, perhaps, such an improbable choice. The "three wise men" selection panel - Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, David Richards, the FA Premier League's chairman, and Noel White, the chairman of the FA's international committee - will present a shortlist of names to the FA board on 27 February. They will begin the interview process soon after. Richards and White are both known to favour an English candidate. Richards said last week that there was "no distinction" between the new coach being "British" or "English", which signalled support for the Northern Irishman Martin O'Neill, 54 next month and out of the game nursing his ill wife. Francis was reluctant to discuss yesterday whether he would be on the shortlist, restricting himself to a brief statement. "If the Football Association would like to speak with me regarding the international set-up I'd be delighted to help in any way I can," he said.
Francis certainly has support within Soho Square, having twice previously been approached regarding the England job, as a successor to Graham Taylor, then Terry Venables. Each time he rejected the opportunity to be interviewed. In 1994 he felt that he had insufficient experience. In 1996 he wanted to concentrate on day-to-day club management and to build on his successful first season at Spurs, in which they reached the FA Cup semi-finals and came seventh in the Premiership - their last such placing. Since leaving Bristol Rovers he has spent time with his young family, turning down approaches from Portsmouth and QPR among others. The relatives whose illnesses had prompted his break from football - his father-in-law and grandmother - both died and, he said recently, "the bereavements made me realise football was not the be-all and end-all of life".
"Time spent with family is so precious," Francis said. "My eldest son [Adam] reached a national athletics final and I was able to watch him run at Birmingham. I'd never have gone before, I'd have been ringing up from somewhere to hear how he got on. The school must have thought my wife was a single parent. I never made parents' evenings." Further family tragedies have underlined this but the England post, with its less time-consuming commitments, would suit the Surrey-based Londoner. He became a manager, at Exeter City, at the age of 32, injury having forced him out of the top flight. Back injury had curtailed an international career in which he was made England captain at23.
As a manager he led Bristol Rovers to the Third Division title (now League One) before taking over at QPR in 1991. Under him they finished fifth in the Premier League's first season. He later took Tottenham to finishes of seventh, eighth and 10th, bringing through Sol Campbell and working with Jürgen Klinsmann, now Germany's coach.

The Francis File: Former captain's credentials to be England manager

* THE PLAYER: The son of George Francis, who played 313 League games at centre-forward, primarily for Brentford, the Chiswick-born Gerry Francis joined his local team, Queen's Park Rangers, as a teenager. He spent nine years at Loftus Road, in part because the club rejected offers from both Manchester clubs, captaining Dave Sexton's free-flowing 1975-76 team to the League runners-up spot. After a spell at Crystal Palace under Terry Venables he returned to QPR before spells at Coventry City, Exeter as player-manager, Cardiff, Swansea, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers, again as player-manager. Despite being dogged by injuries he made nearly 500 League appearances.

* THE MANAGER: Francis's first foray into management, at Exeter in 1983, was a disaster. But four years later he took Bristol Rovers to Wembley and promotion. Four successful years at Loftus Road followed, Queen's Park Rangers finishing fifth in the Premiership in 1993. In his first season at Tottenham, Spurs reached the FA Cup semi-final and came seventh in the Premiership, but success proved elusive and he stepped down in November 1997. Returning to QPR, he was unable to halt the financially troubled club's decline, then had a frustrating period at Bristol Rovers.

* THE INTERNATIONAL: Francis, at 22 years old, made his debut in Don Revie's first match as England manager in October 1974. He completed a promising first international season with two goals in the 5-1 demolition of Scotland. During the following campaign Revie made Francis, still aged only 23, captain in place of Alan Ball. But within a year - after just 12 caps, eight as captain - a back injury put Francis out of the game for two years and finished his England career.

* THE MAN: Francis always maintained interests outside the game, running antiques, promotions and property companies as a 21-year-old. The antiques have gone but the other businesses remain, supplemented by punditry, for The Independent and Sky TV, and a career in film and theatre. This is primarily as a producer but he has had an acting role - as a Los Angeles postman. He is also a pigeon-fancier with an extensive loft. He combined both worlds to advise on the last year's animated Disney film Valiant, about the RAF's Homing Pigeon Service. Married to Julie with three school-age children. Telegraph "...The FA are also considering appointing Gerry Francis, the former England captain, as a sounding board to assist their director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, in over-seeing a cadre of young English coaches..." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HBNX2TTDDNTYHQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnwin14.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/14/ixfooty.html


TELEGRAPH - Gerry Francis
"...The FA are also considering appointing Gerry Francis, the former England captain, as a sounding board to assist their director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, in over-seeing a cadre of young English coaches. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnwin14.xml


TELEGRAPH -Gregory poised for Hungary job
William Gray (Filed: 14/02/2006)
John Gregory, the former Aston Villa manager, has said he is poised to succeed Lothar Matthaus as coach of Hungary and take control of their 2008 European Championship campaign. Gregory has been out of work since 2003, when he departed Derby acrimoniously. He successfully sued the club for wrongful dismissal but has struggled to make a comeback despite repeated applications for managerial jobs. Hungary are looking for an ambitious manager, after former German international Matthaus was sacked for failing to secure a place in this year's World Cup finals. Gregory said last night: "Talks are ongoing and there could be something happening in the next 10 days." Remarkably, Gregory could find himself taking charge in his first game at the new Wembley, if the stadium is completed in time for the scheduled friendly with Hungary in May. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HBNX2TTDDNTYHQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnhun14.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/14/ixfooty.html



GUARDIAN - Gregory poised for return to management... with Hungary
Stuart JamesTuesday February 14, 2006

John Gregory is poised to make a surprise return to football as the new manager of Hungary. The 51-year-old has held talks with the Hungarian Football Association on two separate occasions about taking over from Lothar Matthäus and is expected to be confirmed as the German's successor later this month, paving the way for him to take charge of a friendly against England in May. Gregory's name has been strongly linked with Queens Park Rangers though the Hungarian FA is ready to offer the former Aston Villa and Derby County manager a two-year contract that will run up to the 2008 European Championships, as soon as Istvan Kisteleki is appointed as their new president on February 24. The financial terms of the deal are understood to be suitable, granting Gregory the opportunity to resume football management after a his three-year hiatus. Although Gregory has yet to accept the position, sources in Hungary claim that his agreement is regarded as a formality. He first met officials of the Hungarian FA in October when he travelled to Budapest for a World Cup qualifier against Croatia and further discussions were recently held with two members of its board in London. It is understood that the talks were positive and that Gregory is the only name in the frame for the vacancy. "I have been across to meet them and they have been across to meet me," Gregory said yesterday. "Both parties get on with each other. We have discussed the details of what the job would entail and so it's up to both parties to have further talks over the next week or so and find out how far we want to take it." Should Gregory take over there is a strong possibility that his first match will be against England on May 30. The friendly is scheduled for Wembley and if the building work is finished by then he will have the honour of walking a team out for the first international to be staged at the ground, six years after he led Aston Villa out in the last FA Cup final to be held at the old national stadium. Gregory's tenure as Aston Villa manager came to an end 20 months later leading to a brief spell as Derby manager before he was dismissed in 2003. He is, though, highly regarded in Hungary and is seen as a natural replacement for Matthäus, who failed to secure qualification for this year's World Cup finals in Germany. The former German international did not have his contract renewed when it expired at the end of December after Imre Bozuky, the former president, was forced to stand down when the board of the Hungarian FA dissolved after a spate of resignations. The Hungarian FA has been in a state of flux since, though Kisteleki, who has been charged with overseeing the temporary committee set-up in the interim period, is expected to restore stability when he assumes Bozuky's duties in 10 days' time. Kisteleki's expected election will also coincide with the appointment of a new board.
Once those formal proceedings are finalised the Hungarian FA plans to move swiftly to announce that Gregory will become the national team coach
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1709174,00.html

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QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENT - February 13, 2006

UNFOUNDED REPORTS
QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini would like to state that he will NOT be employing John Gregory on a consultancy basis.Reports in today's Evening Standard wrongly claim that Paladini is 'hoping' to bring the former Aston Villa and Derby manager to Loftus Road.Paladini would like to correct readers and supporters alike, to ensure they are given accurate information on this topic.He said: "I don't know where these rumours surface from. Just when you think a win and a great performance will go a long way to making people happy, something is dragged up."I will not have these rumours getting in the way of Gary Waddock's task of preparing the team for tomorrow's game against Crystal Palace."I want him to know that he's in charge of team affairs right now and that I'm not looking anywhere else. I have spoken to Gary and reassured him that is the case." http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~782668,00.html


TEAMTALK - Wolves Pair Return to Wolves
"Loan pair return to Wolves
QPR boss Gary Waddock has sent back on-loan duo Leon Clarke and Keith Lowe to Wolves after just one appearance each.The pair were brought in on a month's loan by former boss Ian Holloway - who was placed on gardening leave last week - and played in the 2-0 defeat at Leeds on February 4, which was Holloway's last in charge.But caretaker-manager Waddock - whose first game in charge ended in a 1-0 win over Millwall on Saturday - informed striker Clarke and defender Lowe they were not part of his plans."As far as I'm aware, Clarke and Lowe have gone back to Wolves," Waddock said. "I didn't bring in the loan players."I want to give the players who are contracted and committed to QPR a chance. After that, I will make up my mind which players will be involved in the first-team group."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_1018119,00.html


HODDLE COMMENTS ON LOAN RETURN FROM QPR
WOLVES OFFICIAL SITE -
The Latest from Molineux
Disappointment At Early End To Loan
Glenn Hoddle has admitted his disappointment at the early end to Leon Clarke and Keith Lowe's loan spells at QPR.
The pair returned to Molineux this morning after caretaker manager at Loftus Road, Gary Waddock, decided he wanted to work with permanent staff and not loan players. They had played just one game.
Due to loan rules, the duo will not be eligible to play for Wolves until after February 28th.
"It's very disappointing for the players," said Glenn.
"I spoke to Gary (Waddock) on Friday and he told me that he wants to go with the players who are already there and he knows.
"The lads obviously aren't going to play down there and so it was best for them to come back and train with us.
"The rules mean, though, that they can't play for us at either first team or reserve level for another couple of weeks, which is difficult for them.
"We'll make a call and see if there's any way around that, so they can at least have a run out in the reserves, but I don't know if it will make any difference.
"The two lads have taken it fairly well, they were bright and bubbly this morning, but it isn't the best situation for them to be in, especially when it's through no fault of their own."
http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10307~782749,00.html


PERRYMAN LINKED TO MANAGER'S JOB AT QPR
Express & Echo -13 February 2006
Exeter City director of football Steve Perryman has revealed he would like to be considered for the vacant manager's job at Queens Park Rangers.The Championship side are on the look-out for a new boss after placing Ian Holloway on gardening leave following speculation that he was being lined up for the Leicester City job.Perryman hinted that his future may lie elsewhere recently and has never ruled out a return to management. And now he has signalled that he would be interested in taking over at Loftus Road.Perryman admitted he had staged talks with the West Londoners in 2001 shortly before Holloway got the job. We had talks and I was confident I would have kept the club in the First Division," said Perryman."QPR are a much more attractive proposition now than they were then."If they are prepared to look under the surface for someone with strong ideas - then I'm a good proposition."I've had very favourable results managing against the likes of Wenger, Scolari and Queiroz from my time in Japan and have worked in all levels of English football - name someone else who's done that."I don't need a big budget and don't need big players."
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=137332&command=displayContent&sourceNode=137087&contentPK=14008766&folderPk=79935

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GERRY FRANCIS?
Independent - Francis is surprise England candidate
By Glenn Moore
Published: 14 February 2006
Gerry Francis, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Queen's Park Rangers manager, has emerged as a dark-horse contender to succeed Sven Goran Eriksson as England coach.
Francis, who captained England as a player, confirmed yesterday that the Football Association had contacted him to ask if he was interested in being part of the coaching structure after the World Cup. This has been interpreted as meaning a back-up role, or one working with a junior age-group side.
However, The Independent understands he was also sounded out regarding the top job and expressed an interest. His selection would be, on the face of it, a shock.
Francis has not managed since resigning from Bristol Rovers four seasons ago because two close family members were in intensive care. He has not managed in the Premiership since November 1997 when he stepped down at White Hart Lane. Yet his top-flight management record is superior to those of Alan Curbishley, Sam Allardyce and Stuart Pearce, the leading English contenders for the soon-to-be vacant post. Only Pearce, still to complete a year as a manager, has a superior international playing record.
Francis also played and managed in European competition and is the only man to have guided different teams to the status of top-placed London club. Age is not a problem: at 54 he is four years younger than Eriksson and just three and six years older than Allardyce and Curbishley.
His recent spell out of the game, during which he has kept in touch as a pundit, gives him the advantage of neutrality and mental freshness. Given that he is also happily married, and has never even featured in off-the-record gossip about "bungs", it is not, perhaps, such an improbable choice.
The "three wise men" selection panel - Brian Barwick, the FA's chief executive, David Richards, the FA Premier League's chairman, and Noel White, the chairman of the FA's international committee - will present a shortlist of names to the FA board on 27 February. They will begin the interview process soon after.
Richards and White are both known to favour an English candidate. Richards said last week that there was "no distinction" between the new coach being "British" or "English", which signalled support for the Northern Irishman Martin O'Neill, 54 next month and out of the game nursing his ill wife.
Francis was reluctant to discuss yesterday whether he would be on the shortlist, restricting himself to a brief statement. "If the Football Association would like to speak with me regarding the international set-up I'd be delighted to help in any way I can," he said.
Francis certainly has support within Soho Square, having twice previously been approached regarding the England job, as a successor to Graham Taylor, then Terry Venables. Each time he rejected the opportunity to be interviewed. In 1994 he felt that he had insufficient experience. In 1996 he wanted to concentrate on day-to-day club management and to build on his successful first season at Spurs, in which they reached the FA Cup semi-finals and came seventh in the Premiership - their last such placing.
Since leaving Bristol Rovers he has spent time with his young family, turning down approaches from Portsmouth and QPR among others. The relatives whose illnesses had prompted his break from football - his father-in-law and grandmother - both died and, he said recently, "the bereavements made me realise football was not the be-all and end-all of life".
"Time spent with family is so precious," Francis said. "My eldest son [Adam] reached a national athletics final and I was able to watch him run at Birmingham. I'd never have gone before, I'd have been ringing up from somewhere to hear how he got on. The school must have thought my wife was a single parent. I never made parents' evenings."
Further family tragedies have underlined this but the England post, with its less time-consuming commitments, would suit the Surrey-based Londoner.
He became a manager, at Exeter City, at the age of 32, injury having forced him out of the top flight. Back injury had curtailed an international career in which he was made England captain at23. As a manager he led Bristol Rovers to the Third Division title (now League One) before taking over at QPR in 1991. Under him they finished fifth in the Premier League's first season. He later took Tottenham to finishes of seventh, eighth and 10th, bringing through Sol Campbell and working with Jürgen Klinsmann, now Germany's coach.
The Francis File: Former captain's credentials to be England manager
* THE PLAYER: The son of George Francis, who played 313 League games at centre-forward, primarily for Brentford, the Chiswick-born Gerry Francis joined his local team, Queen's Park Rangers, as a teenager. He spent nine years at Loftus Road, in part because the club rejected offers from both Manchester clubs, captaining Dave Sexton's free-flowing 1975-76 team to the League runners-up spot. After a spell at Crystal Palace under Terry Venables he returned to QPR before spells at Coventry City, Exeter as player-manager, Cardiff, Swansea, Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers, again as player-manager. Despite being dogged by injuries he made nearly 500 League appearances.
* THE MANAGER: Francis's first foray into management, at Exeter in 1983, was a disaster. But four years later he took Bristol Rovers to Wembley and promotion. Four successful years at Loftus Road followed, Queen's Park Rangers finishing fifth in the Premiership in 1993. In his first season at Tottenham, Spurs reached the FA Cup semi-final and came seventh in the Premiership, but success proved elusive and he stepped down in November 1997. Returning to QPR, he was unable to halt the financially troubled club's decline, then had a frustrating period at Bristol Rovers.
* THE INTERNATIONAL: Francis, at 22 years old, made his debut in Don Revie's first match as England manager in October 1974. He completed a promising first international season with two goals in the 5-1 demolition of Scotland. During the following campaign Revie made Francis, still aged only 23, captain in place of Alan Ball. But within a year - after just 12 caps, eight as captain - a back injury put Francis out of the game for two years and finished his England career.
* THE MAN: Francis always maintained interests outside the game, running antiques, promotions and property companies as a 21-year-old. The antiques have gone but the other businesses remain, supplemented by punditry, for The Independent and Sky TV, and a career in film and theatre. This is primarily as a producer but he has had an acting role - as a Los Angeles postman. He is also a pigeon-fancier with an extensive loft. He combined both worlds to advise on the last year's animated Disney film Valiant, about the RAF's Homing Pigeon Service. Married to Julie with three school-age children.
Telegraph
"...The FA are also considering appointing Gerry Francis, the former England captain, as a sounding board to assist their director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, in over-seeing a cadre of young English coaches..."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HBNX2TTDDNTYHQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnwin14.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/14/ixfooty.html


TELEGRAPH - Gerry Francis
"...The FA are also considering appointing Gerry Francis, the former England captain, as a sounding board to assist their director of football development, Sir Trevor Brooking, in over-seeing a cadre of young English coaches.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnwin14.xml

JOHN GREGORY?

TELEGRAPH -Gregory poised for Hungary job
William Gray (Filed: 14/02/2006)
John Gregory, the former Aston Villa manager, has said he is poised to succeed Lothar Matthaus as coach of Hungary and take control of their 2008 European Championship campaign.
Gregory has been out of work since 2003, when he departed Derby acrimoniously. He successfully sued the club for wrongful dismissal but has struggled to make a comeback despite repeated applications for managerial jobs.
Hungary are looking for an ambitious manager, after former German international Matthaus was sacked for failing to secure a place in this year's World Cup finals.
Gregory said last night: "Talks are ongoing and there could be something happening in the next 10 days."
Remarkably, Gregory could find himself taking charge in his first game at the new Wembley, if the stadium is completed in time for the scheduled friendly with Hungary in May.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=HBNX2TTDDNTYHQFIQMFSFGGAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/14/sfnhun14.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/14/ixfooty.html


GUARDIAN - Gregory poised for return to management... with Hungary
Stuart JamesTuesday February 14, 2006The Guardian
John Gregory is poised to make a surprise return to football as the new manager of Hungary. The 51-year-old has held talks with the Hungarian Football Association on two separate occasions about taking over from Lothar Matthäus and is expected to be confirmed as the German's successor later this month, paving the way for him to take charge of a friendly against England in May.
Gregory's name has been strongly linked with Queens Park Rangers though the Hungarian FA is ready to offer the former Aston Villa and Derby County manager a two-year contract that will run up to the 2008 European Championships, as soon as Istvan Kisteleki is appointed as their new president on February 24. The financial terms of the deal are understood to be suitable, granting Gregory the opportunity to resume football management after a his three-year hiatus.
Although Gregory has yet to accept the position, sources in Hungary claim that his agreement is regarded as a formality. He first met officials of the Hungarian FA in October when he travelled to Budapest for a World Cup qualifier against Croatia and further discussions were recently held with two members of its board in London. It is understood that the talks were positive and that Gregory is the only name in the frame for the vacancy.
"I have been across to meet them and they have been across to meet me," Gregory said yesterday. "Both parties get on with each other. We have discussed the details of what the job would entail and so it's up to both parties to have further talks over the next week or so and find out how far we want to take it."
Should Gregory take over there is a strong possibility that his first match will be against England on May 30. The friendly is scheduled for Wembley and if the building work is finished by then he will have the honour of walking a team out for the first international to be staged at the ground, six years after he led Aston Villa out in the last FA Cup final to be held at the old national stadium.
Gregory's tenure as Aston Villa manager came to an end 20 months later leading to a brief spell as Derby manager before he was dismissed in 2003. He is, though, highly regarded in Hungary and is seen as a natural replacement for Matthäus, who failed to secure qualification for this year's World Cup finals in Germany.
The former German international did not have his contract renewed when it expired at the end of December after Imre Bozuky, the former president, was forced to stand down when the board of the Hungarian FA dissolved after a spate of resignations.
The Hungarian FA has been in a state of flux since, though Kisteleki, who has been charged with overseeing the temporary committee set-up in the interim period, is expected to restore stability when he assumes Bozuky's duties in 10 days' time. Kisteleki's expected election will also coincide with the appointment of a new board. Once those formal proceedings are finalised the Hungarian FA plans to move swiftly to announce that Gregory will become the national team coach http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1709174,00.html

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Exactly Six months have passed since QPR Played Sheffield United at Loftus Road, and off the field.....A few days later, the QPR Board met, and Chairman Bill Power and CEO, Mark Devlin were out..

As various newspapers reported about this off the field...
Sunday Times headline reported the next day
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1734725,00.html


INDEPENDENT - http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article305771.eceBBCQPR

BBC -http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4149692.stm

SportingLife - http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?%20STORY_NAME=soccer/05/08/13/SOCCER_QPR_Paladini.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

August 14, 2005
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~699793,00.html

August 15, 2005
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~699793,00.html

August 16, 2005 http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~699432,00.htmlThe

August 25, 2005
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~699793,00.html

And the actual Game
The Sunday Times
August 14, 2005QPR 2 Sheffield United 1: Bircham passion revives RangersBarry Flatman at Loftus Road
POLICE were called after armed men threatened the life of Queens Park Rangers’ club director Gianni Paladin yesterday, but after arrests were made, and with the crowd, players and officials unaware of what had just occurred, we were treated to a lively encounter with a committed fan at its core.
Marc Bircham is one of those fortunate individuals who plays for the club he has supported with a lifelong passion. He wasn’t born when the likes of Rodney Marsh won QPR the League Cup as Third Division giantkillers almost 40 years ago and while the 1967 vintage were taking a bow at half-time, Bircham was locked in the dressing room being berated by manager Ian Holloway for being too anxious throughout a forgettable first half.
However, Bircham is well versed with the exploits of his elders and was clearly aware of their presence. Within 11 minutes of the restart the midfielder, who has been known to parade his devotion by dying his hair blue and white, was celebrating a goal that any QPR veterans would have been proud to score.
Then, with the match eventually won, Bircham went on to show the confrontational side to his character by reacting so angrily to a verbal barb from Sheffield United’s Chris Morgan that the visitors’ captain, seeking further retribution, had to be manhandled off the pitch by his manager, Neil Warnock.
The fact that QPR had not only taken the points but leapfrogged Sheffield United in the Championship table after the Yorkshire team started the day in top position, clearly fuelled Morgan’s temper.
Warnock maintained the entire contest was a disappointment, but his bitterness is understandable because his team did not possess the guile to exploit the opposition’s errors. QPR in contrast possess that quality as scorers Bircham and substitute Stefan Moore displayed.
Moore, a summer free transfer from Aston Villa, was introduced as a 36th minute replacement for fellow new arrival Tom Doherty who limped off with an injured knee. Moore’s pace and attack was a constant threat to United and he was integral to the opening goal. Initially Martin Rowlands raided down the left, Moore tried his luck in a more central position and when Phil Jagielka could only half clear the ball, Bircham steadied himself to drive a shot past goalkeeper Paddy Kenny from 20 yards.
Michael Tonge was badly missed in the Sheffield midfield and Frenchman Lilian Nalis had the sort of afternoon he could have categorised as tres terrible, but it was another summer signing, Paul Ifill, who suffered the brunt of Warnock’s displeasure. The former Millwall man appeared to lose his footing as he shaped to shoot early in the second half and sliced a goalscoring opportunity wide. But when he slipped and allowed Moore a free run at goal, Warnock decided an investigation was necessary.
“I was convinced he was wearing rubber studs, which is ridiculous given pitches in this day and age, but I was right,” revealed Warnock. “He won’t be wearing them again.”
Moore’s footwear was suitably stable for him to cross to Matthew Rose, who returned the ball for Moore to shoot home his first goal for his new club. Substitute Steve Kabba got one goal back for United from close range late in added time.
STAR MAN: Georges Santos (QPR)
Player ratings. QPR: Royce 6, Bignot 6, Shittu 8, Santos 9, Rose 7, Ainsworth 6 (Brown 69min 6), Bircham 7, Doherty 5 (Moore 86min, 5, Rowlands 7 (Bean 86min, 5), Gallen 7, Furlong 6
[NB: subs not used - Cole, Shimmin.]
Sheffield United: Kenny 6, Bromby 5, Morgan 6, Jagielka 6, Kozluk 5, Ifill 6, Montgomery 5, Nalis 4 (Short 73min, 5), Harley 5 (Gillespie 73min, 5), Webber 7, Shipperley 5 (Kabba 77min, 7) Scorers: QPR: Bircham 56, Moore 90

Sheffield United: Kabba 90
Referee: S Tanner
Attendance: 13,497
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-1734114,00.html

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Telegraph QPR usher in post-Holloway era
By Neil Martin
Ian Holloway is gone, but far from forgotten, as QPR began a new era under Gary Waddock with a win.
There were rumours that Rangers' former manager, currently on gardening leave after expressing an interest in the vacant Leicester City job, would sneak into the stadium after his appearance on Football Focus in the BBC studios, just a long goalkick from Loftus Road.
Caretaker manager Waddock and Holloway's former players would have welcomed the chance to say a proper farewell to the popular Bristolian, but the terms of his departure mean that any communication is banned.
However, the fans refused to be silenced and they showed their appreciation for Holloway's five-year tenure by singing his name during the second half of this victory over relegation-threatened Millwall, the only goal coming from Marc Nygaard after 56 minutes.
QPR winger Gareth Ainsworth revealed: "We haven't spoken to Ollie [Holloway] since he was put on gardening leave because I don't think it is permitted.
"Maybe he got into the ground incognito, and if he did I don't think he will be bitter about this result. He is good friends with Gary Waddock and I'm sure he wants him to do well."
Waddock is in no doubt that Holloway deserved to be thanked for his achievements in turning previously struggling Rangers into a solid Championship outfit.
"I have not spoken to him and I won't until everything is sorted out between him and the club. But after that I will be the first one on the phone to congratulate him and wish him luck for whatever he does next," he said.
Chairman Gianni Paladini says Waddock will remain in charge until the end of the season in a caretaker role, but John Gregory has already been linked to the post and Dave Bassett and Ray Wilkins were both watching this encounter from the stands.
However, Ainsworth believes Waddock should be given the chance to put his new ideas into practice and stake his claim for the permanent job.
"He wants us to get the ball down and play, and when we have possession he is telling the attacking players, like myself and Lee Cook, to have a go at the opposition," the winger explained. "This is Gary Waddock's team now and we have all really responded to him," he added.
In stark contrast, Millwall remain in the bottom three and look doomed after failing to create a clear-cut chance for the second successive match.
Millwall goalkeeper Andy Marshall said: "It's disheartening and all the lads are down. The hardest thing is having the determination to go out there week after week when you are losing."
The only fight from Millwall came in the stands, after riot police rushed in to keep their fans separated from the Rangers supporters after Nygaard's goal.
http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/02/13/sfgqpr13.xml


The TIMES - Waddock hits upon a winning formulaBy Ron Lewis
Queens Park Rangers 1 Millwall 0
AS POPULAR AS Ian Holloway still is with the fans of Queens Park Rangers, his removal as manager of a mid-table team last week caused more surprise away from Loftus Road than within. Yesterday’s win may have moved QPR into the top half of the table, but any upward momentum of recent seasons had been dramatically halted.
Gary Waddock, the caretaker manager, promised attractive football and was fortunate to face a team as obliging as Millwall, who let QPR pass the ball around at will. QPR won by one goal, but it could have been six, such was the regularity with which the home team carved open the Millwall defence. “I told the players I wanted to see a good performance,” Waddock said. “Then the result will take care of itself.”
Despite rumours linking John Gregory, who played alongside Waddock in QPR’s midfield in the 1982 FA Cup Final, with the manager’s job at Loftus Road, Waddock seems to have the role until at least the summer, although he plans to appoint his own director of football. “I want someone experienced who I can get on the other end of the phone when I need them,” he said. “We are speaking to one or two people. Whoever it is, it will be my choice.”
When told of the rumours that Don Howe, the former QPR manager and England coach, was expected to take up the role, Waddock blushed. “I can’t name any names,” he said.
The QPR win was secured by Marc Nygaard, the giant former Denmark striker, who finished off a flowing move by converting a cross by Gareth Ainsworth’s cross at the second attempt. Ainsworth, Paul Furlong, twice, Marcus Bignot and Shabazz Baidoo missed good chances.
Waddock’s ambitions of passing football have gone down well with the players. “When we’ve got the ball, we’ve got a licence to attack,” Ainsworth said. “I don’t think Olly will be bitter about what has happened and I’m sure he will have smiled when he saw the result.”
Millwall never threatened and looked doomed to go down. Things got worse when Alan Dunne, on a yellow card, was sent off for jumping in with his elbow raised in a challenge with Steve Lomas.
“We didn’t have a shot on goal, again,” David Tuttle, the Millwall manager, said. “When you are in the bottom three for as long as we have been, confidence is low. Maybe some of the players think they are being relegated.”
Let down by their team on the pitch, a group of Millwall supporters looked to cement their bad reputation further by attempting to attack home supporters in the next stand. It took police in riot gear to restore order.
But the day belonged to Waddock, who played for QPR at every level from schoolboy to first team and then coached at the club at schoolboy, youth and reserve level. “This club is in my heart. I can’t explain how much this means,” he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-2037902,00.html

Guardian - Waddock takes caretaker contest
Mark Tallentire at Loftus RoadMonday February 13, 2006The Guardian
If this was a caretakers' convention then it was as good as it gets for the newest member, Gary Waddock, while the man with a two-month attendance record was left bemoaning the fact that the pitfalls in his arrangement at Millwall is leaving them short-handed with time running out.
Waddock took over at QPR last week, sent all of his suspended predecessor Ian Holloway's loan signings back to their clubs and promised an overnight change in style. The popular former Rangers midfielder made six alterations to the starting side and his team won with ease, although he will not find more compliant opposition if he keeps the job beyond the end of the season he has been promised. Already, the 43-year-old rookie is looking for a helping hand.
I'd like to get someone in with experience and knowledge who is on the end of a phone and I can ask for advice. I'm in no great rush but I'm speaking to a couple of people and it will be my choice," said Waddock, who has not spoken to his former team-mate John Gregory, admitted that a meeting with a former manager Jim Smith came to nothing and refused to rule out another Rangers old boy, Don Howe.
"My goal was always to be a manager and I've got a wonderful opportunity," Waddock purred. "I never thought it would come here. I've played at every level and coached at every level and for me to take charge of the club who have been a big part of my life and win in a derby against a club I used to play for, you try and explain that."
In this instance it is not difficult as Dave Tuttle, who began his turn as the Millwall caretaker with an undefeated five-game run, has been struggling since an arrangement with Colin Lee finished when the club's former manager quit as director of football last month.
The chairman Peter de Savary openly admits Millwall need a forward, a winger and a midfielder, but all he managed to bring to The Den last week was a decommissioned Routemaster London bus which will be decked out in club colours and used to ferry OAPs and the disabled to matches. Seven points adrift of safety already, that will probably be to see League One action as Millwall showed nothing to suggest they can pull away from trouble.
QPR's Paul Furlong put a first-half chance wide after the excellent Lee Crook found him in space and Gareth Ainsworth was also close before turning provider when he found Marc Nygaard eight yards out. The Dane's initial header was blocked but he lashed in the rebound.
Millwall's fans, who had questioned Tuttle's substitution policy when he removed the unwell Berry Powel after 49 minutes, were soon exchanging missiles with the home supporters and it was to get worse when Alan Dunne was sent off for two fouls in four minutes. "How can you win games when you don't have a shot on goal?" Tuttle said. "The lads think they may be getting relegated, they are in the bottom three and very low on confidence. I've been putting players' names forward to the board. This happens every week. We haven't had a shot and people ask me are you going to have a player in for next week? The answer is hopefully yes, but it ain't been happening."
Man of the match Lee Crook (QPR)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1708307,00.html

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Sunday Times - Waddock’s big shot
PAUL ROWAN
The ex-Ireland midfielder overcame two serious setbacks as a player. He now has a tough task as QPR’s caretaker-manager
Gary Waddock’s new office in a prefab at the back of the Queens Park Rangers training ground at Imperial College in west London is a spartan affair, filled with little more than a desk, a phone, a couple of filing cabinets and a few cardboard boxes. No baubles, mementoes or pictures, not yet anyway. But then Waddock has never done over-elaboration and sitting behind a high table would not be his style when a player walks through his door.
“With all the experiences I’ve had in my career,” he reflected when he found time for a breather on Friday afternoon, “when the players from the youth team or the first team speak to me, I know how they’ll feel when they’re low and I know how they’ll feel when they’re high. I’ve tasted both, the lowest of the lows and the highest of the highs.”
In football speak, those words are about as close as there is to the truth. At the age of 17 Waddock made his senior debut for QPR as a battling midfielder and he was 20 when he helped the club win promotion to the old First Division, then the highest tier. At 25, they showed him the insurer’s report on damage to the medial ligament in his right knee and then showed him the door, saying his injuries would make it impossible for him to play at the highest level again. As a local boy QPR was “in my blood”. So is Ireland. And the greatest blow was yet to come.
“I was told that I would never play 42 league games in a season in this country at the highest level. And the club decided that I wouldn’t be the same player, so there was an agreement with the insurance company and I retired.
I’m quite a determined character and when people say, ‘I don’t think you can do this’ or ‘I don’t think you can do that’ and me knowing my body better than anybody else, I thought my knee was in a reasonable nick. At the back of my mind there always was the question, ‘Can I play at the highest level again?’ That would have been in the top flight over here or back on the international stage with the Republic. And that was always the driving force behind it all, me getting back and proving to people, ‘Yeah I had an injury, but I battled back and rolled my sleeves up.’”
Waddock bought himself an exercise bike, started putting in the hard miles and then exiled to Royal Charleroi in Belgium. He was made their player of the year in 1988 and they desperately wanted him to stay, but Waddock had unfinished business back in his old manor.
Millwall had seen enough to come to an agreement with QPR whereby the insurance company was reimbursed a substantial part of the £300,000 they had paid out in compensation.
Waddock also knew that Charleroi was not the type of place where he would come to the notice of Jack Charlton, who had replaced Eoin Hand as Ireland manager in 1986. Waddock — his mother hails from Limerick, his father from Wexford — had become the second- youngest player to represent his country when he made his debut against Switzerland at the age of 18 years and 44 days. All his 19 caps had been earned under Hand. At Millwall, he teamed up with Tony Cascarino, who recommended him to Charlton. The Ireland manager was blessed with some fine attacking midfielders, Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan, Ray Houghton and Andy Townsend among them, but quickly came round to the qualities that Waddock could bring to his squad. He was still a ferocious competitor despite the obvious hazards.
“It’s funny,” he says, “I was never a guy who picked up a strain or a pull and would be out for a week or two. I’d be the guy who’d smash his body to bits and be out for six months. With my ligament I was out for nine months, broken ankle six months, but that was the type of player I was.
“I competed, I put myself about and then gave it to somebody who was better on the ball than me. If I took that side of my game away I wouldn’t have played at the level I did.”
Charlton brought him back for a World Cup warm-up game against the Soviet Union in April 1990. It was Waddock’s first international in five years, but he had always looked comfortable at that level and that afternoon at Lansdowne Road was no different.
Three weeks later, Charlton named his squad for Italia 90 and Waddock was in it. In May, the Ireland squad travelled to the Mediterranean for some acclimatisation and Waddock started the friendly against Turkey in Izmir.
All the time, however, Charlton was fretting over niggling injuries to Whelan and Houghton. A big decision had to be made.
“I had a premonition,” Waddock recalls, “I said to Bernie Slaven, my roommate — Bernie put it in his book — I said to him, ‘I’ve got a feeling I ain’t going to be in it.’ Bernie said, ‘No, you’re joking. You’re in the 22, you’ve got the itinerary, you’ve got all the uniform.’ But my gut feeling was that I wasn’t going to be in it and I was proved right.”
From Turkey, the team flew to Malta and then assembled to collect their baggage.
We were waiting at the carousel to pick up the bags and go to the hotel. Jack pulled me aside and said, ‘Can I have a word?’ And I was told in the airport terminal. It’s difficult now to remember everything he said but the bottom line was that I wasn’t going to be included in the final 22. I think Mick (McCarthy) and Niall Quinn could see that something was going on. Jack said, ‘Do you want to stay on?’ I said, ‘No.’ I didn ’t say it in that polite a manner. But I told him, ‘I need a ticket to get home and get out of here. Now.’ We couldn’t get a ticket for, I think, two days.”
Waddock’s purgatory was served at the team hotel. His replacement, Alan McLoughlin — a more attack-minded player — arrived in the foyer. “I was there for an evening with him, sitting round the dinner table, him being on a high and me on a low,” Waddock says. “As soon as he walked into the building I had to go and see him. I congratulated him. ‘Well done, I hope it goes well for you. It’s got nothing to do with you. I wish you all the very best.’
“Devastated I was, but not towards him. I wanted him to do well and not feel awkward. He’s a good footballer and a nice guy.”
Waddock eventually had to force the issue of his flight home. “I went into his (Charlton’s) room and we had a conversation. Sometimes you need to get some things off your chest. You can imagine the state I was in. I had all the different emotions. I rang my wife and I said, ‘I’m not going to be involved in it, I need to get away as far as I can from the World Cup.’ As soon as I got home we went on holiday. But the World Cup is a world tournament.
It doesn’t matter where you are.
“I had a can of Coke in a restaurant and I looked at it and it had a World Cup history on it or something. And I’m thinking, ‘I cannot get away from this.’ It was devastating.”
What could Charlton have done differently? His decision was made with the best of motives, he was blunt but honest. Should he have drawn a curtain around the player before committing the execution? “I was offered a lot of money to do a story on him,” says Waddock, referring to the interest of the tabloid press at the time. “He knows about that as well. I was never going to do it. He was employed to do a job, to do what he felt was right.”
Waddock, however, reserves the right to disagree with the decision and the way he was handled.
“He could have done it on a beach. He could have done it in the hotel, it’s still bloody wrong in my opinion and I’ve never changed my opinion on that. And knowing the history of my career, I think it was wrong. If before he named his original 22, he would have thought about it maybe a little bit longer and harder . . . If I wasn’t in the original 22, I would have been able to accept it a little bit more than I did. I actually got over the final hurdle. I’m running towards the finishing line and was tripped up.”
Charlton has always made a point subsequently of praising the way Waddock handled that awful situation and included him in one subsequent squad for a friendly game, but Waddock never played for Ireland again. After a spell at Bristol Rovers, he finished his playing career in 1998 at Luton Town, after 18 years and 573 League appearances. Waddock had just finished taking his coaching badges and this time the decision was on his own terms.
“I was 36 and I had another year left on my playing contract. I got an offer to come back here and work in the academy as under-17 coach. I decided I would hang up my boots, which isn’t bad for somebody who had a dodgy knee and had to retire at 24.”
Lately, the breaks have started to go his way. Waddock has stepped into the breach after the two biggest egos at the club, the manager, Ian Holloway, and the chairman, Gianni Paladini, finally collided, Holloway being sent on permanent gardening leave for talking with Leicester City about filling the vacancy there. Holloway isn’t coming back and Waddock has been given until the end of the season to prove himself. After the glory days of the 1970s, early 1980s and early 1990s, QPR seem to have found their level in the middle to lower reaches of the Championship, but if Waddock can reverse their fortunes it will open up a whole new catchment area for the hero status he already enjoys with many of the older fans at Loftus Road.
“At this football club I’ve come through the ranks, been brought up in a certain way with a certain style of play. I want my players to pass the ball, to move, to entertain, to enjoy their games, but ultimately we have to secure results along the way.”
Waddock is a realist who enjoys the dream. Still.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2036140,00.html

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Sunday Times
QPR 1 Millwall 0:Waddock in control
Rob Maul at Loftus Road
QUEENS Park Rangers were finally able to put a tempestuous week behind them as they celebrated a win in caretaker-manager Gary Waddock’s first match in charge following the departure of Ian Holloway.
But while Mike Nygaard’s second-half strike, only his fifth goal of the season, halted a run of three successive defeats and pushed Millwall further into the relegation mire, there were ugly scenes that nearly overshadowed it. Riot police were despatched to prevent Millwall fans breaching the South Africa Road stand, while items were thrown and plastic advertising banners torn up.
he trouble flared shortly after Nygaard breached the visitors’ defence. Though his initial header, from Gareth Ainsworth’s cross, was excellently saved by goalkeeper Andy Marshall, Nygaard comfortably slotted the rebound into the net.
Waddock, who had taken over the team after Holloway was placed unexpectedly on “gardening leave” last week, made six changes and the players he selected responded, dominating possession and territory for most of the match. Waddock relished the chance to manage. “I have played for the youth, reserve and first team and have coached at every level. This club has a huge place in my heart,” he said.
Later in the second half, midfielder Alan Dunne was sent off, receiving a second yellow card after his elbow connected with Steve Lomas. It compounded an awful day for the travelling Lions.
“Again, we did not have a shot on goal. How can you win games when you don’t have at least one,” asked Millwall manager David Tuttle. “Whether it is because the boys, low in confidence, think they are being relegated, I don’t know.”
STAR MAN: Lee Cook (QPR)
Player ratings. QPR: Jones 7, Bignot 6, Shittu 7, Evatt 6, Milanese 7, Ainsworth 8, Bircham 7 (Langley 88min, 6), Lomas 7, Cook 8, Furlong 6, Nygaard 7 (Baidoo 77min, 6)
Millwall: Marshall 6, Lawrence 5, Robinson 6, Whitbread 6, Craig 6, Cogan 7 (Dyer 80min, 6), Elliott 6, Dunne 4, Livermore 6, Powel 5 (May 49min, 7), Braniff 6 (Williams 59min, 6) Scorer: QPR: Nygaard 56
Referee: A Wiley
Attendance: 13,757
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2036699,00.html


INDEPENDENT
QPR 1 Millwall 0: Great Dane Nygaard puts bite back in Rangers
Crowd violence mars flying start for Loftus Road's caretaker manager Waddock
By Simon Asquith at Loftus Road
Published: 12 February 2006
Who needs John Gregory? QPR did just fine without him in Gary Waddock's first match in charge as caretaker manager.
Gregory is favourite to succeed the suspended Ian Holloway on a permanent basis but he could have a rival in Waddock. A scrappy winner from the Danish target man Marc Nygaard ended a run of three defeats in succession to give Waddock the perfect start after his promotion from reserve-team duties.
The 43-year-old is QPR through and through, having spent eight years as a player in west London and he might just turn out to be a popular choice after promising to bring back free-flowing football.
Nygaard's winner was anything but, however, coming as it did after the Millwall goalkeeper Andy Marshall could only parry his thunderous header from a simple right-wing cross by Gareth Ainsworth.
Marshall was still lying prone when Nygaard followed up to score his fifth goal of the campaign with a close-range volley on 55 minutes. But Waddock will not worry about that. "It was a great start," he said. "The manner of the win and the way we played was encouraging for the future. We opened them up and had opportunities.
"I played as a schoolboy here, then in the youth team and the reserves before I made it into the first team. I've coached the youths, the reserves and the first team.
"To be caretaker manager of this club, which is in my heart, how can you describe that?" He added: "I've got no idea whether John Gregory's been offered the job. But the chairman has said I'm here until the end of the season. I'll take it as it comes."
For Millwall, it was a dreadful afternoon. Not only did they fail to muster a single decent shot on target, but they had their midfielder Alan Dunne dismissed for two bookings in five mad minutes late on, first fouling and then elbowing Steve Lomas, and their fans traded missiles with the home supporters before riot police restored order.
The Millwall manager, David Tuttle, admitted: "The boys think they're getting relegated. When you're in the bottom three for so long you're going to be low on confidence. We need that spark to get us going but it's not happening at the moment. We were poor."
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article344897.ece


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDOCK POST MATCH RESPONSE

Caretaker Manager Gary Waddock hailed the end of a 'fantastic week' as Rangers beat Millwall 1-0 at Loftus Road.
Marc Nygaard's second half strike ended a barren run of three consecutive defeats for the Hoops, to the delight of Waddock.
"It's a great finish to a fantastic first week. We prepared from Monday onwards. I was calm Thursday and Friday and even surprised myself with how calm I was today.
"It got a bit edgy towards the end and Biggy could've settled by nerves, but I'd have taken a 1-0 win before the game, so I'm delighted.
"The lads have been positive all week and I think that came over in their performance today. It's a good result and we really want to keep it going now.''
Rangers' attacking style of play was a joy to watch at times and although Waddock was impressed by what he saw, he insists there is still a 'lot of work to be done.'
"There was some good movement, but there is still a lot of work to be done on our play in the final third. That's the most important area of the pitch, it's where games are won and we'll be working on it in training.''
Waddock also paid tribute to the Rangers supporters, who were vocal from start to finish.
"The reception that me and Macca got was fantastic. Also, the crowd were great towards Ollie, chanting his name, applauding in numbers and I joined in with them. He's done a fantastic job for this football club and that will never be forgotten.
''The nature of football is that manager's move on and I'm in Caretaker charge now to do the best I possibly can.'' http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~781918,00.html


QPR OFFICIAL SITE MATCH REPORT
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~30882,00.html


SPORTING LIFE
WADDOCK EYES EXPERIENCED SIDEKICK
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
QPR caretaker-boss Gary Waddock revealed he was desperate to add experience to his coaching staff after marking his first game in charge with victory over 10-man Millwall.
Marc Nygaard scored the only goal of the game in the 56th minute to earn Waddock - who stepped in earlier this week after former boss Ian Holloway was placed on gardening leave - three vital points.
Former Rangers boss Jim Smith rejected the chance to re-join the club in a consultancy role earlier this week, and Waddock wants a similar figure to help him through his first steps in management.
"I would like to bring in someone with experience and knowledge, who I can ask for advice," said Waddock, who played down reports that former Aston Villa and Derby boss John Gregory - a friend of chairman Gianni Paladini - had been offered a position at Loftus Road.
"But I will definitely be deciding who is appointed.
"I am glad the fans gave Ian Holloway the recognition he deserved, because he did a fantastic job during his five years here."
Although Millwall were very poor, Rangers played fluently in spells and should have won by more than one goal.
Waddock, who is likely to be in charge until the end of the season, made clear before the game his intention to play with a less direct style to that of Holloway - and the early signs were promising.
Waddock continued: "It was a great start. The manner of the way we played was encouraging for the future.
"I cannot describe how I feel [about becoming manager]. I was with the club from 1979-87 and again from 1991-92, so to become manager is fantastic.
"I think I could have taken over one of the stands if I had given tickets to all the family and friends that wanted to come today."
Millwall manager David Tuttle admitted his players are beginning to lose faith in their ability to stay in the Championship.
Alan Dunne was sent off late on for the visitors, whose home clash with Hull on Tuesday now assumes huge importance.
Tuttle said: "The boys are very deflated, because they think they are getting relegated and their confidence is low.
"It was a poor performance. We had a game-plan, and we didn't stick to it. We remain desperate to bring in an experienced forward on loan.
"After every game we say we need an attacker, but we haven't managed to make it happen. The board haven't told me why that is the case.
"When we played the ball to our frontmen, it came straight back, whereas QPR's were able to hold onto it. That was the difference between the teams."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/11/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1


- SUNDAY MIRROR LANGLEY: WE DON'T MISS IAN
RICHARD LANGLEY says QPR are better off without axed boss Ian Holloway.
Hoops chairman Gianni Paladini suspended Holloway on Tuesday for reportedly showing an interest in the vacant Leicester City job.
And midfielder Langley claims the players are happier working under caretaker boss Gary Waddock. He said: "There was no cohesion in the team. We didn't play with as much composure as we'd like, and we weren't playing the best football.
"A lot of the players like Gary Waddock's style, though. He appreciates a lot of the qualities we have in the team, and he's well liked. As long as the fans see us trying to pass it, they'll appreciate that.
"All the lads are behind Gary. It's going to be a hard job for him, but we'll give it everything. It will help Gary that he was such a legend as a player for QPR.
"We weren't surprised Ian was placed on gardening leave. There was a lot of speculation that he'd be moving on. http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16693435%26method=full%26siteid=62484%26headline=langley%2d%2dwe%2ddon%2dt%2dmiss%2dian%2d-name_page.html

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John O'Rourke,
Born February 11, 1945...
Ex- Luton, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Coventry, etc....

Signed by Gordon Jago in 1970 for a then record fee of 65,000 pounds as a prolific goalscorer (a few weeks after we also signed Terry Mancini to help our defense) to help us win promotion
(after a competition with Millwall to sign him)
Unfortunately he didn't score that many. The following season, he scored a few, but we then signed Stan Bowles; O'Rourke was injured and then kept out by a forward line of Bowles, Givens and Thomas. And we sold him to Bournemouth for about 40,000.
We initially almost signed him from Middlesbrough in 1967/68 to bolster our push to the First Division. We couldnt agree terms, so O'Rourke joined Ipswich. And instead we signed Frank Clarke from Shrewsbury... (And a couple of years later, O'Rourke went to Coventry and Clarke had joined Ipswich from QPR!)


From Middlesbrough Heroes
JOHN O'ROURKE 1966-68
THE crowd used to sing "Give us a goal, John O' Rourke" to the tune of "Give It To Me" by The Troggs - and he certainly did.
Arriving from Luton Town in 1966 with a formidable record of 64 goals in 84 games, O' Rourke carried on where he'd left off. In his very first game, he stuck two past Colchester and by the end of the season had chalked up 30 goals, nine of which came in hat-tricks.
His finest hour came in the last game of the season. Boro needed nothing less than victory to secure a place in the second division and O' Rourke was in the kind of form to give it to them, hammering in three goals in a 4-1 win over Oxford United.
He was capped for England under-23s against Turkey in Ankara and scored two more hat-tricks the following season, but with his marvellous goal-scoring ratio, it was only a matter of time before he was snapped up by a First Division club.
He moved to Ipswich in February 1968, moving again to Coventry, then QPR and finally Bournemouth. He must have liked it on the south coast because he stayed to open a newsagents. http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HeroesDetail/0,,1~52174,00.html

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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

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League Managers Association (LMA) Statement Feb 10, 2006

CONCERN OVER GARDENING LEAVE

The LMA have today voiced their concern at the growing trend of bosses being suspended instead of sacked.
Hartlepool boss Martin Scott and QPR manager Ian Holloway have both been suspended this month.
Chief Executive John Barnwell commented. "This is a growing trend which we are very unhappy with. "It means chairmen don't have to pay up a manager's contract up or even negotiate a settlement.
"The chairmen wait for a manager to get another job or say something which will breach their contract, meaning they don't have to pay them off.
"We would like to see a system in place where every manager has to have a licence.
"To get the licence, a manager would have to have a recognised coaching qualification.
"If they were dismissed, they would be entitled to a standard settlement."
Barnwell says Football League managers are particularly susceptible to being suspended and not paid off.
"The Premier League has a manager's arbitration tribunal," he said.
"Managers can go to it if a settlement has not been negotiated within 42 days and there is no appeal from it.
"We want to put this in place in the Football League. It would cut both ways, if a manager resigned from a club, he would not be able to join another club before compensation has been paid."
http://www.leaguemanagers.com/news/viewfromthetop-5283.html

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The Times - Sack race hits farcical proportions
By Bill Edgar
THE recent managerial cull intensified yesterday on a bizarre day north and south of the border. Queens Park Rangers have not dismissed Ian Holloway but have said that he will not get his job back, Walsall were revealed to have dismissed Paul Merson days after rejecting his offer to resign and, at Heart of Midlothian, a farce developed that was more Brian Rix than Graham Rix as the latter remained in charge without being allowed to pick the team for last night’s match against Dundee United....
Holloway’s five-year reign at Loftus Road has ended after Gianni Paladini, the QPR chairman, said yesterday that there was no way back for a man who has held talks over the vacant position at Leicester City. Those discussions prompted the London club to place their manager on “gardening leave” on Monday in the belief that the uncertainty was affecting the players, but Paladini has now given the job to Gary Waddock, the reserve-team coach, until the end of the season, while insisting that he would not dismiss Holloway, whose contract has two years to run.
“He hasn’t been sacked — we will honour his contract until the end,” Paladini said, before explaining why Holloway will not stay in his post. “If a man is happily married, why would he look for another woman? If you get the opportunity to speak to someone, it’s your choice whether to go or to stay. But maybe it’s better for him to move. Once he applied for the job at Leicester, we felt he couldn’ t concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He’s done a tremendous job.”
Holloway could not prevent QPR’s relegation from the second tier when he took over towards the end of the 2000-01 season, but he has since taken them up to mid-table in the Coca-Cola Championship. Jim Smith, a former manager of the club, has rejected the chance to assist Waddock, feeling that it would be inappropriate, given Holloway’s state of limbo....
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2030016,00.html

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Tommy Langley - February 8, 1958
Chelsea Forward, signed by Tommy Docherty in 1980 for about400,000 after we sold Clive Allen AND Paul Goddard for a million each...A few months laters, Docherty was gone (replaced by Venables) and a few months after that, Langley was himself gone.
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=1296

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - WADDO'S WORDS

Rangers' Caretaker Manager Gary Waddock met the national press for the first time this afternoon.Flanked by Chairman Gianni Paladini and Club Captain Kevin Gallen, Waddock expressed his delight at being handed the reigns while Ian Holloway is on 'gardening leave.'
"I'm here as a Caretaker and just to be given the opportunity to manage this wonderful club is fantastic. I'm here to do the job asked of me by the Chairman and I'll do it to the best of my ability."My job is to coach and I'm focusing entirely on Millwall at the weekend. I'm really looking forward to Saturday and I'm sure the players will put on a performance that will excite the crowd."Anybody who has played the game or has coached at any level would love to be a full time manager. My strengths are out on the training ground - training and coaching players.
"The players look hungry and everyone has an opportunity to prove their worth."The staff at QPR have been fantastic with me. Everyone has been a great help and we've all mucked in together. We all want to get a positive result and performance on Saturday.''
Waddock also revealed he is looking at bringing in another coach and an experienced advisor to assist him in his quest to push the Hoops up the table."We spoke about Jim Smith coming in; he has the type of experience and list of contacts I'm after. But that's finished now and I'll look at other avenues."We need another coach and an experienced man and I'm working on it.''
The new man at the helm also took time to spare a thought for Ian Holloway."Ollie's done a fantastic job here and I've learnt a lot off him, but unfortunately it's the nature of the business. His loss is my gain and I've been given a great opportunity to prove my worth. I'm only looking at it on a game-to-game basis and getting the team prepared for Millwall on Saturday.''
Waddock also revealed he is determined to alter the style of football Rangers will play - starting with the visit of Millwall on Saturday."The players know the style of football I want to play. My footballing philosophy is to get the ball down and play; be creative. It's all about passing and movement and getting into the final third; having an end product in terms of shots on goal. I want to change the style of play and hopefully that will start on Saturday.''
SEE THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON QPR WORLD
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~780078,00.html

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Clubcall
Paladini on Holloway departure07 Feb 2006 16:23
Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has spoken of his reasons behind placing Ian Holloway on gardening leave and revealed the decision was taken after an approach from the Foxes for Holloway to take over at the Walkers Stadium.
Paladini was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday where he confirmed that caretaker boss Gary Waddock is likely to remain in charge until the end of the season at Loftus Road and that the former Rangers player is a serious consider for the job on a full-time
Waddock has taken over from Holloway after the Rangers boss was the subject of an approach from Leicester last week and Paladini felt it was affecting the team: "I had a phonecall from Leicester the day after we played them last week asking for permission to speak to Ian," said Paladini.
"I told Ian and his agent and they wanted to speak to Leicester, so they did. It was very difficult because Ian has been fantastic for QPR over the last five years and it has been a privilege to work with him
"My feeling was that if you are happily married why whould you look for another woman? I felt that it was better for us to move in a different direction and for him to maybe move on after a long time here. But I have nothing but praise for the man."
Jim Smith has been linked with a role of Loftus Road but Paladini revealed he was only spoken to about the possibility of coming in to help out Waddock: "The idea was for Jim to come in on a consultancy basis. What we asked him to do for us he couldn't do it because he job was never offered to him as the manager," said Paladini.
"We felt he could come and help Gary but we could not offer him what he wanted and he has moved on. We wanted him to come in without a contract and to help it but things never happened." http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-230009-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html


PA Sport/Sporting Life
HOLLOWAY WILL NOT BE SACKED
By Andy Sims, PA Sport

QPR chairman Gianni Paladini has admitted there is no way back for Ian Holloway at Loftus Road as he unveiled reserve-team coach Gary Waddock as the club's new caretaker manager.
Holloway was put on 'gardening leave' by Paladini after asking permission to speak to Coca-Cola Championship rivals Leicester, who are in search of a new manager after sacking Craig Levein.
Paladini also revealed he will not sack Holloway even if he is not offered the manager's role at Leicester, and if necessary would continue to pay the 42-year-old for the duration of his two-year contract.
"If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?" said Paladini.
"If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay.
"But maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking.
"Once he applied for the job at Leicester we felt he couldn't concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He's done a tremendous job.
"But I spoke to Leicester on Wednesday, then spoke to his agent, and he went to see them.
"But he hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."
Paladini also revealed that Jim Smith had been offered a role at the club, but only in a consultancy capacity.
Smith, who led Rangers to the Milk Cup final in 1986, turned down a position at Loftus Road, claiming it would be "politically incorrect".
"Gary is caretaker manager and knows Jim well," Paladini added. "It was mainly consultancy that we asked him to do, we never asked him to be manager.
"It's a big job for Gary to take on, so getting Jim to come in might have been the right thing to do but we never discussed a position.
"But this is an opportunity for Gary to take charge. Hopefully he will do well."
Waddock admitted he would like the role on a permanent basis and will be looking to make an instant impact.
"My immediate thoughts and focus are Saturday's game with Millwall," said Waddock, who made 240 appearances for Rangers in the 1980s.
"I've been put in charge on a caretaker basis and I'll get on with the job in hand.
"The players know my style of play and they know my coaching methods."
Waddock is still on the lookout for a "Jim Smith-type character" to oversee the daily matters at the club, although he and Paladini refused to confirm or deny that former Aston Villa boss John Gregory was being considered.
"If someone like Jim Smith were to come in, with their experience, knowledge and contacts, then that would help because the phone hasn't stopped ringing and my strength is coaching," he added.
"Olly (Holloway) has done a fantastic job here, and he gave me the chance to coach, but it's the nature of the business."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/02/07/SOCCER_QPR_Nightlead.html


BBC - QPR chief says no Holloway return

Holloway has two years left on his contract at QPRQPR chairman Gianni Paladini says there is no way back for former manager Ian Holloway at Loftus Road, but is adamant he will not sack him.
Holloway was suspended on Monday for asking to speak to Leicester City about their vacant manager's job.
"Once he applied for the Leicester job we felt he could not concentrate on our team," Paladini said.
Paladini added that Holloway will be paid for the rest of his two-year QPR contract if he does not get a new job.
He added: "He hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."
Paladini felt Holloway's mind was no longer on the job at Loftus Road, saying: "If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?
"If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay.
"Maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking."
Holloway cannot speak about his departure from QPR for legal reasons, but BBC Sport has tried unsuccessfully to contact his agent.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4690636.stm


SKY -
Paladini: No way back for Ollie
By Andy Clarke - Created on 7 Feb 2006
...And he says he is prepared to pay Holloway for the remainder of his contract if necessary and will not be sacking the former Bristol Rovers manager, even if Leicester do not offer him the job.
"If a man is happily married why would he look for another woman?" said Paladini.
"If you get the opportunity to speak to someone it's your choice whether to go, or to stay. But maybe it's better for him to move, maybe he's been here too long. I don't blame him for looking.
"Once he applied for the job at Leicester we felt he couldn't concentrate on our team. Ian has had a rollercoaster time here under very difficult circumstances. He's done a tremendous job.
"I spoke to Leicester on Wednesday, then spoke to his agent, and he went to see them. But he hasn't been sacked. We will honour his contract until the end."
Smith has turned down Paladini's approach, at least for the time being, but could yet be back at the club he managed for three years in the 80s.
"Gary is caretaker manager and knows Jim well," Paladini said. "It was mainly consultancy that we asked him to do, we never asked him to be manager.
"It's a big job for Gary to take on, so getting Jim to come in might have been the right thing to do but we never discussed a position."
HLID=361381&CPID=10&title=Paladini:+No+way+back+for+Ollie&lid=2&channel=Football_Home&f=rss#

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SKY SPORT - Smith says no for now
By Simon Fudge - Created on 7 Feb 2006

Jim Smith has turned down the chance to return to former club Queens Park Rangers 'for the time being'.
Smith, who managed the West London outfit for a for a spell between 1985 and 1988, spoke with QPR chairman Gianni Paladini on Monday regarding a role whereby he would assist caretaker boss Gary Waddock.
The Championship club placed Waddock in charge after putting manager Ian Holloway and his assistants Gary Penrice and Tim Breaker on gardening leave.
Growing speculation that Holloway is set to succeed Craig Levein as Leicester City manager prompted Paladini to place the former Bristol Rovers boss on leave in order to steady the ship at QPR.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Smith felt now was not the right time to return to Loftus Road, but he hinted that a move back may be on the horizon.
"With the situation at the club and the management problems, it wasn't the time for me to go because it was politically not correct, I don't think," Smith said.
"It's a shame because it's a great club. Mr Paladini is a personal friend and I feel as if I've let him down a little bit.
"I met Gary Waddock yesterday (Monday), who is going to take charge, and I was very impressed with him.
"I just felt that for me, with the situation, it just wasn't politically correct for me."
Smith stated his confidence that he will return to football in the near future, though he ruled out any possibility of succeeding Phil Brown as Derby County manager.
"This is the longest period I've ever been out of football in my life," he added.
"In about 27 to 30 years, I've only done a year all told (out of football), and this is about half of it at this moment in time.
"I have turned opportunities down in that period, to be honest, but there are a couple of opportunities that are coming up now.
"I think, in the very near future, I'll be back in serious full-time football."
Smith feels the Leicester speculation will make it difficult for Holloway to return to his QPR post. "Looking at it - whatever the circumstances regarding Leicester is - to me, he's not going back," Smith said.
"I don't know how long it will take for him to do the garden and how big his garden is, but I don't think there is any going back (for Holloway now)."
http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=361204&CPID=10&clid=&lid=2&title=Smith+says+no+for+now


BBC - Smith decides against QPR return
By Andrew McKenzie
Smith spent over three years as boss at QPRJim Smith has held talks with QPR but will not be making an emotional return to the club as manager.
QPR suspended manager Ian Holloway on Monday after a poor run of results and following links with the Leicester job.
Smith, 65, was widely reported to be making a return as director of football to Loftus Road - where he was manager for three years in the 1980s.
"There have been talks and I've decided things are not right for me there at the moment," he told BBC Sport.
"It's been a very hard decision for me. I more or less said 'yes' to QPR and then I've had to say 'no' - it's that close and I feel a bit sad about it but I just felt it wasn't right.
QPR suspend Foxes target Holloway "I'm not going to be involved there."
Smith guided the club to fifth in the old First Division in 1988 before leaving later that year for Newcastle.
He rejected suggestions he was set for a director of football role at the club, adding: "I've never wanted to be a director of football in my life. I don't even know what he does."
Smith has been out of work since his contract was not renewed at Southampton in May 2005 and has since had talks with Bristol Rovers and been part of a consortium trying to take over Oxford United.
But he said he was in talks with other clubs, adding: "It's a funny life. There are no buses then suddenly three come at once." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4688366.stm


SOCCERNET Feb. 7, 2006
Smith turns down return to Loftus Road
Former QPR boss Jim Smith has rejected the chance to re-join the club - but did not rule out a return in the near future.
Rangers placed manager Ian Holloway on 'gardening leave' on Monday and chairman Gianni Paladini offered Smith - who managed Rangers from 1985-88 - a role alongside caretaker-boss Gary Waddock.
Smith revealed: 'I held talks with Gianni Paladini, but given the circumstances at the club I did not feel it would have been politically correct to go there right now.'
But when asked whether he would reconsider his decision if Holloway - who has been linked with managerless Leicester - was to leave the club definitively, Smith told Sky Sports News: 'That is always a possibility.
'I think I will be back in full-time football in the near future. I have turned down opportunities, and this is the longest I have been out of the game.'
Smith also believes 'there is no going back' for Holloway at Loftus Road.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=357765&cc=5901

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BIRTHDAYS TODAY

Eddie Kelly turns 55...Sammy Lee turns 47 and QPR League Cup Hero, Jim Langley turns 77

Jim Langley - February 7, 1929

Eddie Kelly - February 7, 1951
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=1244


Sammy Lee - February 7, 1959
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=1320

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Guardian - February 7, 2006
Smith, 94 [sic], is set to make an unlikely return to Loftus Road while Ian Holloway becomes acquainted with his garden

QPR line up Smith after Holloway is suspended Stuart James and
Arindam RejTuesday

Jim Smith may make an unlikely return to Queens Park Rangers as director of football, more than 20 years after he first took over at the west London club as manager. The 65-year-old is understood to have been lined up to take on an advisory role at Loftus Road as Rangers prepare for the inevitable departure of Ian Holloway, who was yesterday suspended from his duties.
Smith, who managed at Loftus Road between 1985 and 1988, is known to be a close friend of the QPR chairman Gianni Paladini and although the Championship club would not comment on his possible arrival yesterday they refused to rule out a move for the former Derby County manager, whose last employment was alongside Harry Redknapp at Southampton.
Holloway has been sent on "gardening leave" for an indefinite period after he was linked with the vacant managerial post at Leicester City at the weekend. Leicester have denied reports that an appointment is imminent but even if Holloway does not replace Craig Levein, who was dismissed two weeks ago, it appears unlikely that he will return to QPR.
The former Bristol Rovers manager signed a three-year contract extension 12 months ago but his relationship with Paladini has been strained for some time. Paladini, though, will be keen to avoid any financial settlement with Holloway because it is believed the manager has a rolling one-year deal which would entail a 12-month pay-off if he were sacked.
Holloway, who has been in charge at Rangers for five years, learned that he would no longer be in charge of team affairs on Sunday night. Paladini said that the combination of a poor run of results and the Leicester rumours had prompted his decision to seek a change. Gary Waddock, previously the first-team coach, has been appointed as caretaker manager.
"QPR have not sacked Ian but we are concerned about recent performances and the effect the speculation about Ian joining Leicester might have on the players," said Paladini. "QPR will always be enormously grateful for the contribution he has made over the past five years, in particular gaining promotion for us in 2004."
Waddock is likely to be assisted by the Rangers youth coach Joe Gallen for Saturday's match against Millwall. However two other members of Holloway's backroom staff, Tim Breacker and Gary Penrice, have been temporarily relieved of their responsibilities
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1703802,00.html


Telegraph
QPR suspend Holloway over Leicester linkBy Tom Cary
Queens Park Rangers have suspended manager Ian Holloway on full pay, ostensibly because of speculation linking him with the vacant manager's post at Leicester.
But a series of bad results and behind-the-scenes problems have undoubtedly contributed to the decision of chairman Gianni Paladini to place the eccentric Holloway on "gardening leave" along with coaches Tim Breacker and Gary Penrice. Coach Gary Waddock has been installed as temporary manager.
A statement from Paladini read: "QPR have not sacked Ian but we are concerned about recent performances and the effect the speculation about Ian joining Leicester might have on the players.
"QPR will always be grateful to the contribution he has made over the past five years, in particular gaining promotion in 2004.
"However, it is crucial the team are focused and moving forward, which is why we have appointed Gary as caretaker manager. I hope the fans get behind Gary for the home derby against Millwall on Saturday."
Waddock, a popular figure in his playing days at QPR, is credited with improving the club's youth system in recent years. The former Republic of Ireland midfielder is likely to be assisted by youth coach Joe Gallen, brother of club captain Kevin, for the clash with Millwall.
Paladini is also keen to install former manager Jim Smith as director of football. Smith led QPR between 1985 and 1988 and has since managed Newcastle, Portsmouth and Derby.
Cash-strapped QPR will now try to work out a compensation package with Holloway, who signed an improved contract last year. Meanwhile, Leicester, who dismissed Craig Levein last month and are in danger of dropping out of the top two divisions for the first time in their history, denied any agreement had been reached with Holloway.
A spokesman said: "The process of finding a new manager is still taking place. We won't be commenting on speculation."...
http://sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/02/07/sfnqpr07.xml

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OFFICIAL SITE
WADDOCK SPEAKS

Gary Waddock took charge of his first training session on Monday morning and was happy to get it out of the way.
"It's been a hectic morning, I spoke to the players regarding the situation then we split the lads into two groups. The guys who played on Saturday did a cool down and then a weights session with Scott Rushton. The other group played in a football session overseen by myself and Joe Gallen."
"I also spoke to many of the senior players on a one to one basis to get my points across."
Waddock is known around the club as a nice guy but he knows he will have to get tough to fulfil his role.
"I'm a nice guy and I'm an honest guy and I know I'll only keep eleven players happy. I'm here to do a job, I'm a professional person and I will get the players and the team ready that will win the next match for the club. Yes I will have to make hard decisions but I am not frightened or afraid to make them."
Waddock played in a Rangers side with plenty of flair and would like to continue that with his own side.
"The style of play will change overnight. Everyone has their own football philosophy and I have mine."
"I want the players to be able to express themselves and enjoy the style of play. We will pass it and there will be lots of movement."
"I want them to be creative and express themselves as well .I will encourage them to play out from the back but I'm not naive, I know we also need to get results - but with a certain brand of football.
Having been in charge of the reserve team Waddock knows about most of the players but no-one will get into his side on reputation only.
"Everyone starts from scratch today. Some senior players will play play for the reserves tomorrow in order to help with their fitness ahead of Saturday's game."
"I will need the crowds help and support. I want my team to excite them and get the noise back to Loftus Road. When it's in full voice it makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and I want it to be our fortress."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~779400,00.html

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BBC- Bradford rocked by Edghill break
Edghill had only just signed a new contractBradford City defender Richard Edghill faces a spell on the sidelines after breaking his ankle last Saturday. The experienced right-back, 31, who only signed a new deal last month, was injured in the 3-1 defeat at Colchester and is now wearing a cast on the ankle...http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bradford_city/4685970.stm

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CHAIRMAN PALADINI ON IAN HOLLOWAY

Q&A With Paladini - QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Q: "Do you think that Ian Holloway has taken the club as far as he can, and do we need a manager that will be able to take us to the next level?
A: I think Ian is the man to take us forward, that's why we gave him a three year contract. Ian is a very good manager and I think he is the man to take us forward.Our relationship is very good, we speak everyday. I have commented on our relationship very often. I love Ian."
Q: How much truth was there in the rumour of Ramon Diaz coming to Rangers?
A: When I first joined I didn't know Ian Holloway. My friend Ramon Diaz came to watch our matches but he couldn't work for us anyway due to work permits. But once I got to know Ian then I knew he was the man for the job.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/QA/0,,10373,00.html

Q&A with Paladini - QPR NET
"...
QPRnet.com: Do you target Ian Holloway before each season as to a league finish?
GP: At the beginning of the season I targeted him to finish in the play offs and to improve on last season as a minimum. Anything less than that is disappointing, we have to improve, there is no other way, so let’s see what happens....
QPRnet.com: What were your thoughts on our Club President calling for Ian Holloway to be sacked recently?
GP: He’s been a supporter of QPR for years and years and years has Harold. He’s a very passionate man, lovely fella and he’s helped the club many times. He has his own ideas and they haven’t changed, he was like this ever since I’ve known him. He’s not on the board and he doesn’t interfere but he’s entitled to his opinion and I’ve no problem with that. I said to Ian that I take stick as well and you have to get on with it.
QPRnet.com: So what about you? You said recently that you loved Ian and wanted him to be the man who builds the clubs future – do you stand by that?
GP: I like Ian as a man, he’s been very close to me over the years but at the end of the day we all know in football you forget about the good times very quickly. There’s a time span for everyone in football for me and for Ian but it won’t be me that ever sacks him it will be the fans, they will decide what’s right.
If it comes to that then it doesn’t matter how much you love somebody, you have to make a decision you don’t want to. At the end of the day, Ian knows his job as a football manager is to be successful and I know my job is to run this football club and make sure the finances are sound and if either of us don’t do that then we have to go. It’s OK being a lovely friendly person but if you are not a success then you can only be a failure.
QPRnet.com: Are you and Ian both aware that the fan base is split over his future?
GP: Of course but that happens at every football club, you can be the most successful manager in the world but the moment things don’t go right you get moved on. Look at the pressure Alex Ferguson is under after everything he has done.
http://qprnet.com/interviews/paladini.shtml


PALADINI OFFICIAL STATEMENT AFTER HE TOOK OVER FROM BILL POWER

"...Paladini also believes that the root of stability lies with the manager and that is why he hopes to sit down with Ian Holloway this week to discuss a new contract. "Ollie is responsible for so much that has happened here during the past few years. Our successes on the pitch are down to him and he should be rewarded accordingly."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~706682,00.html

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From The Independent November 6, 2005
Ian Holloway - In a league of his own
by Robert Chalmers

"....I ask Holloway how he gets on with Gianni Paladini."His personality is electric. You want to be in his company." At the same time, he says, "You wouldn't want to do anything wrong. He loves you or he hates you. When he loves you, there is no better company in the world. You can talk about Gianni being a waiter. You can talk about Gianni being Italian. You can talk about Gianni being an agent. But Gianni is a bloke. Gianni is a fella. A nice fella."What if you "do something wrong"?"If you upset him," Holloway explains, "he will hurl abuse at you. He doesn't mean it the following day. Hopefully I can help him learn from my experience of how I used to scream at deaf children."Does he swear in Italian?"Normally in English.
"Last year, Holloway recalls, he was at home, suffering from chronic diarrhoea, when he answered a call from Paladini."I was sat on the toilet - actually I couldn't leave the toilet. I had this virus. There had been rumours about me going to Wolves. Three days before, I'd bought flowers for some ladies in the office. Gianni assumed they were a leaving present."So you were on the toilet..."And Gianni was going: 'You fucking bastard I am going to kill you. I am going to kill you, you fucking bastard... where are you, you fucking... fucking hell where are you.'"And you said..."I am on the toilet. My wife is in the house. Ask her. He said: 'She could be at fucking Wolves with you.'"In the end, Holloway says, he had to drive up to Leeds, to reassure the Italian. It was a journey he remembers."It was a terrible virus. It was coming out of both ends. I had to stop at every service station. I shouldn't have gone. It was horrendous. I was totally dehydrated. My lips were stuck to my teeth. I ended up in hospital, the following day. I was in for a week. I had six drips put into me."It wouldn't be reasonable to invite any manager to criticise his chairman in public, but..."Well I have seen people saying Holloway 'supports' Gianni Paladini. Holloway supports QPR. But I am a man of principle. If I thought there was any just cause for [the unease some have voiced about the Italian], I wouldn't be here.... " http://news.independent.co.uk/people/profiles/article324844.ece


[NB: This of course was before Paladini became QPR Chairman]
[And for nostalgia: this was the match report of that game from November 2004)
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/04/11/20/SOCCER_Leeds.html

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QPR OFFICIAL SITE
Topic: QPR PRess Call Tomorrow

Official Site QPR will be hosting a press call at their Harlington training ground tomorrow. Gary Waddock and Gianni Paladini will be on hand to answer questions from the press. Any organisations requesting accreditation should email the club on jackieb@qpr.co.uk for more details. Please note - only accredited members of the press will be allowed onto the premises. Supporters will be able to follow the full coverage of tomorrow's press call on www.qpr.co.uk and QPR World.
SEE THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON QPR WORLD QPR World
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~779311,00.html

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BBC
QPR suspend Foxes target Holloway

I an Holloway could now take over at Leicester CityQueens Park Rangers have suspended manager Ian Holloway because of speculation linking him with the vacant manager's job at Leicester City.
Holloway has been placed on "gardening leave" with recent bad results also contributing to his downfall.
"QPR has not sacked Ian," chairman Gianni Paladini told the club website.
"But we are concerned about recent performances and the effect speculation about Ian joining Leicester City might have on the players."
Rangers have slumped to 15th in the Championship table and Holloway has faced mounting criticism from fans.
He was told by Paladini on Sunday night that he was being relieved of his duties at Loftus Road whether or not he lands the Foxes job.
Rangers will now try to work out a compensation package with the ex-Bristol Rovers chief, who signed an improved contract last year.
And, with Holloway facing competition for the Leicester job from caretaker boss Rob Kelly and Luton's Mike Newell, the west London club have suspended him on full pay along with coaches Tim Breacker and Gary Penrice.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4685138.stm
QPR coach Gary Waddock has been placed in temporary charge.
Paladini added: "I hope we can sort something out with Ian as soon as possible.
"QPR will always be enormously grateful for the contribution he has made for the past five years, in particular gaining promotion for us in 2004.
"However, it is crucial the team are focused and able to move forward, which is why we have appointed Gary as caretaker manager."
Waddock was a hugely popular figure in his playing days at QPR and is credited with improving the club¿s youth system in recent years.
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder is likely to be assisted by youth coach Joe Gallen - brother of club captain Kevin - for this Saturday's game against Millwall.
Paladini is also keen to install ex-Rs boss Jim Smith as director of football.
Smith led QPR between 1985 and 1988 and has since managed Newcastle, Portsmouth and Derby.

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OFFICIAL SITE
CLUB STATEMENT

QPR have announced that Ian Holloway has been placed on 'gardening leave.'
Gary Waddock has been appointed as caretaker manager and will be taking first team training as of today.
Waddock is currently being consulted about a potential caretaker assistant manager to join him in the next few days.
The move follows speculation about Holloway joining Leicester City as their new manager.
The club is keen to avoid any distraction to the playing side and to move forward with the rest of the season as speedily as possible.
It has therefore put Ian Holloway and his managerial staff, Gary Penrice and Tim Breacker, on gardening leave with immediate effect.
Gary Waddock started at work on Monday morning in training with the players and in preparation for next Saturday's derby game against Millwall.
Gianni Paladini said: "QPR has not sacked Ian, but we are concerned about recent performances and the effect the speculation about Ian joining Leicester City might have on the players.
"I hope we can sort something out with Ian as soon as possible. QPR will always be enormously grateful for the contribution he has made over the past five years, in particular gaining promotion for us in 2004.
"However, it is crucial the team are focussed and able to move forward, which is why we have appointed Gary as Caretaker Manager. I hope the fans will get behind Gary for the home derby against Millwall on Saturday."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~779128,00.html

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From almost exactly a month ago:

QPR OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Following the weekend's media reports, the Board of Directors have issued a statement.
Numerous stories alleged that QPR were on the brink of selling some of their most valuable players, most notably Dan Shittu, but the Board would like to state there is no such truth in the rumours.
The statement reads:"The board unanimously condemns recent allegations from some badly informed newspapers with regards to the sale of some of our players for ridiculous amounts of money and also the replacement of our manager."We would like to clarify that there is absolutely no need to sell players in order to settle monies due to the Inland Revenue as we are fully up to date with our repayments."Furthermore, stories claiming that Jim Smith is to become the Director of Football at Loftus Road are completely unfounded. "http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~762464,00.html

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Sporting Life
GALLEN ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
QPR skipper Kevin Gallen looks finally to be reaching the end of his injury nightmare.
The 30-year-old has not played for Rangers since November 26 due to back problems that have stumped a number of experts - and left boss Ian Holloway without arguably his most important player. But Rangers physio Prav Mathema is confident there is light at the end of the tunnel.
"Kevin had three injections in his back, and it is now getting better," Mathema said. "He's making progress, although it's still hard to know when he might be back."
http://qprreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/waddock-supposedly-replaces-holloway.html

Guardian
Strange Ranger Holloway keeps his mind on the job John Ashdown at Elland RoadMonday February 6, 2006The Guardian
"He's got to stop letting speculation get to him - you've just got to focus on your job," said Ian Holloway of his centre-half Danny Shittu, who was the subject of several bids during the transfer window. With rumours suggesting that the QPR manager may this week take over at managerless Leicester, he was certainly heeding his own advice.
The Bristolian was his usual self after watching his side slip to a third consecutive defeat, picking the bones out of another colourful week at Loftus Road. Five players were given their debuts on Saturday, the result of a desperate scramble to produce a side capable of competing at Elland Road. Training for a new system went ahead on Friday without a goalkeeper. "I was very proud of my Queens Park Strangers side," he said. "I've never known anything like the last couple of days."
If Holloway has one eye on the Leicester vacancy he did not show it, preferring to concentrate on the need for English lessons for his new Polish left-back and his desire to see several senior first-team members out of the treatment room. If Leicester have one eye on Holloway it would be no surprise given his record - promotion in 2004 has been followed by two seasons of stability in the Championship, despite a decidedly unstable boardroom backdrop. If there is one thing needed at the Walkers Stadium it is stability.
Though Rangers offered a dogged performance on Saturday the result was rarely in doubt. With so many new faces there was, understandably, little attacking cohesion. At the back it was the debutant who had a greater vested interest than most in keeping Leeds at bay who did the most to undo his own defence.
The forms allowing the goalkeeper Phil Barnes to join on emergency loan from Sheffield United were only signed at 11.30 on Saturday morning and four hours later he was committing the clanger that allowed his parent club's promotion- chasing rivals to take a lead which had been starting to look unlikely. The keeper totally misjudged Eddie Lewis's outswinging free-kick and Richard Cresswell nodded into an empty net.
What followed was tame, lifted only by Paul Butler's late second and an eye-opening display from Shittu at the heart of the QPR defence. "If I was a Premiership manager I'd have bought him by now," said Holloway. "I don't think there is anything like him around. Where can you find a big fella like that who can run as quick as he can, is as strong as he is, and can head it like that? I would hate to see us without him." Rangers fans should feel the same way about their manager.
Man of the match Danny Shittu (QPR)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1702978,00.html


INDEPENDENT
Leeds United 2 Queen's Park Rangers 0: Lewis lives off scraps to feed Leeds' promotion hunger
By Jon Culley
".....Rangers lost their third match in a row but do not look a team on the slide. In the light of the drastic surgery, their manager, Ian Holloway, had performed after losing to Leicester last week, they were probably unlucky not to emerge with a point.
Creatively, they offered too little to win but a defence in which four of the five - the goalkeeper Phil Barnes, the full-backs Marcin Kus and Andy Taylor and the centre-back Keith Lowe - were making their debuts as loan signings showed remarkable coherence.
Danny Shittu again showed why he is among the best central defenders outside the Premiership while the hugely experienced Steve Lomas ensured that Shaun Derry could never impose the grip on midfield he would have liked.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article343447.ece


TELEGRAPH
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=UNJSETD4IRNAVQFIQMFCFF4AVCBQYIV0?xml=/sport/2006/02/06/sfglee06.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/02/06/ixfooty.html

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Mirror
RANGERS MOVING FOR HAND OF WAD

QPR are ready to name Gary Waddock as their new caretaker boss today - as they thrash out a severance deal for Ian Holloway (right).
Rangers will turn to coach Waddock and try to persuade former manager Jim Smith to come back in a consultancy role to fill the gap left by Holloway moving to Leicester.
They have been discussing the compensation package with Leicester for Holloway over the weekend, but are also teeing up his replacements.
There is also support for a move to bring in Dennis Wise, but Waddock will be given the chance to make the job his own on a permanent basis at the cash-strapped club.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16670905%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=rangers%2dmoving%2dfor%2dhand%2dof%2dwad%2d-name_page.html
BBC Gossip
"QPR will name Garry Waddock as their caretaker boss to replace Ian Holloway, who goes to Leicester. (Daily Mirror) http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/4684454.stm

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QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini
Some of his Q&As over the past six months


QPR WORLD Q & A http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/QA/0,,10373,00.html

QPR NET INTERVIEW http://qprnet.com/interviews/paladini.shtml

QPR Official Statement re Board Changes
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~706682,00.html

October 2005 - QPR 1st
http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/documents/GandAminutes.doc


September 2005 - QPR 1st
http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/trustclubmeetsep2005.htm


November 2005 - LSA Meeting with Club Representatives
http://www.qpr-lsa.co.uk/05novdec.html


September 2005 -LSA Meeting with Club Representatives
http://www.qpr-lsa.co.uk/05setpoct.html


December 2005 - QPR 1st Recent Tax Bill
http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/newsarticle.asp?id=46


Also

Alex Wade/The Times - September 30, 2005
Chairman sees himself as agent for QPR revival
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-1804566,00.html


David Conn/The Guardian - October 13, 2005 -
The ABC of boardroom intrigue at Loftus
http://football.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9753,1595541,00.html


Rob Hughes/International Herald Tribune/New York Times - December 21, 2005
Fans Bewildered as Agents Run Club
http://www.nytimes.com/iht/2005/12/21/sports/IHT-21SOCCER.html

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BBC - Leicester continue manager search
Leicester are still "some way" from finding a replacement for sacked manager Craig Levein, club chairman Jim McCahill has told BBC Sport.
Levein's 14-month spell in charge ended on 25 January with the Foxes facing relegation from the Championship.
"We are some way away yet from making a decision," McCahill said.
"By the end of next week we hope to be concentrating on the last two or three recommended candidates but I can't comment on any individuals."
Burnley boss Steve Cotterill has turned down an approach from Leicester while Preston did likewise when their manager Billy Davies was targeted.
Notts County manager Gudjon Thordarson, QPR boss Ian Holloway and Luton manager Mike Newell have all been linked with the post.
We've not ruled out Rob Kelly continuing to the end of the season with extra support from an experienced coach or manager
Leicester chairman Jim McCahill
The former Blackburn coach lost his first two games at the helm but saw the Foxes take a vital three points at QPR.
If Kelly builds up a run of results, McCahill said he could find himself in the position over the long-term.
"We mustn't forget Rob Kelly is doing a good job," said McCahill.
"We've not ruled out Rob continuing to the end of the season with extra support from an experienced coach or manager.
"The longer results go our way the more it takes away the urgency of making an appointment.
"However, from the time Craig left our priority has been to preserve our Championship status and we know we need to sort the manager's position out."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/4677602.stm

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Sunday Times
The Big Interview: Peter Crouch
JONATHAN NORTHCROFT

"....http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2025274,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2025426,00.html

News of the World EXCLUSIVE:
New manager for Leicester - Foxes get Holloway
By David Harrison

IAN HOLLOWAY will this week be unveiled as the new Leicester City manager.
The QPR boss led his side for the last time at Leeds yesterday before he succeeds the axed Craig Levein at the Walkers Stadium.
Leicester chairman Jim McCahill, who was also linked with Burnley's Steve Cotterill and Mike Newell of Luton, contacted Rangers last week and agreed a compensation package.
A Leicester source confirmed: "Ian has agreed to join us.
"Everyone has seen what a great job he's done at QPR. His enthusiasm and passion will inspire us to move away from the relegation zone."
Holloway, 42, a former QPR player, returned to Loftus Road as manager five years ago after a similar period as boss of Bristol Rovers.
He led Rangers to promotion to the Championship in 2004.
in Despite the initial disappointment of relegation to League One, Holloway gradually turned the club round.
After narrowly missing out on the play-offs in 2002, QPR reached the play-off final in 2003 but were beaten 1-0 by Cardiff.
The following season he achieved promotion to the Championship as League One runners-up with a final-day victory over Sheffield Wednesday
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/sport/sport5.shtml

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Independent - Leeds Utd 2 QPR 0: Butler keeps Leeds in promotion hunt
By Jon Culley at Elland Road
Published: 05 February 2006
Such is the relentless pace at which Reading and Sheffield United have been charging towards the Premiership that Leeds lost ground after a hard-fought draw at Ipswich in midweek. But manager Kevin Blackwell is adamant that, despite the 11-point gap his side must close to rise above third place, automatic promotion is not yet out of range.
They did not look comfortable yesterday until captain Paul Butler added to Richard Cresswell's first-half header with a second goal six minutes from the end, but should their Sheffield rivals slip against Watford tomorrow night, it might look a highly valuable victory.
"We'll be watching that one with a lot of interest," said Blackwell's head coach, John Carver. "I know Neil Warnock says that all the pressure is on the chasing pack but we are going to put as much pressure on Sheffield United as we can because we still feel we can catch them."
Rangers had five players - four of them on loan - making their debuts. And given that three of those new faces (Marcin Kus, Keith Lowe and Andy Taylor) were in the back four, endeavouring to protect the goalkeeper Phil Barnes, signed from Sheffield United as emergency cover for the injured Simon Royce and Jake Cole, it looked a recipe for defensive misunderstandings.
Their manager Ian Holloway dubbed them "Queen's Park Strangers." But in fact, with the experienced Steve Lomas overseeing everything from midfield and Danny Shittu authoritative at the back, they were surprisingly well organised.
When Leeds went ahead it was through an error that was individual rather than collective. Barnes took responsibility for dealing with an Eddie Lewis free kick but came out embarrassingly second best against Cresswell, the Leeds striker looping a header into the unguarded net. Leeds were lucky when a close-range header from Lowe bounced kindly for Neil Sullivan early in the second half, but they countered immediately. Barnes, diving to his left, kept out a goal-bound shot from the impressive Liam Miller and then Cresswell headed wide. Barnes took another step towards redeeming himself when he saved from Lewis, but Rangers were killed off when centre-back Butler stormed into the visitors' box to meet a Lewis cross with an unstoppable header. http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article343331.ece


Sunday Times

"...This was a workmanlike victory over a Queens Park Rangers side depleted by injuries. QPR manager Ian Holloway solved a goalkeeping crisis by registering Phil Barnes’s loan from Sheffield United less than four hours before kick-off. Both goals came from headers and both came from passes from the left foot of Eddie Lewis, the United States international who had a terrific game on the left wing. His skill enlivened a drab, listless opening as he tormented QPR’s new Polish full-back Marcin Kus and after 27 minutes he beat the defender to the byline and forced Barnes into a save.
But Barnes was at fault for Leeds’s opener. Lewis swung over a free kick, the keeper called for the ball but could not reach it before Cresswell, whose back header looped into the empty net.
Neil Sullivan was not called on to make a save until nine minutes into the second half when Keith Lowe, another QPR debutant, won the ball in the air but headed straight at him. At the other end Liam Miller struck a stinging shot from 20 yards that brought a fine save from Barnes before Cresswell had an opportunity to score Leeds’s second. Lewis’s cross found the former Preston man unmarked, but he headed wide.
With Lewis unstoppable and Shaun Derry an anchor in midfield, Leeds were dominant. After 77 minutes Lewis did well to reach a Cresswell cross but when he pulled the ball back, no attacker followed up.
Six minutes from time Leeds put the result beyond doubt. Lewis sent over another perfectly weighted cross and Butler dived to head the ball powerfully past Barnes.
STAR MAN: Eddie Lewis (Leeds)
Player ratings. Leeds: Sullivan 7, Kelly 7, Butler 7, Gregan 6, Crainey 6, Douglas 6, Miller 7, Derry 7, Lewis 8, Healy 6 (Blake 71min, 6), Cresswell 7 (Hulse 77min, 7)
QPR: Barnes 7, Kus 5 (Langley 86min, 6), Lowe 6, Shittu 6, Taylor 7, Ainsworth 5 (Youssouf 66min, 6), Bignot 6, Lomas 6, Cook 7 (Nygaard 66min, 7), Moore 5, Clarke 5
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2025426,00.html


SKY
The Championship Sat, 04 Feb 06 15:00
Leeds head past QPR
By Andrew Scurr - Created on 04 Feb 06

"....QPR were forced into changes for their game with Leeds, the most notable, Phil Barnes in goal despite only signing for the club at 11.30am.
Leeds have been solid at home this season and pressurised the QPR back line early. Stephen Crainey's ambitious effort flew over the top of the bar whilst the Whites' wingers produced quality balls into the box.
However, Rangers should have taken the lead just before the break when Lee Cook sent a volley over from just six yards out.
They were made to pay for the miss on 39 minutes when Cresswell connected with Eddie Lewis' ball to put the home side ahead, nodding past Barnes to score his seventh goal of the season.
Leeds continued to threaten after the restart but did not add the second until six minutes from time when Butler dived full-length to head home another fine cross from Lewis.
Miller almost added the third in the closing minutes but failed to make correct contact from 18 yards http://home.skysports.com/matchreport.asp?fxid=278423&CPID=10&channel=championship

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Dave Clement, QPR's England Defender
Born February 2, 1948. Tragically died in 1982.
400+ Appearances...20+ goals for QPR. Briefly played with Bolton and Wimbledon.
Played for England but not nearly as much as he should have. Up there with Phil Bardsley as great QPR full back.
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=9674

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CLUBCALL
Q.P.R. - Holloway on Thompson bid

Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway has admitted his bid to sign Linfield striker Peter Thompson ended in failure but is pleased with the business he has been able to do.

The Rangers boss moved late on deadline-day to sign striker Leon Clarke and defender Keith Lowe on loan for the remainder of the season.

However the top target was Thompson who has been attracting plenty of interest after impressing for Linfield and Holloway was disappointed not to get the deal: "We won't be signing him. I don't know what it has come down to but we have been watching him for a year and a half.

"It is dead at the moment as they want to win the league and are in three competitions.

"From my point of view I need to freshen things up. We have signed Leon Clarke and Keith Lowe until the end of the season and a couple of new defenders. I could possibly pick a whole new back four and at least I have the options."

Holloway also admits that young striker Stefan Moore could be loaned out in an attempt for the youngster to get his confidence back: "We may have borrowed them but we have worked hard to do the deals.

"I was on the phone all day and now with the additions we have made and a few more things that I have got lined up we may see one or two loaned out - maybe Stefan Moore and I have spoken to him about it.

"He needs to go and play a batch of games at a lower level than this and get his self-esteem back. I have seen him do some fantastic things in training but at the minute it is not happening for him and he is not getting the support he needs. I can now do that."

http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-228573-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html

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TEAMTALK

QPR manager Ian Holloway will allow Stefan Moore to leave the club on loan to boost his flagging confidence.

"..."I've spoken to Stefan about going out on loan," Holloway said. "He needs to get a batch of games under his belt at a lower level. "Hopefully, that will allow him to regain his self-esteem. He does some fantastic things in training, but at the moment it's not happening for him on the pitch. "It's no problem for me to let him play in someone else's team, and I hope to be able to do that when the loan market re-opens on February 6." http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_990947,00.html

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..BEN KOSKY, KILBURN TIMES

".... "I've never seen such a spate of mistakes," Holloway declared. "It wasn't just one person - nearly every single one of my players played the wrong pass and our clearances were diabolical.
"That was my back four, that I've had for a while and I've showed faith in. But on this showing, it was back to the drawing board. Mentally, they looked the weakest team I've ever had.
"I've asked them all to go home and work out why they were so nervous or frustrated. That wasn't acceptable and it'll have to be changed - we looked like the side who were 13 points behind the other.
"For the first time, I can probably pick a whole new back four, if I want.
We've got some new people and maybe I'm going to have to work with them and get them out there."

-http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED01%20Feb%202006%2012%3A02%3A00%3A840

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Ben Kosky, Kilburn Times

QPR blocked three attempts to prise Danny Shittu away from Loftus Road before the transfer window closed, chairman Gianni Paladini has revealed.
Premiership strugglers Birmingham City were rebuffed in their efforts to sign the Rangers defender after lodging a bid that Paladini described as 'derisory'.
Promotion-chasing Sheffield United and fellow Championship side Norwich - who have cash in the bank after selling Dean Ashton to West Ham - were the other suitors to be spurned.
"The offers were derisory, nowhere near good enough and I said 'no way in the world'," Paladini told the Times.
"We've no intention of selling Danny anyway. He knows about the clubs that were after him and he's very happy to stay with us and help build up QPR."
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce had been keeping tabs on the Rs' centre-back for some time, but his offer - believed to be less than £1m - fell a long way short of Shittu's asking price.
And the Blues manager then turned his attention elsewhere, signing Czech defender Martin Latka on loan from Slavia Prague earlier this week.
Rangers, meanwhile, concluded their search for a striker by signing Danish forward Sammy Youssouf until the end of the season. Youssouf, 29, spent a brief period in Scottish football with St Johnstone four years ago, but enjoyed his most prolific spell with AB Copenhagen, where he netted 12 goals in 23 games.
More recently the 6ft 1in forward has been playing for Dutch side Roosendaal and was then based in Portugal with Maritimo before joining QPR on a free transfer. Youssouf's arrival also means that Rangers have shelved their interest in Linfield striker Peter Thompson for the time being.
Manager Ian Holloway has been watching Thompson in recent weeks, but the Irish League club turned down QPR's initial bid for the striker - who has hit 33 league goals for them this season.
And Paladini confirmed that the offer would not be increased, saying: "That deal's dead for now.
"They don't want to release him until the end of the season, but I know Ollie likes him and maybe we can go back and do something in the summer."
As well as clinching a new shirt sponsorship deal with Car Giant for next season, Paladini also announced that the club have agreed a four-year contract with kit suppliers Le Coq Sportif."I'm very pleased about this deal - it will bring us in excess of £250,000 into the club each year," added Paladini.

http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED01%20Feb%202006%2011%3A57%3A42%3A817

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Never previously knew: Simon Stainrod & John Byrne share the same Birthday. Stainrod turns 47...Byrne turn 45 today. Both were very popular ball playing forwards following (a little way behind) the footsteps of the two giants: Marsh and Bowles


Simon Stainrod - February 1, 1959
Signed by Terry Venables from Oldham for 275,000 pounds shortly after he took over. Stainrod travelled with the England Party to South America (along with Clive Allen) and didn't get a minute of playing time.
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=8381

John Byrne: Born February 1, 1961.
Perhaps Alan Mullery's best signing for QPR: Signed him from York for 100,000 pounds after we played them in the League Cup.
http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=311