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Swindon Advertiser - Bill: 'We have the Power'
BILL Power's sense of frustration has not dented his determination to help take Town forward and see the club realise its potential.
And he points to Colchester United as a shining example of what it is possible to build' from the lower reaches of the Football League.
Takeover matters appear to have reached a brief, mutually acceptable lull ahead of today's clash with Shrewsbury Town.
The club's lawyers are believed to be formulating an official reply to the detailed response' provided by the legal representatives of the fans consortium.
That is unlikely to be dropping into the relevant in-tray until next week.
A few days grace is not going to cause a major row, although the consortium clearly expect matters to move forward sooner rather than later.
Power understands the frustration fans are feeling surrounding the whole saga and fully accepts that all the talk at this stage would ideally be focused on football.
He said: "It's a question of wait and see what comes back to us.
"I can understand fans' being frustrated, I'm frustrated."
Power is hoping today's clash earns Paul Sturrock's men another three points and he is anxious to be part of a process which will see progress both on and off the pitch and see potential realised.
He said: "I look at a club like Colchester United.
"They've won promotion to the Championship, are in the top half of that league and have agreed a new stadium. They've done all that with a third of the support that Swindon could call on."
As Power and company await developments, the Swindon Town Supporters Trust have issued a rallying cry while applauding a club initiative to swell attendances for the visit of Mansfield next month.
TrustSTFC chairman Paul Davis said: "This is a vital stage of the season and it is crucial as many fans as possible get 100 per cent behind the team."
Town are offering supporters the chance to pack out the Stratton Bank for the visit of Mansfield Town on Saturday April 21.
With automatic promotion back into League One the target, Paul Sturrock wants to see both ends of the stadium cheering on the Reds.
The club have announced a discounted ticket offer and fans have been given the opportunity to watch the game for just £5.
Season ticket holders can buy up to four tickets each at £5 per ticket.
Should a season ticket holder wish to sit on the Stratton Bank rather than in their usual seat, their seat in the Stratton Bank is free.
Fans who can produce their tickets, or ticket stubs, from both the Shrewsbury and Torquay games can also buy up to four tickets at £5 each.
These discounted tickets will be available for purchase from 9am on April 3 until 5pm on April 19.
Season ticket holders will be able to purchase their tickets either in person or by calling the box office.
Non-season ticket holders will need to call into the box office in person with their tickets from the Shrewsbury and Torquay games.
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/display.var.1299678.0.bill_we_have_the_power.php
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Ex-QPR Chairman Bill Power Waits re Swindon Bid and on his Swindon Plans
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Swindon Advertiser - Bill: 'We have the Power'
BILL Power's sense of frustration has not dented his determination to help take Town forward and see the club realise its potential.
And he points to Colchester United as a shining example of what it is possible to build' from the lower reaches of the Football League.
Takeover matters appear to have reached a brief, mutually acceptable lull ahead of today's clash with Shrewsbury Town.
The club's lawyers are believed to be formulating an official reply to the detailed response' provided by the legal representatives of the fans consortium.
That is unlikely to be dropping into the relevant in-tray until next week.
A few days grace is not going to cause a major row, although the consortium clearly expect matters to move forward sooner rather than later.
Power understands the frustration fans are feeling surrounding the whole saga and fully accepts that all the talk at this stage would ideally be focused on football.
He said: "It's a question of wait and see what comes back to us.
"I can understand fans' being frustrated, I'm frustrated."
Power is hoping today's clash earns Paul Sturrock's men another three points and he is anxious to be part of a process which will see progress both on and off the pitch and see potential realised.
He said: "I look at a club like Colchester United.
"They've won promotion to the Championship, are in the top half of that league and have agreed a new stadium. They've done all that with a third of the support that Swindon could call on."
As Power and company await developments, the Swindon Town Supporters Trust have issued a rallying cry while applauding a club initiative to swell attendances for the visit of Mansfield next month.
TrustSTFC chairman Paul Davis said: "This is a vital stage of the season and it is crucial as many fans as possible get 100 per cent behind the team."
Town are offering supporters the chance to pack out the Stratton Bank for the visit of Mansfield Town on Saturday April 21.
With automatic promotion back into League One the target, Paul Sturrock wants to see both ends of the stadium cheering on the Reds.
The club have announced a discounted ticket offer and fans have been given the opportunity to watch the game for just £5.
Season ticket holders can buy up to four tickets each at £5 per ticket.
Should a season ticket holder wish to sit on the Stratton Bank rather than in their usual seat, their seat in the Stratton Bank is free.
Fans who can produce their tickets, or ticket stubs, from both the Shrewsbury and Torquay games can also buy up to four tickets at £5 each.
These discounted tickets will be available for purchase from 9am on April 3 until 5pm on April 19.
Season ticket holders will be able to purchase their tickets either in person or by calling the box office.
Non-season ticket holders will need to call into the box office in person with their tickets from the Shrewsbury and Torquay games.
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/display.var.1299678.0.bill_we_have_the_power.php
Swindon Advertiser - Bill: 'We have the Power'
BILL Power's sense of frustration has not dented his determination to help take Town forward and see the club realise its potential.
And he points to Colchester United as a shining example of what it is possible to build' from the lower reaches of the Football League.
Takeover matters appear to have reached a brief, mutually acceptable lull ahead of today's clash with Shrewsbury Town.
The club's lawyers are believed to be formulating an official reply to the detailed response' provided by the legal representatives of the fans consortium.
That is unlikely to be dropping into the relevant in-tray until next week.
A few days grace is not going to cause a major row, although the consortium clearly expect matters to move forward sooner rather than later.
Power understands the frustration fans are feeling surrounding the whole saga and fully accepts that all the talk at this stage would ideally be focused on football.
He said: "It's a question of wait and see what comes back to us.
"I can understand fans' being frustrated, I'm frustrated."
Power is hoping today's clash earns Paul Sturrock's men another three points and he is anxious to be part of a process which will see progress both on and off the pitch and see potential realised.
He said: "I look at a club like Colchester United.
"They've won promotion to the Championship, are in the top half of that league and have agreed a new stadium. They've done all that with a third of the support that Swindon could call on."
As Power and company await developments, the Swindon Town Supporters Trust have issued a rallying cry while applauding a club initiative to swell attendances for the visit of Mansfield next month.
TrustSTFC chairman Paul Davis said: "This is a vital stage of the season and it is crucial as many fans as possible get 100 per cent behind the team."
Town are offering supporters the chance to pack out the Stratton Bank for the visit of Mansfield Town on Saturday April 21.
With automatic promotion back into League One the target, Paul Sturrock wants to see both ends of the stadium cheering on the Reds.
The club have announced a discounted ticket offer and fans have been given the opportunity to watch the game for just £5.
Season ticket holders can buy up to four tickets each at £5 per ticket.
Should a season ticket holder wish to sit on the Stratton Bank rather than in their usual seat, their seat in the Stratton Bank is free.
Fans who can produce their tickets, or ticket stubs, from both the Shrewsbury and Torquay games can also buy up to four tickets at £5 each.
These discounted tickets will be available for purchase from 9am on April 3 until 5pm on April 19.
Season ticket holders will be able to purchase their tickets either in person or by calling the box office.
Non-season ticket holders will need to call into the box office in person with their tickets from the Shrewsbury and Torquay games.
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/display.var.1299678.0.bill_we_have_the_power.php
QPR's Rehman on QPR, Fulham and Brighton
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Brighton Argus/Andy Naylor
Zesh: You've got me buzzing
Zesh Rehman revealed today that Albion have given him back the buzz of playing after he began to feel like the Invisible Man.
Rehman, re-signed on loan from QPR, made his first appearance for six weeks in last Saturday's 0-0 home draw against Huddersfield.
He lost his place at Championship strugglers Rangers under former Seagull John Gregory, a familiar feeling after previously falling out of Premiership contention at Fulham.
Rehman said: "I was 21 when I made my Premiership debut for Fulham and I had a decent run in the side, because there were a lot of injuries at that time.
"As soon as the senior pros started to get fit my opportunities were limited. I could have stayed there for another two years and just been on the fringes and played the odd game here and there but if I am not playing I am a nightmare to be around.
"Being out there on a Saturday is a buzz, whether it is at Brighton, Fulham or QPR. I had that at QPR for the first six months of the season but then a new manager came in and I didn't play for a little while so, rather than just getting stale, I've come to Brighton and hopefully I can kick on again when I get back there.
"Football is about where you are at the moment. People have got short memories, so rather than not playing it is good to be visible again and have people talking about you playing."
Rehman is hoping for an improved Albion display in attacking areas at Northampton following his clean sheet start at rightback in the dull deadlock with Huddersfield.
"Defensively we were okay," he said. "It was just in the middle third and the final third that we could have had a bit more quality and the decision-making could have been a little bit better."
Rehman's on-loan QPR colleague Nick Ward is unlikely to feature in midfield. He only arrived back from Australia in the early hours this morning after playing for the under-23s in two Olympic qualifiers.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/argusgeneralsportsnews/display.var.1299778.0.zesh_youve_got_me_buzzing.php
Brighton Argus/Andy Naylor
Zesh: You've got me buzzing
Zesh Rehman revealed today that Albion have given him back the buzz of playing after he began to feel like the Invisible Man.
Rehman, re-signed on loan from QPR, made his first appearance for six weeks in last Saturday's 0-0 home draw against Huddersfield.
He lost his place at Championship strugglers Rangers under former Seagull John Gregory, a familiar feeling after previously falling out of Premiership contention at Fulham.
Rehman said: "I was 21 when I made my Premiership debut for Fulham and I had a decent run in the side, because there were a lot of injuries at that time.
"As soon as the senior pros started to get fit my opportunities were limited. I could have stayed there for another two years and just been on the fringes and played the odd game here and there but if I am not playing I am a nightmare to be around.
"Being out there on a Saturday is a buzz, whether it is at Brighton, Fulham or QPR. I had that at QPR for the first six months of the season but then a new manager came in and I didn't play for a little while so, rather than just getting stale, I've come to Brighton and hopefully I can kick on again when I get back there.
"Football is about where you are at the moment. People have got short memories, so rather than not playing it is good to be visible again and have people talking about you playing."
Rehman is hoping for an improved Albion display in attacking areas at Northampton following his clean sheet start at rightback in the dull deadlock with Huddersfield.
"Defensively we were okay," he said. "It was just in the middle third and the final third that we could have had a bit more quality and the decision-making could have been a little bit better."
Rehman's on-loan QPR colleague Nick Ward is unlikely to feature in midfield. He only arrived back from Australia in the early hours this morning after playing for the under-23s in two Olympic qualifiers.
http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/argusgeneralsportsnews/display.var.1299778.0.zesh_youve_got_me_buzzing.php
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Former QPR Chairman Bill Power Bids For Swindon
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BBC - Consortium make bid for Swindon
A consortium headed by Bill Power have made an official bid to take over Swindon, reports BBC Radio Swindon.
The board had asked for Power's lawyers to put their proposals for a potential takeover in writing and say they have now received a detailed response.
The details of what has been offered have not been released and there has been no comment from the consortium.
Swindon director Bob Holt has said that the letter from Power seems to have moved things forward. BBC
This is Swindon - Power struggle takes new twist
TOWN’S long running takeover saga has taken a new twist with both sides expressing a willingness to make progress.
The fans consortium believes it is best equipped to take the club forward but the current Town board has consistently denied that any bid had been made in a legally-satisfactory form.
A club statement has hinted that there is a basis for discussion, although talks will continue with other potential investors.
A club statement read: “We previously reported that the Club was in dialogue with Bill Power in relation to his involvement.
“Having made proposals to deal with those issues, the Club received a detailed response last week.
“It has now subsequently had the opportunity to review this with its lawyers.
“Part of the reply indicated a willingness on behalf of Mr. Power to explore a takeover of the club.
“Whilst the club is involved in other substantive ongoing discussions with potential investors, it will also continue discussions on a confidential basis with Mr Power’s representatives.
“The board wishes to assure the fans that this matter will not affect or detract the club from focusing on promotion back into League One at the end of this season.
“No further comment will be made pending those negotiations taking place.” This is Swindon
Swindon Town F.C have released a statement confirming they have received an offer from Bill Power to buy the football club.
Statment From Swindon Town F.C
We previously reported that the Club was in dialogue with Bill Power in relation to his involvement.
Having made proposals to deal with those issues, the Club received a detailed response last week.
It has now subsequently had the opportunity to review this with its lawyers.
Part of the reply indicated a willingness on behalf of Mr. Power to explore a takeover of the club.
Whilst the club is involved in other substantive ongoing discussions with potential investors, it will also continue discussions on a confidential basis with Mr Power`s representatives.
The board wishes to assure the fans that this matter will not affect or detract the club from focusing on promotion back into League One at the end of this season.
No further comment will be made pending those negotiations taking place. Swindon
Offer To Buy Swindon Town ConfirmedSwindon Town Director Bob Holt has confirmed this morning on BBC Radio Swindon that a consortium headed by Bill Power has made an offer to gain controlling interest in Swindon Town Football Club.
The club had been asking Power to make an offer for the last couple of months and now the club has finally confirmed that an offer has been made.
No details are available as of yet, however Vital Swindon Town understands the club will make a statement in the next couple of days.- Vital Swindon Town
BBC - Consortium make bid for Swindon
A consortium headed by Bill Power have made an official bid to take over Swindon, reports BBC Radio Swindon.
The board had asked for Power's lawyers to put their proposals for a potential takeover in writing and say they have now received a detailed response.
The details of what has been offered have not been released and there has been no comment from the consortium.
Swindon director Bob Holt has said that the letter from Power seems to have moved things forward. BBC
This is Swindon - Power struggle takes new twist
TOWN’S long running takeover saga has taken a new twist with both sides expressing a willingness to make progress.
The fans consortium believes it is best equipped to take the club forward but the current Town board has consistently denied that any bid had been made in a legally-satisfactory form.
A club statement has hinted that there is a basis for discussion, although talks will continue with other potential investors.
A club statement read: “We previously reported that the Club was in dialogue with Bill Power in relation to his involvement.
“Having made proposals to deal with those issues, the Club received a detailed response last week.
“It has now subsequently had the opportunity to review this with its lawyers.
“Part of the reply indicated a willingness on behalf of Mr. Power to explore a takeover of the club.
“Whilst the club is involved in other substantive ongoing discussions with potential investors, it will also continue discussions on a confidential basis with Mr Power’s representatives.
“The board wishes to assure the fans that this matter will not affect or detract the club from focusing on promotion back into League One at the end of this season.
“No further comment will be made pending those negotiations taking place.” This is Swindon
Swindon Town F.C have released a statement confirming they have received an offer from Bill Power to buy the football club.
Statment From Swindon Town F.C
We previously reported that the Club was in dialogue with Bill Power in relation to his involvement.
Having made proposals to deal with those issues, the Club received a detailed response last week.
It has now subsequently had the opportunity to review this with its lawyers.
Part of the reply indicated a willingness on behalf of Mr. Power to explore a takeover of the club.
Whilst the club is involved in other substantive ongoing discussions with potential investors, it will also continue discussions on a confidential basis with Mr Power`s representatives.
The board wishes to assure the fans that this matter will not affect or detract the club from focusing on promotion back into League One at the end of this season.
No further comment will be made pending those negotiations taking place. Swindon
Offer To Buy Swindon Town ConfirmedSwindon Town Director Bob Holt has confirmed this morning on BBC Radio Swindon that a consortium headed by Bill Power has made an offer to gain controlling interest in Swindon Town Football Club.
The club had been asking Power to make an offer for the last couple of months and now the club has finally confirmed that an offer has been made.
No details are available as of yet, however Vital Swindon Town understands the club will make a statement in the next couple of days.- Vital Swindon Town
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
"Memo to Club:" List Reserve & Youth Team Season's Results on Club Website
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UPDATE: Within 24 hours of posting this "Memo to Club" - and seven months after the season - the club's official site now lists the results of the Reserve and Youth Teams. Good responsiveness on the part of the club!
The club obviously gives the results of the reserves and youth team games at the time they were played. (Or at least it ususally does. The club never mentioned, let alone reported on the club's match a few months ago against a young USA select team touring England.) But if one looks at the season's results, that's another matter.
Unfortunately, the club's Official Site lists Reserve Fixtures and results and Youth Team Fixtures and results. Unfortunately this section doesn't include the results of the Reserves and Youth Team: Not since the begining of the season.
Other clubs at our level in the Championship and in the even lower leagues manage, so QPR probably should as well. The Reserves and Youth teams are important to the club and to fans. The club's website should reflect this.
Also needed to be updated: in its First Team Fixtures it starts with " Pre Season Fixtures (for July August 2006) PRE SEASON
Sorrento - The venue for this year's pre-season tour . Rangers will kick off their 2006-07 season with warm up games against the following teams:
July 8 - Aldershot Town v QPR
July 19 - Stevenage Borough v QPR
July 22 - Gillingham v QPR
July 25 - Cavese FC v QPR
July 28 - Sorrento FC v QPR
August 1 - Lewes v QPR XI (7.45pm)
Before giving the Championship Fixtures AND for the first team, also the results.
UPDATE: Within 24 hours of posting this "Memo to Club" - and seven months after the season - the club's official site now lists the results of the Reserve and Youth Teams. Good responsiveness on the part of the club!
The club obviously gives the results of the reserves and youth team games at the time they were played. (Or at least it ususally does. The club never mentioned, let alone reported on the club's match a few months ago against a young USA select team touring England.) But if one looks at the season's results, that's another matter.
Unfortunately, the club's Official Site lists Reserve Fixtures and results and Youth Team Fixtures and results. Unfortunately this section doesn't include the results of the Reserves and Youth Team: Not since the begining of the season.
Other clubs at our level in the Championship and in the even lower leagues manage, so QPR probably should as well. The Reserves and Youth teams are important to the club and to fans. The club's website should reflect this.
Also needed to be updated: in its First Team Fixtures it starts with " Pre Season Fixtures (for July August 2006) PRE SEASON
Sorrento - The venue for this year's pre-season tour . Rangers will kick off their 2006-07 season with warm up games against the following teams:
July 8 - Aldershot Town v QPR
July 19 - Stevenage Borough v QPR
July 22 - Gillingham v QPR
July 25 - Cavese FC v QPR
July 28 - Sorrento FC v QPR
August 1 - Lewes v QPR XI (7.45pm)
Before giving the Championship Fixtures AND for the first team, also the results.
Ex-QPR Player News
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Blackpool's Ian Evatt makes this week's Division One "Team of the Week" - Team
(Also in the team: Oldham's onloan striker, Leon Clarke, who was briefly at QPR last season.
Evatt (and another ex-QPR, Marcus Bean) played last night for Blackpool who lost at Rotherham - Result
Also playing last night - for Wycombe: Tommy Doherty. Booked again!
And released QPR youth player, Ricky Sappleton is having another trial at Liverpool
Liverpool online - Sappleton given second Anfield spell
By Rich Middleton Wednesday 28th March 2007
Former QPR striker Ricky Sappleton has been given more time to prove his worth at Anfield, following time spent at Middlesbrough.
The Jamiacan will now be given a further trial period which will begin next week. And his representative Barry Silkman believes the youngster has a future on Merseyside.
"Liverpool like Ricky. He enjoyed his time with them previously and we will see how it goes," Silkman said. News
Blackpool's Ian Evatt makes this week's Division One "Team of the Week" - Team
(Also in the team: Oldham's onloan striker, Leon Clarke, who was briefly at QPR last season.
Evatt (and another ex-QPR, Marcus Bean) played last night for Blackpool who lost at Rotherham - Result
Also playing last night - for Wycombe: Tommy Doherty. Booked again!
And released QPR youth player, Ricky Sappleton is having another trial at Liverpool
Liverpool online - Sappleton given second Anfield spell
By Rich Middleton Wednesday 28th March 2007
Former QPR striker Ricky Sappleton has been given more time to prove his worth at Anfield, following time spent at Middlesbrough.
The Jamiacan will now be given a further trial period which will begin next week. And his representative Barry Silkman believes the youngster has a future on Merseyside.
"Liverpool like Ricky. He enjoyed his time with them previously and we will see how it goes," Silkman said. News
Marking 18 Months As QPR Chairman: Gianni Paladini
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Today marks the one-and-a-half-year mark/eighteen months since Gianni Paladini officially became Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club. (Subsequently, Antonio Caliendo became Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd.) The official assumption of the Chairmanship came just over a month after the August 24th Board meeting which saw then-Chairman Bill Power voted out of the Chairmanship.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - 28 September 2005 Statement GIANNI PALADINI
Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.
Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.
The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.
"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.
"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.
"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.
"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.
"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.
"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.
"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.
"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.
"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people." QPR OFFICIAL
"Flash Back" - QPR Report's Look Back at August-October 2005QPR's Past Year, Off-the-Field: Official Declarations - Part I, August-October 2005-
Today marks the one-and-a-half-year mark/eighteen months since Gianni Paladini officially became Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club. (Subsequently, Antonio Caliendo became Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd.) The official assumption of the Chairmanship came just over a month after the August 24th Board meeting which saw then-Chairman Bill Power voted out of the Chairmanship.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - 28 September 2005 Statement GIANNI PALADINI
Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.
Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.
The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.
"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.
"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.
"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.
"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.
"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.
"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.
"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.
"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.
"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people." QPR OFFICIAL
"Flash Back" - QPR Report's Look Back at August-October 2005QPR's Past Year, Off-the-Field: Official Declarations - Part I, August-October 2005-
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Reserves: QPR Get Smashed by Brighton
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QPR Official Site - DOUBLE TROUBLE
Brighton Reserves 8 QPR 2
Nine man Rangers Reserves succumbed to a heavy 8-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening.
On a night to forget for the R's second string, Romone Rose and Jake Cole both saw red, while Seagulls striker Joe Gatting bagged five goals.
Rose was sent off midway through the second half for two bookable offences, before Cole received his marching orders when he was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball outside his penalty area, despite his protestations that it hit him in the face.
Rangers trailed 3-0 at half-time, despite the best efforts of Rohan Ricketts, who enjoyed a productive 45 minutes in his first outing in the famous Blue and White Hoops.
The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes, courtesy of Gatting's first of the evening. Gary Hart's far post cross was met expertly by the Seagulls attacker, whose flying header gave Cole absolutely no chance.
Buoyed by their goal, the Seagulls doubled their advantage midway through the half, when Nathan Elder's deft chip from eight yards beat the advancing Cole.
The R's fell 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, when Aaron Goode conceded a penalty and Alex Frutos finished with aplomb, smashing the ball into the top right hand corner of the net.
R's youngster Rose tested Michel Kuipers in stoppage time, but it was Brighton who headed into the break in the ascendancy.
Hart made it four early in the second half, before Gatting cashed in on some indifferent defending from the R's with four further strikes, to take his tally for the evening to five.
Rangers' goals arrived courtesy of sub Kieron St Aimie, who scrambled the ball home from close range and Ricketts, who capped a fine individual display with a free-kick from the left flank, which Kuipers failed to deal with.
Brighton Res: Kuipers, Hinshelwood, Elphick, Breach, Rents, Mayo, Frutos, Loft, Hart, Elder, Gatting.
Subs: Cobbs, Martin, Skinner, Sullivan, Gargan.
QPR Res: Cole, Goode, Milanese, Timoska, Brown, Baidoo, Ricketts, Smith, Arthur, Rose, Moore.
Subs used: Goodchild, St Aimie, O'Brien.
QPR
BRIGHTON OFFICIAL SITE - Brighton 8 QPR 2
Reserves Run Riot By Tim Dudding, at Woodside Road
Albion's reserves romped to an emphatic 8-2 win over shell-shocked QPR tonight in the Pontins Holiday Combination.
Joe Gatting hit the target five times on an action packed evening at Woodside Road, with Nathan Elder, Alex Frutos and Gary Hart also on the scoresheet.
The Seagulls were already 6-1 up before the visitors had Romone Rose and goalkeeper Jake Cole sent off within a matter of minutes in the second half.
Boss for the night Martin Hinshelwood told seagulls.co.uk, "Our attitude, commitment and work-rate was first class throughout the night.
"We looked fit and sharp all over the pitch. We're disappointed with the two goals we conceded, but as a side we looked solid and there are a lot of plusses tonight."
Gatting opened the scoring after quarter-of-an-hour with a stooping header from a Hart cross. Elder then doubled Albion's lead with a deft lob over Cole, before Frutos converted from the spot to send Albion into the break 3-0 up.
Hart made it 4-0 shortly after the restart, applying the final touch to an Elder header, and then Gatting charged through the left channel to slot his second of the night under Cole.
Stefan Moore pulled one back for the visitors despite the desperate attempts of Michel Kuipers on the line, before Gatting followed up a rebound to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-1.
Referee Steve Tomlinson then gave Rose his marching orders for a second bookable offence, and moments later the red card was out again - this time a straight sending off for Cole, who handled outside the area as Elder went for goal.
Replacement keeper Chris Goodchild's first contribution was to pick out Gatting's ensuing free-kick from the back of the net.
Gatting completed his five star performance by lofting the ball over the stranded Goodchild.
Kuipers couldn't hold former Spurs midfielder Rohan Ricketts's late free-kick as QPR grabbed a second consolation, but it didn't take the shine off an outstanding display from the Seagulls.
Loft was withdrawn after an hour after complaining of soreness in his knees.
Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; P Hinshelwood, Breach, Elphick, Mayo; Loft (Skinner 60), Rents, Hart (Martin 90), Frutos; Elder (Gargan 82), Gatting. Subs not used: Sullivan (GK), Cobbs. Brighton
The Argus - Gatting smashes five as reserves romp it
By Andy Naylor
The first team might be struggling for goals but Albion's Reserves are having no difficulty finding the net.
Joe Gatting helped himself to five as they continued their prolific run in the Pontin's Holiday Combination League with a remarkable 8-2 romp against Queens Park Rangers at Woodside Road last night.
As if the result was not embarrassing enough for Rangers they also finished the match with only nine men, goalkeeper Jake Cole and striker Romone Rose seeing red in the second half.
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It was Albion's third convincing victory in succession after despatching leaders Southampton 3-0 at home earlier this month and last week's 4-1 triumph away to Crystal Palace.
Gatting and fellow forward Nathan Elder bagged two apiece in that match and they caused havoc again as Albion wrapped the game up with three goals by half-time.
They went ahead in the 15th minute with a slick move. Elder released Gary Hart down the right and his cross was headed in by the unmarked Gatting, his eighth goal of the campaign for the Reserves.
Elder, not to be outdone, joined his partner on the eight goal mark in the 28th minute.
Sam Rents, playing the holding role in the midfield diamond, put Elder away with a defence-splitting pass and the former Billericay marksman's neat angled lob from close range left Cole rooted to the spot.
Alex Frutos got in on the act a minute from the break. The Frenchman, brought down inside the box by Aaron Goode, picked himself up to convert the penalty into the roof of the net.
There was no let-up from Albion in the second half, Hart increasing the lead eight minutes into the restart with a volley from point blank range when Elder headed a Kerry Mayo free-kick across the face of goal.
Gatting held off his marker to slot No. 5 past Cole in the 61st minute. Stefan Moore scrambled a goal back for the visitors three minutes later but that was merely the prelude to more humiliation.
Gatting completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes, heading into the empty net after Cole could only parry Hart's shot.
Rangers were reduced to ten men a couple of minutes later. Rose, already booked, received a second yellow card for a foul on Hart. Ten men became nine within two more minutes whenthe unfortunate Cole was sent off for deliberate handball outside his area.
The first task for replacement keeper Chris Goodchild was picking the ball out of his net as Gatting drilled in the resulting free-kick.
Gatting lobbed home his fifth, and Albion's eighth, with eight minutes remaining before Rohan Ricketts hit a late second for Rangers.
The unassuming Gatting, on target five times in 29 first team appearances this season, said: "I have scored a couple of fours for the youth team and I've scored seven before for my Sunday team Hove Rivervale when I was younger.
"I was lucky to be in the right positions when the ball came to me. It would be nice to one day hopefully transfer the goals to the first team."
Albion Reserves (4-1-2-1-2): Kuipers; P. Hinshelwood, Breach, Elphick, Mayo; Rents; Loft, Frutos; Hart; Elder, Gatting. Subs: Skinner for Loft (injured, 60), Gargan for Elder (withdrawn, 82), J. Martin for Hart (withdrawn, 90), Cobbs, Sullivan. The Argus
ALSO: TONY GIBSON - QPR RIVALS
Rivals Match Report
BRIGHTON OFFICIAL SITE - PRE GAME
Reserves Host QPR By Tim Dudding
Kerry Mayo is set to return from a back problem tonight when the reserve team entertain QPR at Woodside Road (kick-off 7.00pm).
The experienced full-back has been ruled out of the last two first team games after straining his back in training.
Tommy Fraser is still recovering from the foot injury sustained in last week's reserve game at Crystal Palace.
Kerry Mayo
Mayo has recovered from a back problem
Meanwhile on-loan trio Nick Ward, Zoumana Bakayogo and Joe O'Cearuill are all away on international duty.
Ward will be trying to help the Australian under-23 side secure a crucial victory against Saudi Arabia in their 2008 Olympic qualifier on Wednesday.
Bakayogo and the Ivory Coast took another step towards the Olympic finals in Beijing with a 3-1 win over Egypt on Saturday night.
O'Cearuill, who missed Albion's 0-0 draw with Huddersfield with a tight groin, has joined up with the Republic of Ireland under-21s for a friendly in Holland.
Albion reserves: Kuipers, P Hinshelwood, Elphick, Breach, Rents, Mayo, Frutos, Loft, Hart, Elder, Gatting. Subs: Cobbs, J Martin, Skinner, Sullivan (GK), Gargan.
Brighton Official
QPR Official Site - DOUBLE TROUBLE
Brighton Reserves 8 QPR 2
Nine man Rangers Reserves succumbed to a heavy 8-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday evening.
On a night to forget for the R's second string, Romone Rose and Jake Cole both saw red, while Seagulls striker Joe Gatting bagged five goals.
Rose was sent off midway through the second half for two bookable offences, before Cole received his marching orders when he was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball outside his penalty area, despite his protestations that it hit him in the face.
Rangers trailed 3-0 at half-time, despite the best efforts of Rohan Ricketts, who enjoyed a productive 45 minutes in his first outing in the famous Blue and White Hoops.
The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes, courtesy of Gatting's first of the evening. Gary Hart's far post cross was met expertly by the Seagulls attacker, whose flying header gave Cole absolutely no chance.
Buoyed by their goal, the Seagulls doubled their advantage midway through the half, when Nathan Elder's deft chip from eight yards beat the advancing Cole.
The R's fell 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, when Aaron Goode conceded a penalty and Alex Frutos finished with aplomb, smashing the ball into the top right hand corner of the net.
R's youngster Rose tested Michel Kuipers in stoppage time, but it was Brighton who headed into the break in the ascendancy.
Hart made it four early in the second half, before Gatting cashed in on some indifferent defending from the R's with four further strikes, to take his tally for the evening to five.
Rangers' goals arrived courtesy of sub Kieron St Aimie, who scrambled the ball home from close range and Ricketts, who capped a fine individual display with a free-kick from the left flank, which Kuipers failed to deal with.
Brighton Res: Kuipers, Hinshelwood, Elphick, Breach, Rents, Mayo, Frutos, Loft, Hart, Elder, Gatting.
Subs: Cobbs, Martin, Skinner, Sullivan, Gargan.
QPR Res: Cole, Goode, Milanese, Timoska, Brown, Baidoo, Ricketts, Smith, Arthur, Rose, Moore.
Subs used: Goodchild, St Aimie, O'Brien.
QPR
BRIGHTON OFFICIAL SITE - Brighton 8 QPR 2
Reserves Run Riot By Tim Dudding, at Woodside Road
Albion's reserves romped to an emphatic 8-2 win over shell-shocked QPR tonight in the Pontins Holiday Combination.
Joe Gatting hit the target five times on an action packed evening at Woodside Road, with Nathan Elder, Alex Frutos and Gary Hart also on the scoresheet.
The Seagulls were already 6-1 up before the visitors had Romone Rose and goalkeeper Jake Cole sent off within a matter of minutes in the second half.
Boss for the night Martin Hinshelwood told seagulls.co.uk, "Our attitude, commitment and work-rate was first class throughout the night.
"We looked fit and sharp all over the pitch. We're disappointed with the two goals we conceded, but as a side we looked solid and there are a lot of plusses tonight."
Gatting opened the scoring after quarter-of-an-hour with a stooping header from a Hart cross. Elder then doubled Albion's lead with a deft lob over Cole, before Frutos converted from the spot to send Albion into the break 3-0 up.
Hart made it 4-0 shortly after the restart, applying the final touch to an Elder header, and then Gatting charged through the left channel to slot his second of the night under Cole.
Stefan Moore pulled one back for the visitors despite the desperate attempts of Michel Kuipers on the line, before Gatting followed up a rebound to complete his hat-trick and make it 6-1.
Referee Steve Tomlinson then gave Rose his marching orders for a second bookable offence, and moments later the red card was out again - this time a straight sending off for Cole, who handled outside the area as Elder went for goal.
Replacement keeper Chris Goodchild's first contribution was to pick out Gatting's ensuing free-kick from the back of the net.
Gatting completed his five star performance by lofting the ball over the stranded Goodchild.
Kuipers couldn't hold former Spurs midfielder Rohan Ricketts's late free-kick as QPR grabbed a second consolation, but it didn't take the shine off an outstanding display from the Seagulls.
Loft was withdrawn after an hour after complaining of soreness in his knees.
Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; P Hinshelwood, Breach, Elphick, Mayo; Loft (Skinner 60), Rents, Hart (Martin 90), Frutos; Elder (Gargan 82), Gatting. Subs not used: Sullivan (GK), Cobbs. Brighton
The Argus - Gatting smashes five as reserves romp it
By Andy Naylor
The first team might be struggling for goals but Albion's Reserves are having no difficulty finding the net.
Joe Gatting helped himself to five as they continued their prolific run in the Pontin's Holiday Combination League with a remarkable 8-2 romp against Queens Park Rangers at Woodside Road last night.
As if the result was not embarrassing enough for Rangers they also finished the match with only nine men, goalkeeper Jake Cole and striker Romone Rose seeing red in the second half.
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It was Albion's third convincing victory in succession after despatching leaders Southampton 3-0 at home earlier this month and last week's 4-1 triumph away to Crystal Palace.
Gatting and fellow forward Nathan Elder bagged two apiece in that match and they caused havoc again as Albion wrapped the game up with three goals by half-time.
They went ahead in the 15th minute with a slick move. Elder released Gary Hart down the right and his cross was headed in by the unmarked Gatting, his eighth goal of the campaign for the Reserves.
Elder, not to be outdone, joined his partner on the eight goal mark in the 28th minute.
Sam Rents, playing the holding role in the midfield diamond, put Elder away with a defence-splitting pass and the former Billericay marksman's neat angled lob from close range left Cole rooted to the spot.
Alex Frutos got in on the act a minute from the break. The Frenchman, brought down inside the box by Aaron Goode, picked himself up to convert the penalty into the roof of the net.
There was no let-up from Albion in the second half, Hart increasing the lead eight minutes into the restart with a volley from point blank range when Elder headed a Kerry Mayo free-kick across the face of goal.
Gatting held off his marker to slot No. 5 past Cole in the 61st minute. Stefan Moore scrambled a goal back for the visitors three minutes later but that was merely the prelude to more humiliation.
Gatting completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes, heading into the empty net after Cole could only parry Hart's shot.
Rangers were reduced to ten men a couple of minutes later. Rose, already booked, received a second yellow card for a foul on Hart. Ten men became nine within two more minutes whenthe unfortunate Cole was sent off for deliberate handball outside his area.
The first task for replacement keeper Chris Goodchild was picking the ball out of his net as Gatting drilled in the resulting free-kick.
Gatting lobbed home his fifth, and Albion's eighth, with eight minutes remaining before Rohan Ricketts hit a late second for Rangers.
The unassuming Gatting, on target five times in 29 first team appearances this season, said: "I have scored a couple of fours for the youth team and I've scored seven before for my Sunday team Hove Rivervale when I was younger.
"I was lucky to be in the right positions when the ball came to me. It would be nice to one day hopefully transfer the goals to the first team."
Albion Reserves (4-1-2-1-2): Kuipers; P. Hinshelwood, Breach, Elphick, Mayo; Rents; Loft, Frutos; Hart; Elder, Gatting. Subs: Skinner for Loft (injured, 60), Gargan for Elder (withdrawn, 82), J. Martin for Hart (withdrawn, 90), Cobbs, Sullivan. The Argus
ALSO: TONY GIBSON - QPR RIVALS
Rivals Match Report
BRIGHTON OFFICIAL SITE - PRE GAME
Reserves Host QPR By Tim Dudding
Kerry Mayo is set to return from a back problem tonight when the reserve team entertain QPR at Woodside Road (kick-off 7.00pm).
The experienced full-back has been ruled out of the last two first team games after straining his back in training.
Tommy Fraser is still recovering from the foot injury sustained in last week's reserve game at Crystal Palace.
Kerry Mayo
Mayo has recovered from a back problem
Meanwhile on-loan trio Nick Ward, Zoumana Bakayogo and Joe O'Cearuill are all away on international duty.
Ward will be trying to help the Australian under-23 side secure a crucial victory against Saudi Arabia in their 2008 Olympic qualifier on Wednesday.
Bakayogo and the Ivory Coast took another step towards the Olympic finals in Beijing with a 3-1 win over Egypt on Saturday night.
O'Cearuill, who missed Albion's 0-0 draw with Huddersfield with a tight groin, has joined up with the Republic of Ireland under-21s for a friendly in Holland.
Albion reserves: Kuipers, P Hinshelwood, Elphick, Breach, Rents, Mayo, Frutos, Loft, Hart, Elder, Gatting. Subs: Cobbs, J Martin, Skinner, Sullivan (GK), Gargan.
Brighton Official
Ex-QPR's Jamie Cureton & Holloway on Aiming to Sign Kevin Gallen
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BBC - Colchester target big finish By Caroline Cheese
While Reading are this season's Premiership surprise package, the Championship honour must go to Colchester.
With seven games remaining, the U's still harbour a distant hope of sneaking into the play-offs and have every chance of finishing above East Anglia rivals Norwich and Ipswich.
You would have got very long odds on that when Geraint Williams' newly-promoted side began the season with four straight defeats in the league and an early Carling Cup exit at the hands of League Two outfit MK Dons.
Colchester's success is in no small part down to the little and large strikeforce of Chris Iwelumo (6ft 4in) and Jamie Cureton (5ft 6in).
Cureton has bagged 16 league goals, one more than his strike partner, and either could yet walk away with this season's golden boot.
"We just clicked really," Cureton said of his partnership with Iwelumo.
"It's your classic target man and little guy and we just seem to work well together. It's hard to explain."
Having one prolific striker, let alone two, is something of a novelty for Colchester fans, who have not seen a player score more than 20 goals for the club since Tony Adcock achieved the feat 22 years ago.
Cureton needs three more, while Iwelumo is another two behind.
"I did know about that before the season started," said Cureton. "It wasn't my target exactly but as the season has gone on, I've started thinking about it.
"Now I've set my sights on getting it and I'm confident I can get the three and hopefully a couple more as well."
Can Colchester make the play-offs?
Cureton's success at Colchester marks quite a dramatic change of fortune.
"This is probably the best form I've been in," commented the 31-year-old.
"I had really good spells at Bristol Rovers and then Reading in my early career but after I left Reading, it went a bit crazy.
"I went to Korea for a bit and then QPR, which I enjoyed but I didn't really settle, and then Swindon last year, which didn't go well."
Indeed, it was while he was at Swindon that Cureton enjoyed his first taste of life at Layer Road in a loan spell, before heading there permanently in the summer after the Robins were relegated to League Two.
RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT
Chopra (Cardiff) 21
Kamara (West Brom) 19
Rasiak (Southampton) 18
Earnshaw (Norwich) 17
Cureton (Colchester) 16
Howard (Derby) 16
Iwelumo (Colchester) 15
Cureton admits he never dreamed this season would go so well - either for him or the club.
"I am a bit surprised at how well it's gone," he revealed.
"We all went into the season with hopes of staying up but when we didn't start well, it was a shock to the system.
"But as the season has gone on, we've adjusted to this division and we feel we belong at this level now."
Having hit a high of sixth earlier in the season, Colchester have wobbled a little of late and, as of 27 March, they are eight points off the play-off places.
"We know there's still a chance of the play-offs," stated Cureton.
"If we can sneak in, it would be a massive opportunity but all we've said to ourselves is we'll try and win as many games as possible out of the last seven so we can end the season on a high.
"If that takes us into the play-offs, that's great. If not, we still know we will have had a very good season." BBC
CLUBCALL - Gallen race hots up - 2007-03-20
Ian Holloway says he is not surprised other clubs are keen on Kevin Gallen but hopes the player will stay with Plymouth.
Gallen is impressing during his loan spell at Home Park but newspaper reports have claimed that Leicester along with a host of other Championship clubs are also keen.
Holloway is not surprised by all the interest but thinks he is in the box seat when it comes to striking a deal. Clubcall
BBC - Colchester target big finish By Caroline Cheese
While Reading are this season's Premiership surprise package, the Championship honour must go to Colchester.
With seven games remaining, the U's still harbour a distant hope of sneaking into the play-offs and have every chance of finishing above East Anglia rivals Norwich and Ipswich.
You would have got very long odds on that when Geraint Williams' newly-promoted side began the season with four straight defeats in the league and an early Carling Cup exit at the hands of League Two outfit MK Dons.
Colchester's success is in no small part down to the little and large strikeforce of Chris Iwelumo (6ft 4in) and Jamie Cureton (5ft 6in).
Cureton has bagged 16 league goals, one more than his strike partner, and either could yet walk away with this season's golden boot.
"We just clicked really," Cureton said of his partnership with Iwelumo.
"It's your classic target man and little guy and we just seem to work well together. It's hard to explain."
Having one prolific striker, let alone two, is something of a novelty for Colchester fans, who have not seen a player score more than 20 goals for the club since Tony Adcock achieved the feat 22 years ago.
Cureton needs three more, while Iwelumo is another two behind.
"I did know about that before the season started," said Cureton. "It wasn't my target exactly but as the season has gone on, I've started thinking about it.
"Now I've set my sights on getting it and I'm confident I can get the three and hopefully a couple more as well."
Can Colchester make the play-offs?
Cureton's success at Colchester marks quite a dramatic change of fortune.
"This is probably the best form I've been in," commented the 31-year-old.
"I had really good spells at Bristol Rovers and then Reading in my early career but after I left Reading, it went a bit crazy.
"I went to Korea for a bit and then QPR, which I enjoyed but I didn't really settle, and then Swindon last year, which didn't go well."
Indeed, it was while he was at Swindon that Cureton enjoyed his first taste of life at Layer Road in a loan spell, before heading there permanently in the summer after the Robins were relegated to League Two.
RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT
Chopra (Cardiff) 21
Kamara (West Brom) 19
Rasiak (Southampton) 18
Earnshaw (Norwich) 17
Cureton (Colchester) 16
Howard (Derby) 16
Iwelumo (Colchester) 15
Cureton admits he never dreamed this season would go so well - either for him or the club.
"I am a bit surprised at how well it's gone," he revealed.
"We all went into the season with hopes of staying up but when we didn't start well, it was a shock to the system.
"But as the season has gone on, we've adjusted to this division and we feel we belong at this level now."
Having hit a high of sixth earlier in the season, Colchester have wobbled a little of late and, as of 27 March, they are eight points off the play-off places.
"We know there's still a chance of the play-offs," stated Cureton.
"If we can sneak in, it would be a massive opportunity but all we've said to ourselves is we'll try and win as many games as possible out of the last seven so we can end the season on a high.
"If that takes us into the play-offs, that's great. If not, we still know we will have had a very good season." BBC
CLUBCALL - Gallen race hots up - 2007-03-20
Ian Holloway says he is not surprised other clubs are keen on Kevin Gallen but hopes the player will stay with Plymouth.
Gallen is impressing during his loan spell at Home Park but newspaper reports have claimed that Leicester along with a host of other Championship clubs are also keen.
Holloway is not surprised by all the interest but thinks he is in the box seat when it comes to striking a deal. Clubcall
Five QPR Birthdays
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Five recent ex-QPR Birthdays
Garry Waddock Turned 45
Garry Waddock: Born March 17, 1962 (Waddock's QPR Playing Record
Given his debut as a 17 year old, by Tommy Docherty, in September 1979 - in our first season after Steve Burtenshaw took QPR down. (A QPR team which was also giving games to Clive Allen and Paul Goddard and others). His coaching and managerial career at QPR ended within weeks of John Gregory replacing him as manager.Career
Other Recent QPR Birthdays:
Gary Penrice - Turned 43 - March 23, 1964
Signed by Gerry Francis to QPR as a player for 500,000 pounds. Joined up with Holloway at QPR as a coach. Was placed on "Gardening Leave" along with Ian Holloway and Tim Breacker (for reasons never explained. Now with Holloway at Plymouth. Career
Robbie James - (RIP - Would have been 50) March 23, 1957
Alan Mullery signed him for QPR in 1984 and he spent three years with QPR. Career
Andrew Mcdermott - Turned 30 - March 20, 1977
Signed from Australia by Ray Wilkins. Made his debut for Houston/Rioch...sold to WBA for 400,000 pounds.
Antti Heinola - Turned 34 - March 20 1973
(although another site lists him as February 20, 1973 birthday!)
QPR's Finnish Defender signed by Ray Harford. - Career
Five recent ex-QPR Birthdays
Garry Waddock Turned 45
Garry Waddock: Born March 17, 1962 (Waddock's QPR Playing Record
Given his debut as a 17 year old, by Tommy Docherty, in September 1979 - in our first season after Steve Burtenshaw took QPR down. (A QPR team which was also giving games to Clive Allen and Paul Goddard and others). His coaching and managerial career at QPR ended within weeks of John Gregory replacing him as manager.Career
Other Recent QPR Birthdays:
Gary Penrice - Turned 43 - March 23, 1964
Signed by Gerry Francis to QPR as a player for 500,000 pounds. Joined up with Holloway at QPR as a coach. Was placed on "Gardening Leave" along with Ian Holloway and Tim Breacker (for reasons never explained. Now with Holloway at Plymouth. Career
Robbie James - (RIP - Would have been 50) March 23, 1957
Alan Mullery signed him for QPR in 1984 and he spent three years with QPR. Career
Andrew Mcdermott - Turned 30 - March 20, 1977
Signed from Australia by Ray Wilkins. Made his debut for Houston/Rioch...sold to WBA for 400,000 pounds.
Antti Heinola - Turned 34 - March 20 1973
(although another site lists him as February 20, 1973 birthday!)
QPR's Finnish Defender signed by Ray Harford. - Career
Monday, March 26, 2007
WBA - With 1 Points from 4 Games - Bringing 3,000 Fans to QPR
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Promotion challenging WBA with one point from the last 4 games will be bring 3,000 supporters with them on Saturday's visit to QPR.
WBA -LATEST NEWS Box office WBA
WBA Goalie, Dean Kiely on the need not to let recent results panick them.
WBA
Promotion challenging WBA with one point from the last 4 games will be bring 3,000 supporters with them on Saturday's visit to QPR.
WBA -LATEST NEWS Box office WBA
WBA Goalie, Dean Kiely on the need not to let recent results panick them.
WBA
WBA's Neil Clement on Dave Clement and QPR
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[See also below: Last year's Independent Profile of/interview with Neil Clement on his father, Dave Clement.]
Sunday Mercury -Clement's facing an emotional day at Rangers
Mar 25 2007 By Graham Hill
ALBION defender Neil Clement heads for QPR next week looking to revive Baggies' promotion hopes - but part of him will also be carrying his family name with pride.
Whenever Clement goes to Loftus Road, he knows the home fans regard his late father Dave as one of the finest players ever to pull on the blue-and-white hooped shirt.
It was one of the game's saddest losses when Clement Snr took his own life in 1982, believing his career was over after suffering a broken leg.
By coincidence, Baggies servant Clement will play at QPR on the 25th anniversary of the day his father passed away.
It will be a special moment for Clement who admits that Rangers hold a place in his heart for obvious reasons.
The 28-year-old has played at QPR only twice for Albion - the last time was six years ago when Baggies lost 2-0.
Now that the teams find themselves in the same division again, the fixture list has conjured up possibly the most respectful and fitting of matches for the Clement family.
Dave Clement spent 14 years at Rangers, making 472 appearances, and also won five England caps. He was only 34 when he died and the Albion star, just three at the time, has admitted the tragedy brought his family closer.
"I always like playing at QPR, what with my family connections and my dad playing there for years," said Clement.
"So I love going to QPR and trying to do my best.
"The fans remember my dad very well at Rangers and I hope some of that comes out whenever I play there.
"I'm proud of what he achieved. Everyone tells me that if I'm half the player he was I'll have had a great career.
"That's why I always want to go there and do well. I will always have a bit of a soft spot for QPR, but obviously I will be looking to beat them next week even so."
Clement did not find out the details of his father's death until he was 10 but, when he was loaned out to Reading by Chelsea, it upset his mother Pat as they play in the same colour shirts as QPR.
Neil's thoughts will surely be with her too as he turns out for Albion on Saturday and it would be the perfect result if he were to get on the scoresheet as Baggies took three points.
Clement marked his seventh anniversary at The Hawthorns this week - something of which he is also immensely proud.
When he arrived at Albion in 2000, again on loan at first from Chelsea, Gary Megson was battling to save Baggies from relegation to the old Division Two.
They survived with a last-day-of-the-season win over Charlton and Clement has seen the club's reputation rise ever
since. He has been there for it all. Three seasons in the Premiership, a play-off place, two promotions and the Great Escape mean that life has rarely been boring for Clement.
"Since I've come here, there's been something at stake every year which has been great for me," said Clement.
"As a player, you want to be in games where it means something. When I first came here, there was huge pressure on us to stay up.
"It was such a big club looking at relegation to what is now League One. Now the club has changed completely. The stadium, the training ground - it's all different. And we have better players. I am proud to have been a small part of that.
"When we stayed up in 2000, we had to beat Charlton who had already won the league and they were up for it on the day. We were really hungry too, though, and there was only going to be one team who won it.
"That was a great feeling to stay up. I'd left Chelsea where things were beginning to take off and come to a side struggling against relegation. But it was the best move I ever made.
"It's given me the opportunity to play regular first-team football at a big club. When I left Chelsea I told myself that I wanted to get back up to where they were.
"I have done that by playing in the Premiership, but now I want us to get promoted again and stay up this time.
"We should be doing what Charlton and Bolton have been doing for years.
"That's the aim and there is still a lot to achieve with this club. We were gutted not to be able to stay up last time - we probably had a better group of players than we had when we went down before.
"If we do go up, we'll be better equipped than we ever have been.
"Looking at the players we've got, this is the best we've played since I've been at the club. It would be the best quality too as we have so many international players here, and they all want to be in the Premier League."
Clement knows Albion have to win every game between now and the end of the season if their hopes of automatic promotion are to be revived.
And, even though many of their fixtures against promotion rivals are behind them, Clement knows that the strugglers are fighting to stay up.
Next week's opponents, QPR, are a perfect example.
They have picked up recently under former Villa boss John Gregory, taking a point off promotion hopefuls Derby and hammering Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.
"We may have come through the tough times, playing Sunderland after the Middlesbrough FA Cup tie and going to Wolves where we could have won 5-1 but for the goalkeeper," said Clement.
"You take that on the chin. Then we had the better of the chances against Birmingham.
"There are positives and we are hungrier than ever, but it will be a big ask to go up automatically." Sunday Mercury
See also this profile of interview with Neil Clement from last year
Saturday, March 04, 2006 Independent
The Premiership Interview: Chelsea educated, but a Baggie through and through
Neil Clement grew up training alongside Gullit, Zola and Vialli, but when the champions visit The Hawthorns today his commitment to West Brom's cause will be total. He talked to Phil Shaw
Published: 04 March 2006
Athens, 1994. The England Under-16 squad stroll through the streets, enjoying the historic sights on a balmy evening. Their game with Greece in the Panionos Stadium the following night is the biggest of their fledgling careers.
London, 1996. Chelsea's first-year professionals report for training near Heathrow. They are about to pit themselves against Ruud Gullit's senior players, legends like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes and Dennis Wise.
One player was present on both occasions, although few observers would have identified him as a star of the future. Against the Greeks, he sat on the bench with Daryl Sopp and Anthony Ormerod as Matthew Wicks, John Curtis, Jason Crowe and Elliott Dickman filled the defensive roles. In Gullit's pecking order, he often seemed to be behind Mark Nicholls, Nick Crittenden, Jody Morris, Jon Harley and Rob Wolleaston.
A decade on, Wicks, the England Under-16 player who had the top clubs drooling, sells cars for a living. For him, as for Luke Staton, Paul Heritage and Andrew Wright, the life that appeared there for the taking never happened. The Chelsea boy most likely, Nicholls, is still playing, but for Uxbridge. The link between the squads - the only one from either now performing in the Premiership - is Neil Clement.
As more eye-catching individuals have fallen by the wayside, the 28-year-old utility player goes from strength to strength and will be involved at The Hawthorns this afternoon as Chelsea seek to honour the memory of Peter Osgood by tightening their grip on the Premiership title. These days, however, Clement is a West Bromwich Albion player. More importantly, given Albion's position just above the relegation zone, Clement is a survivor.
The wretched irony of such an epithet is that his father, the former Queen's Park Rangers and England defender Dave Clement, did not survive to see his son uphold the family honour. Depressed after a serious injury that he sustained as a fine career began fizzling out in the Fourth Division at Wimbledon, he took his life. Neil was three years old.
Too young to understand the enormity of what had happened, he and his brother Paul - who was then 10 and is now coaching Fulham's young players - grew up in the Midlands after his mother decided to move from London. "It wasn't particularly a football environment, so maybe it was in the blood," Clement recalls. "Like any kid, I loved the game. And there was always the incentive of following in my dad's footsteps."
In his mid-teens he was offered a scholarship at the FA's National School at Lilleshall in Shropshire. By the second year, his room-mate, Jody Morris, was already attached to Chelsea and told him the club wanted to sign him. "I'd always had a soft spot for QPR because of my dad, and it's an ambition of mine to play for them one day," he says. "But I went down to Stamford Bridge for a look around when I was 15, and of all the clubs that were interested, that was the one that really grabbed me."
Glenn Hoddle was his first manager and Graham Rix the youth coach. Clement liked their methods and the way they primed their teams to play. The progressive approach continued under Gullit, and a certain player provided all the inspiration a budding first-teamer needed. "Zola was the one I looked to in terms of preparation and training. His dedication was frightening. He was immaculate on the practice pitch. Every time he got the ball, it was as if it was the last time he would touch it."
Yet working with stellar talents from France, Italy and elsewhere was a double-edged sword. Clement started out "high on confidence and excited by the prospects", but he sensed over time that he was "trying too hard" during training. Nicholls, in particular, found greater favour with Gullit, while Morris came to be perceived as having the most potential.
Clement started just once in the Premiership for Chelsea, in a 3-1 win over West Ham in 1996. "Zola was unbelievable. He twisted Julian Dicks inside out. The game probably came too soon for me. With hindsight I could have done with my debut coming after I went on loan to Preston, Reading and Brentford. But it was a fantastic experience. I thought I had it in me to play more times, but it's good to be able to say I played for them."
It looks even better on the CV now that Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho have turned Chelsea into champions. Are they recognisable as the club he knew? "When I was there we had some top players. But even in the six years since I left they have moved on and up - the stadium, training ground, players. They could dominate for years."
The odd physio, kit man and coach is still at the Bridge from Clement's five-year stint, but a single player remains, and not the one he and others envisaged as the future of Chelsea. "Jody [Morris] was the outstanding talent as a teenager. He has been unlucky in the way things happened to him off the pitch. The way Chelsea developed as a club didn't help him either. I thought he would kick on when he finally left, but it hasn't really happened for him."
The contemporary who stayed was, of course, John Terry, an occasional golf partner of Clement's. "John was a couple of years younger, though we played in the youth team together. He always loved defending even as a kid. We would be messing about in training and he would throw his body in the way of anything. Totally fearless. But he has taken it on to a different level, the way he reads the game and leads the side."
Clement acknowledges but does not agree with the allegation, repeatedly levelled at foreign-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, that they do not give British players a chance. "If you're good enough, you'll get in, as John [Terry] and Ashley Cole have proved. But it is very difficult. Fans at those clubs demand instant success. To get it, they go and buy it."
Not for him the criticism often aired by Jermaine Pennant after his sojourn as the eternal understudy at Highbury. "I don't complain that I never got my chance. I had opportunities. More than anything, though, I got the best footballing education I could possibly have had."
Clement would draw heavily upon it after Gary Megson took him to Albion, initially on loan, during the spring of 2000. Then, as now, the club were embroiled in a fight against relegation - to the third tier of the English game - which they escaped only on the final day. Such late-season drama would become an annual event at The Hawthorns.
"The turnaround has been phenomenal. In my first full season we reached the play-offs. The following year we gained promotion - on the final day again - by beating Crystal Palace. That was probably a bit soon for the club, but you can't turn down the chance when it comes."
Albion went straight back down, then up again, but at the midway point of last season they were favourites for the drop once more. Bryan Robson had replaced Megson as manager, yet crushing defeats cast doubt on his credibility. Clement cites a fixture between Christmas and New Year, at Manchester City, as a collective and personal turning point.
"We didn't have a shot on target but Richard Dunne's own goal equalised for us late on. It started a feeling that maybe it wasn't a lost cause after all. Thomas Gaardsoe got injured that day and I moved to my preferred position at centre-back. I did well and have tended to stay there."
Albion achieved the so-called great escape on the final afternoon, forcing supporters and scribes to re-evaluate Robson's worth. "What he did was give us confidence," explains Clement. "He told us we were good enough to stay up, which perhaps we didn't believe any more.
"He also got us playing better football. We started passing the ball around and creating chances, which we weren't doing under the previous manager. Gary Megson instilled a great work ethic, and we used to try to out-run teams. But we never looked like outscoring them."
Robson's team currently occupy the place where they finished, immediately above the relegation places, but Clement makes sense when he asserts that they are "in a better position than last time". He adds: "We need to put down roots in the Premiership, like Bolton or Charlton. We have to be looking towards the top half rather than the bottom."
In these transient times, many players refer to their employers as "the club" or "they". With Clement, Albion's longest-serving player and often their captain, it is always "we". If he stays until the end of his contract he will have spent a decade there. "Last January I had six months left and I thought I might be leaving, but the manager and the club showed how much they wanted to keep me. I was chuffed to stay.
"I'm even on the club history DVD, Full Throstle. It's great to be part of the traditions, and to have played a part in helping Albion back to where we belong. People have come and gone, the stadium and training facilities have all changed, but I'm still here."
Versatility may be the key to his longevity. "I like central defence or left-back best, but I've also played in centre midfield - I scored at Blackburn in that role in our first-ever Premiership match - and at left wing-back. That's a very tough position to play at this level, especially when opponents play 4-4-2 against you. Their full-backs and wide midfielders double up on you. In the Championship you can play 3-5-2 and get away with it, but the teams we're up against now are too good. The full-backs are happy to bring the ball forward and go two-on-one against you.
"I even played on the right of midfield once, in a vital promotion match against Rotherham. Never again! Not one of my best games. But you will play anywhere to stay in the team. I just want to play as many games as I can. I'd like to play 500 for Albion. I'm already up around 270."
Several of his adolescent colleagues did not manage one, but Clement reflects no less warmly on them. "It doesn't mean that they failed. Some decided football wasn't for them. A lot are doing well in other areas. And people catch up. A kid who was little at 15 can grow taller than the one who was a giant. Others are as fast at 14 as they will ever be."
Growing pains are a problem in the Premiership, too. Albion's ability to get through them successfully may well depend upon the extent to which they can foster Clement's survival instinct.
Like father, like son A player in the image of his old man
"Strong and powerful, a good athlete and a very upright runner, like his dad," says Gerry Francis of Neil Clement. "You can see the resemblance, and not just in his looks. You can tell he's Dave Clement's son."
Francis played with the late Dave Clement for Queen's Park Rangers and England . Neil is left-footed whereas Dave was an overlapping right-back, but intriguingly, given the West Bromwich player's liking for centre-back, his father switched from central defence only after joining QPR in 1965.
Neil knew Dave won five caps, two in World Cup qualifiers against Italy, and that his 405-game sojourn at Rangers included a runners-up spot behind Liverpool in 1976. He had the word of Francis and others that Dave was an outstanding player, but he was too young to have seen him play.
"Dave Sexton, his old manager at QPR, asked John Motson if he could put something together from old video tapes," explains Neil. "I still watch it. But I also meet loads of people who remember him."
Francis, for one. "Dave was a bit older than me, but we both came through the youth team at QPR and played in the same side for 10 years or more. We roomed together, we went on international trips together. I knew his wife, Pat, well and, though I'd moved to Crystal Palace and he was at Wimbledon, they came down to a place I had in the South of France in the summer before his suicide. His death came as a major shock to all of us who were at QPR, and it's still hard to put into words how we felt. "
Francis is glad to see another Clement establish himself at the game's top level. In a strange way, says Neil Clement, he believes his father has, too. "I feel he is with me in spirit and sometimes think he is up there watching over me.
"What's happened has happened, and it's a shame he isn't around to see how me and my brother Paul [a coach at Fulham] have got on. But I'd like to think he would be proud of what I've achieved." Independent
[See also below: Last year's Independent Profile of/interview with Neil Clement on his father, Dave Clement.]
Sunday Mercury -Clement's facing an emotional day at Rangers
Mar 25 2007 By Graham Hill
ALBION defender Neil Clement heads for QPR next week looking to revive Baggies' promotion hopes - but part of him will also be carrying his family name with pride.
Whenever Clement goes to Loftus Road, he knows the home fans regard his late father Dave as one of the finest players ever to pull on the blue-and-white hooped shirt.
It was one of the game's saddest losses when Clement Snr took his own life in 1982, believing his career was over after suffering a broken leg.
By coincidence, Baggies servant Clement will play at QPR on the 25th anniversary of the day his father passed away.
It will be a special moment for Clement who admits that Rangers hold a place in his heart for obvious reasons.
The 28-year-old has played at QPR only twice for Albion - the last time was six years ago when Baggies lost 2-0.
Now that the teams find themselves in the same division again, the fixture list has conjured up possibly the most respectful and fitting of matches for the Clement family.
Dave Clement spent 14 years at Rangers, making 472 appearances, and also won five England caps. He was only 34 when he died and the Albion star, just three at the time, has admitted the tragedy brought his family closer.
"I always like playing at QPR, what with my family connections and my dad playing there for years," said Clement.
"So I love going to QPR and trying to do my best.
"The fans remember my dad very well at Rangers and I hope some of that comes out whenever I play there.
"I'm proud of what he achieved. Everyone tells me that if I'm half the player he was I'll have had a great career.
"That's why I always want to go there and do well. I will always have a bit of a soft spot for QPR, but obviously I will be looking to beat them next week even so."
Clement did not find out the details of his father's death until he was 10 but, when he was loaned out to Reading by Chelsea, it upset his mother Pat as they play in the same colour shirts as QPR.
Neil's thoughts will surely be with her too as he turns out for Albion on Saturday and it would be the perfect result if he were to get on the scoresheet as Baggies took three points.
Clement marked his seventh anniversary at The Hawthorns this week - something of which he is also immensely proud.
When he arrived at Albion in 2000, again on loan at first from Chelsea, Gary Megson was battling to save Baggies from relegation to the old Division Two.
They survived with a last-day-of-the-season win over Charlton and Clement has seen the club's reputation rise ever
since. He has been there for it all. Three seasons in the Premiership, a play-off place, two promotions and the Great Escape mean that life has rarely been boring for Clement.
"Since I've come here, there's been something at stake every year which has been great for me," said Clement.
"As a player, you want to be in games where it means something. When I first came here, there was huge pressure on us to stay up.
"It was such a big club looking at relegation to what is now League One. Now the club has changed completely. The stadium, the training ground - it's all different. And we have better players. I am proud to have been a small part of that.
"When we stayed up in 2000, we had to beat Charlton who had already won the league and they were up for it on the day. We were really hungry too, though, and there was only going to be one team who won it.
"That was a great feeling to stay up. I'd left Chelsea where things were beginning to take off and come to a side struggling against relegation. But it was the best move I ever made.
"It's given me the opportunity to play regular first-team football at a big club. When I left Chelsea I told myself that I wanted to get back up to where they were.
"I have done that by playing in the Premiership, but now I want us to get promoted again and stay up this time.
"We should be doing what Charlton and Bolton have been doing for years.
"That's the aim and there is still a lot to achieve with this club. We were gutted not to be able to stay up last time - we probably had a better group of players than we had when we went down before.
"If we do go up, we'll be better equipped than we ever have been.
"Looking at the players we've got, this is the best we've played since I've been at the club. It would be the best quality too as we have so many international players here, and they all want to be in the Premier League."
Clement knows Albion have to win every game between now and the end of the season if their hopes of automatic promotion are to be revived.
And, even though many of their fixtures against promotion rivals are behind them, Clement knows that the strugglers are fighting to stay up.
Next week's opponents, QPR, are a perfect example.
They have picked up recently under former Villa boss John Gregory, taking a point off promotion hopefuls Derby and hammering Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.
"We may have come through the tough times, playing Sunderland after the Middlesbrough FA Cup tie and going to Wolves where we could have won 5-1 but for the goalkeeper," said Clement.
"You take that on the chin. Then we had the better of the chances against Birmingham.
"There are positives and we are hungrier than ever, but it will be a big ask to go up automatically." Sunday Mercury
See also this profile of interview with Neil Clement from last year
Saturday, March 04, 2006 Independent
The Premiership Interview: Chelsea educated, but a Baggie through and through
Neil Clement grew up training alongside Gullit, Zola and Vialli, but when the champions visit The Hawthorns today his commitment to West Brom's cause will be total. He talked to Phil Shaw
Published: 04 March 2006
Athens, 1994. The England Under-16 squad stroll through the streets, enjoying the historic sights on a balmy evening. Their game with Greece in the Panionos Stadium the following night is the biggest of their fledgling careers.
London, 1996. Chelsea's first-year professionals report for training near Heathrow. They are about to pit themselves against Ruud Gullit's senior players, legends like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes and Dennis Wise.
One player was present on both occasions, although few observers would have identified him as a star of the future. Against the Greeks, he sat on the bench with Daryl Sopp and Anthony Ormerod as Matthew Wicks, John Curtis, Jason Crowe and Elliott Dickman filled the defensive roles. In Gullit's pecking order, he often seemed to be behind Mark Nicholls, Nick Crittenden, Jody Morris, Jon Harley and Rob Wolleaston.
A decade on, Wicks, the England Under-16 player who had the top clubs drooling, sells cars for a living. For him, as for Luke Staton, Paul Heritage and Andrew Wright, the life that appeared there for the taking never happened. The Chelsea boy most likely, Nicholls, is still playing, but for Uxbridge. The link between the squads - the only one from either now performing in the Premiership - is Neil Clement.
As more eye-catching individuals have fallen by the wayside, the 28-year-old utility player goes from strength to strength and will be involved at The Hawthorns this afternoon as Chelsea seek to honour the memory of Peter Osgood by tightening their grip on the Premiership title. These days, however, Clement is a West Bromwich Albion player. More importantly, given Albion's position just above the relegation zone, Clement is a survivor.
The wretched irony of such an epithet is that his father, the former Queen's Park Rangers and England defender Dave Clement, did not survive to see his son uphold the family honour. Depressed after a serious injury that he sustained as a fine career began fizzling out in the Fourth Division at Wimbledon, he took his life. Neil was three years old.
Too young to understand the enormity of what had happened, he and his brother Paul - who was then 10 and is now coaching Fulham's young players - grew up in the Midlands after his mother decided to move from London. "It wasn't particularly a football environment, so maybe it was in the blood," Clement recalls. "Like any kid, I loved the game. And there was always the incentive of following in my dad's footsteps."
In his mid-teens he was offered a scholarship at the FA's National School at Lilleshall in Shropshire. By the second year, his room-mate, Jody Morris, was already attached to Chelsea and told him the club wanted to sign him. "I'd always had a soft spot for QPR because of my dad, and it's an ambition of mine to play for them one day," he says. "But I went down to Stamford Bridge for a look around when I was 15, and of all the clubs that were interested, that was the one that really grabbed me."
Glenn Hoddle was his first manager and Graham Rix the youth coach. Clement liked their methods and the way they primed their teams to play. The progressive approach continued under Gullit, and a certain player provided all the inspiration a budding first-teamer needed. "Zola was the one I looked to in terms of preparation and training. His dedication was frightening. He was immaculate on the practice pitch. Every time he got the ball, it was as if it was the last time he would touch it."
Yet working with stellar talents from France, Italy and elsewhere was a double-edged sword. Clement started out "high on confidence and excited by the prospects", but he sensed over time that he was "trying too hard" during training. Nicholls, in particular, found greater favour with Gullit, while Morris came to be perceived as having the most potential.
Clement started just once in the Premiership for Chelsea, in a 3-1 win over West Ham in 1996. "Zola was unbelievable. He twisted Julian Dicks inside out. The game probably came too soon for me. With hindsight I could have done with my debut coming after I went on loan to Preston, Reading and Brentford. But it was a fantastic experience. I thought I had it in me to play more times, but it's good to be able to say I played for them."
It looks even better on the CV now that Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho have turned Chelsea into champions. Are they recognisable as the club he knew? "When I was there we had some top players. But even in the six years since I left they have moved on and up - the stadium, training ground, players. They could dominate for years."
The odd physio, kit man and coach is still at the Bridge from Clement's five-year stint, but a single player remains, and not the one he and others envisaged as the future of Chelsea. "Jody [Morris] was the outstanding talent as a teenager. He has been unlucky in the way things happened to him off the pitch. The way Chelsea developed as a club didn't help him either. I thought he would kick on when he finally left, but it hasn't really happened for him."
The contemporary who stayed was, of course, John Terry, an occasional golf partner of Clement's. "John was a couple of years younger, though we played in the youth team together. He always loved defending even as a kid. We would be messing about in training and he would throw his body in the way of anything. Totally fearless. But he has taken it on to a different level, the way he reads the game and leads the side."
Clement acknowledges but does not agree with the allegation, repeatedly levelled at foreign-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, that they do not give British players a chance. "If you're good enough, you'll get in, as John [Terry] and Ashley Cole have proved. But it is very difficult. Fans at those clubs demand instant success. To get it, they go and buy it."
Not for him the criticism often aired by Jermaine Pennant after his sojourn as the eternal understudy at Highbury. "I don't complain that I never got my chance. I had opportunities. More than anything, though, I got the best footballing education I could possibly have had."
Clement would draw heavily upon it after Gary Megson took him to Albion, initially on loan, during the spring of 2000. Then, as now, the club were embroiled in a fight against relegation - to the third tier of the English game - which they escaped only on the final day. Such late-season drama would become an annual event at The Hawthorns.
"The turnaround has been phenomenal. In my first full season we reached the play-offs. The following year we gained promotion - on the final day again - by beating Crystal Palace. That was probably a bit soon for the club, but you can't turn down the chance when it comes."
Albion went straight back down, then up again, but at the midway point of last season they were favourites for the drop once more. Bryan Robson had replaced Megson as manager, yet crushing defeats cast doubt on his credibility. Clement cites a fixture between Christmas and New Year, at Manchester City, as a collective and personal turning point.
"We didn't have a shot on target but Richard Dunne's own goal equalised for us late on. It started a feeling that maybe it wasn't a lost cause after all. Thomas Gaardsoe got injured that day and I moved to my preferred position at centre-back. I did well and have tended to stay there."
Albion achieved the so-called great escape on the final afternoon, forcing supporters and scribes to re-evaluate Robson's worth. "What he did was give us confidence," explains Clement. "He told us we were good enough to stay up, which perhaps we didn't believe any more.
"He also got us playing better football. We started passing the ball around and creating chances, which we weren't doing under the previous manager. Gary Megson instilled a great work ethic, and we used to try to out-run teams. But we never looked like outscoring them."
Robson's team currently occupy the place where they finished, immediately above the relegation places, but Clement makes sense when he asserts that they are "in a better position than last time". He adds: "We need to put down roots in the Premiership, like Bolton or Charlton. We have to be looking towards the top half rather than the bottom."
In these transient times, many players refer to their employers as "the club" or "they". With Clement, Albion's longest-serving player and often their captain, it is always "we". If he stays until the end of his contract he will have spent a decade there. "Last January I had six months left and I thought I might be leaving, but the manager and the club showed how much they wanted to keep me. I was chuffed to stay.
"I'm even on the club history DVD, Full Throstle. It's great to be part of the traditions, and to have played a part in helping Albion back to where we belong. People have come and gone, the stadium and training facilities have all changed, but I'm still here."
Versatility may be the key to his longevity. "I like central defence or left-back best, but I've also played in centre midfield - I scored at Blackburn in that role in our first-ever Premiership match - and at left wing-back. That's a very tough position to play at this level, especially when opponents play 4-4-2 against you. Their full-backs and wide midfielders double up on you. In the Championship you can play 3-5-2 and get away with it, but the teams we're up against now are too good. The full-backs are happy to bring the ball forward and go two-on-one against you.
"I even played on the right of midfield once, in a vital promotion match against Rotherham. Never again! Not one of my best games. But you will play anywhere to stay in the team. I just want to play as many games as I can. I'd like to play 500 for Albion. I'm already up around 270."
Several of his adolescent colleagues did not manage one, but Clement reflects no less warmly on them. "It doesn't mean that they failed. Some decided football wasn't for them. A lot are doing well in other areas. And people catch up. A kid who was little at 15 can grow taller than the one who was a giant. Others are as fast at 14 as they will ever be."
Growing pains are a problem in the Premiership, too. Albion's ability to get through them successfully may well depend upon the extent to which they can foster Clement's survival instinct.
Like father, like son A player in the image of his old man
"Strong and powerful, a good athlete and a very upright runner, like his dad," says Gerry Francis of Neil Clement. "You can see the resemblance, and not just in his looks. You can tell he's Dave Clement's son."
Francis played with the late Dave Clement for Queen's Park Rangers and England . Neil is left-footed whereas Dave was an overlapping right-back, but intriguingly, given the West Bromwich player's liking for centre-back, his father switched from central defence only after joining QPR in 1965.
Neil knew Dave won five caps, two in World Cup qualifiers against Italy, and that his 405-game sojourn at Rangers included a runners-up spot behind Liverpool in 1976. He had the word of Francis and others that Dave was an outstanding player, but he was too young to have seen him play.
"Dave Sexton, his old manager at QPR, asked John Motson if he could put something together from old video tapes," explains Neil. "I still watch it. But I also meet loads of people who remember him."
Francis, for one. "Dave was a bit older than me, but we both came through the youth team at QPR and played in the same side for 10 years or more. We roomed together, we went on international trips together. I knew his wife, Pat, well and, though I'd moved to Crystal Palace and he was at Wimbledon, they came down to a place I had in the South of France in the summer before his suicide. His death came as a major shock to all of us who were at QPR, and it's still hard to put into words how we felt. "
Francis is glad to see another Clement establish himself at the game's top level. In a strange way, says Neil Clement, he believes his father has, too. "I feel he is with me in spirit and sometimes think he is up there watching over me.
"What's happened has happened, and it's a shame he isn't around to see how me and my brother Paul [a coach at Fulham] have got on. But I'd like to think he would be proud of what I've achieved." Independent
Ex-QPR's Dean Parret Makes his Spurs (Academy) Debut
-
Spurs Academy Report -March 13:
Jonathan Obika scored his first goal for our Under-18s as we drew 1-1 against Ipswich Town at the weekend.
The Under-16 winger was one of four schoolboys in the starting line-up alongside fellow Under-16s Andros Townsend and Yaser Kasim while Under-15 midfielder Dean Parrett made his debut.
Obika was in the right place at the right time to tap home from Daniel Hutchins' pass as the lads came from 1-0 down to grab a point.
Coach Alex Inglethorpe reported: "We went a goal down early on, perhaps a little inexperience in there - Reading played a diamond formation with a player behind the front two and he was the one that got away - but apart from that we pretty much controlled the game.
"After the goal we kept passing and playing and eventually got our rewards when Daniel Hutchins intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and slid it across from Jon Obika to score his first goal for the Under-18s.
"We created lots if chances and I think we’ve probably out-shot most of the teams we’ve come up against.
"Credit to Jonathan, he’s an Under-16 winger playing up front for the Under-18s and he gave a very good account of himself. Dean Parrett also made his debut, an Under-15 in midfield, Andros Townsend and Yaser Kasim also played, so we had three Under-16s and one Under-15 in the starting line-up and full credit to them."
Spurs U18s: Stroud, Hughton, Martin, Kasim, Mills, Archibald-Henville, Hutton, Hutchins, Obika (Smith, 70), Parrett (Cox, 75), Townsend (Asajile, 85). Unused sub: Butler. Spurs
Paladini on Parrett at last month's Consulative Meeting with Fans
2.4. Dean Parrett deal
GP said that the deal was worth £1m up front and with a 25% sell-on clause, plus we will have first refusal on him should Dean be sent out on loan in the future. When asked why there had been reports of the deal having been worth £2m plus, GP replied that the final amount that comes back to the club could amount to the sum that was quoted. When PH informed GP that she regularly goes to the training ground and got to know the family, hence her surprise when he left because as far as she knew, the youngster appeared happy at QPR, GP claimed that both himself and John Gregory were against selling him; that the family had made the decision; that he had been offered a schoolboy contract when he was 14 but he had not signed; and that John Gregory had done the same thing but still the player had not signed. He stated that he (GP) had never approached the family but had dealt with the Wintons who were representing Dean.
PH mentioned about a rumour that had appeared on one of the message boards in which it had been quoted by a school friend of Dean's that he didn't want to leave and again GP refuted this, saying he challenges anyone who says that the club forced him to go. He said that there had been talks with Chelsea but the family had turned this down and then Tottenham had come in for him.
TS then informed GP about a couple of calls she had taken from individuals who had claimed that both himself and John Gregory had forced Dean Parrett's and his family's hand regarding the move to Spurs and the reason why there were discrepancies about the amount/s of money received from the transfer was because they had received bungs via brown paper envelopes, thus taking money away that should have rightfully been the club's. When GP was asked to comment he replied that he had something to show her and left the room for a few minutes. When he returned he was carrying a piece of paper and which he showed to TS which was an invoice showing a transaction made during this month for an amount of £1m from Barclays bank which was transferred to HMCE (the inland revenue). GP claimed that not one penny from the £1m down payment went direct to the club and that it all went to the inland revenue to pay the recent tax bill. He said the bottom line was because of the finances we would have had to have sold a player (from the first team) the Spurs offer came in for Dean Parrett, stating again that neither himself nor John Gregory - who he said had had plans for him to make his first team debut as QPR's youngest ever player - had wanted him to go. GP denied there were any undisclosed payments and challenged anyone who claimed to have evidence of them, or of wrongdoing, to go to the police and/or the FA.
* After the meeting, TS spoke to Alex Winton asking him if he would clarify on a couple of points. Alex told her that he is not an agent; that he helped the family out as a family friend by helping with the negotiations with Spurs; that he received no money; and that so far as he were aware, Gianni Paladini or John Gregory had not wanted Dean to go to Spurs QPR Official Site
The People Feb 4, - SPURS SMASH RECORD By Paul Smith
SPURS have smashed the transfer record for a youngster who is still not old enough to sign a professional contract by recruiting Dean Parrett from QPR.
Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that the club's investment can rise to £3million if 15-year-old Parrett's career progresses at White Hart Lane. QPR staff are amazed at the deal the cash-strapped Championship side have sealed for the youngster. Spurs have put a £1m downpayment on the midfielder, who will join them as a full-time scholar in July 2008.But there are incentives in the deal, based on the youngster's progress through the ranks and future appearances, that can add a further £2m to the agreed price. Spurs will still see Parrett's recruitment as a massive coup - especially as they saw off a bid from Chelsea.
Parrett is widely seen as one of the brightest prospects in the country.
He's a regular in the junior England teams and is one of the quickest players at youth level. Sunday People
John Gregory Speaks About Dean's Parrett Departure to Spurs-
QPR Official Site - WIN-WIN SITUATION
Gaffer John Gregory believes it would have been wrong to deny Dean Parrett the opportunity to join Spurs.
The 15 year-old midfield prodigy - who helped England Under-16s retain the Sky Sports Victory Shield last year - yesterday finalised a deal that will see him join the Tottenham Academy on a student registration, before he eventually joins full-time as a scholar in July 2008.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory said: "It's a win-win situation for all parties.
"It's been quite a long process in many respects. Loads of clubs have been chasing him - Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea to name a few.
"We've allowed the parents and Dean himself to make up their own minds on the situation.
"For us to turn down the chance for Dean to sign for Tottenham would have been wrong. His Dad is a huge Spurs fan, so in a way it's a dream move for them.''
Gregory continued: "We've been compensated financially for it, we don't deny that, but at the end of the day everyone comes out of the situation winning.
"We've won, Spurs have got their player and Dean has got a tremendous future at one of the greatest clubs in the country.
"Spurs believe in youth - they get thrown in very early and allow them to prosper. In that respect, it's a wise choice by the family to go to Tottenham.''
Gregory refused to rule out the chance of Parrett returning to QPR in the future though, adding: "There's still a chance that we'll see him back here. There's a chance that he might come back here on loan at some stage as part of his development, part of his growing up. We've not turned our back on seeing Dean in a Blue and White shirt at some stage.
"There's possibly more chance of Dean making his Championship debut, before he makes his Premiership bow. There's nothing written in stone, but there's a chance he could return to Loftus Road one day.
"We wish him all the best.''
*A full interview with John Gregory will be available on QPR World later today and Joe Gallen also gives his thoughts on the youngsters future. QPR
Independent - Tottenham beat Chelsea to signing young talent Parrett
By Sam Wallace -Published: 02 February 2007
Tottenham were last night celebrating victory in the battle to sign one of the most highly rated young players in English football after they beat Chelsea to the signature of Dean Parrett.
The 15-year-old midfielder, who has already represented England at Under-16 level, was signed from Queen's Park Rangers in a deal that could be worth more than £1m according to how he progresses at his new club. The player has been targeted by a host of Premiership clubs and has long interested Chelsea.
A Londoner, Parrett is an attacking midfielder in the mould of Steven Gerrard and has already played for QPR's Under-18s side. A good sprinter in schoolboy athletics, he still attends the Quintin Kynaston school in north-west London. He will become a full-time trainee at Tottenham only in the summer of 2008.
Competition for the top schoolboy footballers, especially English players, is fierce. Tottenham's sporting director, Damien Comolli, said last night: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team. He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity." Independent
Sporting Life - SPURS REACH AGREEMENT FOR PARRETT
By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
Tottenham have reached an agreement with QPR to sign 15-year-old midfielder Dean Parrett.
The teenager will join the academy at Spurs before becoming a full-time player in 18 months.
Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity."
It had been reported Spurs may have to pay a compensation fee to QPR of up to £2million, which would make him one of the most expensive teenagers in British football.
Spurs academy manager John McDermott added on the club's website www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
"He's very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that's fantastic raw material to work with.
"Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We've four internationals in our under-16 age group and he makes it five."
Sporting Life
BBC -Tottenham capture QPR youngster
Tottenham have agreed a deal with QPR to sign 15-year-old midfielder Dean Parrett, who will join the Premiership club on a student registration.
Parrett, an England under-16 international, will join as a full-time scholar in July 2008.
Spurs sporting Director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity." BBC
QPR Official Site - February 1, 2007 - QPR's 15-Year Old Star Joins Tottenham Hotspur -
QPR's teenage starlet Dean Parrett has joined Tottenham Hotspur.
Dean, 15, will move into the Tottenham Academy on a student registration before joining full-time as a scholar in July 2008.
Parrett helped England Under-16s retain the Victory Shield against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in October last year.
A talented midfielder with bags of natural ability, Parrett made five starts and four sub appearances for the Under-18's this season, scoring one goal.
Tottenham's Sporting Director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our Club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity."
Academy Manager John McDermott added: "Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or Under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
"He's very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that's fantastic raw material to work with. Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We've four internationals in our Under-16 age group and he makes it five."
The deal has been extremely helpful for the club and QPR will benefit from a future move.
The club wishes Dean all the best for the future and thank him for all of his hard work during his time at QPR. QPR
SPURS OFFICIAL SITE ANNOUNCEMENT PARRETT JOINS01/02/2007
The Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement with QPR for the transfer of promising young player Dean Parrett.
Dean, 15, will come into our Academy on a student registration before joining us full-time as a scholar in July 2008. An attacking midfielder, he helped England Under-16s retain the Victory Shield against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in October last year.
Sporting Director Damien Comolli said: “Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our Club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
“He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity.”
Academy Manager John McDermott added: “Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or Under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
“He’s very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that’s fantastic raw material to work with. Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We’ve four internationals in our Under-16 age group and he makes it five.” Spurs
Also - Parrett Joins Spurs
Spurs Academy Report -March 13:
Jonathan Obika scored his first goal for our Under-18s as we drew 1-1 against Ipswich Town at the weekend.
The Under-16 winger was one of four schoolboys in the starting line-up alongside fellow Under-16s Andros Townsend and Yaser Kasim while Under-15 midfielder Dean Parrett made his debut.
Obika was in the right place at the right time to tap home from Daniel Hutchins' pass as the lads came from 1-0 down to grab a point.
Coach Alex Inglethorpe reported: "We went a goal down early on, perhaps a little inexperience in there - Reading played a diamond formation with a player behind the front two and he was the one that got away - but apart from that we pretty much controlled the game.
"After the goal we kept passing and playing and eventually got our rewards when Daniel Hutchins intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and slid it across from Jon Obika to score his first goal for the Under-18s.
"We created lots if chances and I think we’ve probably out-shot most of the teams we’ve come up against.
"Credit to Jonathan, he’s an Under-16 winger playing up front for the Under-18s and he gave a very good account of himself. Dean Parrett also made his debut, an Under-15 in midfield, Andros Townsend and Yaser Kasim also played, so we had three Under-16s and one Under-15 in the starting line-up and full credit to them."
Spurs U18s: Stroud, Hughton, Martin, Kasim, Mills, Archibald-Henville, Hutton, Hutchins, Obika (Smith, 70), Parrett (Cox, 75), Townsend (Asajile, 85). Unused sub: Butler. Spurs
Paladini on Parrett at last month's Consulative Meeting with Fans
2.4. Dean Parrett deal
GP said that the deal was worth £1m up front and with a 25% sell-on clause, plus we will have first refusal on him should Dean be sent out on loan in the future. When asked why there had been reports of the deal having been worth £2m plus, GP replied that the final amount that comes back to the club could amount to the sum that was quoted. When PH informed GP that she regularly goes to the training ground and got to know the family, hence her surprise when he left because as far as she knew, the youngster appeared happy at QPR, GP claimed that both himself and John Gregory were against selling him; that the family had made the decision; that he had been offered a schoolboy contract when he was 14 but he had not signed; and that John Gregory had done the same thing but still the player had not signed. He stated that he (GP) had never approached the family but had dealt with the Wintons who were representing Dean.
PH mentioned about a rumour that had appeared on one of the message boards in which it had been quoted by a school friend of Dean's that he didn't want to leave and again GP refuted this, saying he challenges anyone who says that the club forced him to go. He said that there had been talks with Chelsea but the family had turned this down and then Tottenham had come in for him.
TS then informed GP about a couple of calls she had taken from individuals who had claimed that both himself and John Gregory had forced Dean Parrett's and his family's hand regarding the move to Spurs and the reason why there were discrepancies about the amount/s of money received from the transfer was because they had received bungs via brown paper envelopes, thus taking money away that should have rightfully been the club's. When GP was asked to comment he replied that he had something to show her and left the room for a few minutes. When he returned he was carrying a piece of paper and which he showed to TS which was an invoice showing a transaction made during this month for an amount of £1m from Barclays bank which was transferred to HMCE (the inland revenue). GP claimed that not one penny from the £1m down payment went direct to the club and that it all went to the inland revenue to pay the recent tax bill. He said the bottom line was because of the finances we would have had to have sold a player (from the first team) the Spurs offer came in for Dean Parrett, stating again that neither himself nor John Gregory - who he said had had plans for him to make his first team debut as QPR's youngest ever player - had wanted him to go. GP denied there were any undisclosed payments and challenged anyone who claimed to have evidence of them, or of wrongdoing, to go to the police and/or the FA.
* After the meeting, TS spoke to Alex Winton asking him if he would clarify on a couple of points. Alex told her that he is not an agent; that he helped the family out as a family friend by helping with the negotiations with Spurs; that he received no money; and that so far as he were aware, Gianni Paladini or John Gregory had not wanted Dean to go to Spurs QPR Official Site
The People Feb 4, - SPURS SMASH RECORD By Paul Smith
SPURS have smashed the transfer record for a youngster who is still not old enough to sign a professional contract by recruiting Dean Parrett from QPR.
Sunday Mirror Sport can reveal that the club's investment can rise to £3million if 15-year-old Parrett's career progresses at White Hart Lane. QPR staff are amazed at the deal the cash-strapped Championship side have sealed for the youngster. Spurs have put a £1m downpayment on the midfielder, who will join them as a full-time scholar in July 2008.But there are incentives in the deal, based on the youngster's progress through the ranks and future appearances, that can add a further £2m to the agreed price. Spurs will still see Parrett's recruitment as a massive coup - especially as they saw off a bid from Chelsea.
Parrett is widely seen as one of the brightest prospects in the country.
He's a regular in the junior England teams and is one of the quickest players at youth level. Sunday People
John Gregory Speaks About Dean's Parrett Departure to Spurs-
QPR Official Site - WIN-WIN SITUATION
Gaffer John Gregory believes it would have been wrong to deny Dean Parrett the opportunity to join Spurs.
The 15 year-old midfield prodigy - who helped England Under-16s retain the Sky Sports Victory Shield last year - yesterday finalised a deal that will see him join the Tottenham Academy on a student registration, before he eventually joins full-time as a scholar in July 2008.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Gregory said: "It's a win-win situation for all parties.
"It's been quite a long process in many respects. Loads of clubs have been chasing him - Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea to name a few.
"We've allowed the parents and Dean himself to make up their own minds on the situation.
"For us to turn down the chance for Dean to sign for Tottenham would have been wrong. His Dad is a huge Spurs fan, so in a way it's a dream move for them.''
Gregory continued: "We've been compensated financially for it, we don't deny that, but at the end of the day everyone comes out of the situation winning.
"We've won, Spurs have got their player and Dean has got a tremendous future at one of the greatest clubs in the country.
"Spurs believe in youth - they get thrown in very early and allow them to prosper. In that respect, it's a wise choice by the family to go to Tottenham.''
Gregory refused to rule out the chance of Parrett returning to QPR in the future though, adding: "There's still a chance that we'll see him back here. There's a chance that he might come back here on loan at some stage as part of his development, part of his growing up. We've not turned our back on seeing Dean in a Blue and White shirt at some stage.
"There's possibly more chance of Dean making his Championship debut, before he makes his Premiership bow. There's nothing written in stone, but there's a chance he could return to Loftus Road one day.
"We wish him all the best.''
*A full interview with John Gregory will be available on QPR World later today and Joe Gallen also gives his thoughts on the youngsters future. QPR
Independent - Tottenham beat Chelsea to signing young talent Parrett
By Sam Wallace -Published: 02 February 2007
Tottenham were last night celebrating victory in the battle to sign one of the most highly rated young players in English football after they beat Chelsea to the signature of Dean Parrett.
The 15-year-old midfielder, who has already represented England at Under-16 level, was signed from Queen's Park Rangers in a deal that could be worth more than £1m according to how he progresses at his new club. The player has been targeted by a host of Premiership clubs and has long interested Chelsea.
A Londoner, Parrett is an attacking midfielder in the mould of Steven Gerrard and has already played for QPR's Under-18s side. A good sprinter in schoolboy athletics, he still attends the Quintin Kynaston school in north-west London. He will become a full-time trainee at Tottenham only in the summer of 2008.
Competition for the top schoolboy footballers, especially English players, is fierce. Tottenham's sporting director, Damien Comolli, said last night: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team. He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity." Independent
Sporting Life - SPURS REACH AGREEMENT FOR PARRETT
By Mike McGrath, PA Sport
Tottenham have reached an agreement with QPR to sign 15-year-old midfielder Dean Parrett.
The teenager will join the academy at Spurs before becoming a full-time player in 18 months.
Spurs sporting director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity."
It had been reported Spurs may have to pay a compensation fee to QPR of up to £2million, which would make him one of the most expensive teenagers in British football.
Spurs academy manager John McDermott added on the club's website www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
"He's very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that's fantastic raw material to work with.
"Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We've four internationals in our under-16 age group and he makes it five."
Sporting Life
BBC -Tottenham capture QPR youngster
Tottenham have agreed a deal with QPR to sign 15-year-old midfielder Dean Parrett, who will join the Premiership club on a student registration.
Parrett, an England under-16 international, will join as a full-time scholar in July 2008.
Spurs sporting Director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our club.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity." BBC
QPR Official Site - February 1, 2007 - QPR's 15-Year Old Star Joins Tottenham Hotspur -
QPR's teenage starlet Dean Parrett has joined Tottenham Hotspur.
Dean, 15, will move into the Tottenham Academy on a student registration before joining full-time as a scholar in July 2008.
Parrett helped England Under-16s retain the Victory Shield against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in October last year.
A talented midfielder with bags of natural ability, Parrett made five starts and four sub appearances for the Under-18's this season, scoring one goal.
Tottenham's Sporting Director Damien Comolli said: "Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our Club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
"He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity."
Academy Manager John McDermott added: "Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or Under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
"He's very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that's fantastic raw material to work with. Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We've four internationals in our Under-16 age group and he makes it five."
The deal has been extremely helpful for the club and QPR will benefit from a future move.
The club wishes Dean all the best for the future and thank him for all of his hard work during his time at QPR. QPR
SPURS OFFICIAL SITE ANNOUNCEMENT PARRETT JOINS01/02/2007
The Club is delighted to announce that it has reached agreement with QPR for the transfer of promising young player Dean Parrett.
Dean, 15, will come into our Academy on a student registration before joining us full-time as a scholar in July 2008. An attacking midfielder, he helped England Under-16s retain the Victory Shield against Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland in October last year.
Sporting Director Damien Comolli said: “Dean is exactly the kind of player we want to attract to our Club, a player who will be part of the next generation to come through to the first team.
“He is an extremely talented young player who has that rare combination of pace, aggression and creativity.”
Academy Manager John McDermott added: “Dean has played wide right, wide left and in central midfield and as a Year 10 or Under-15 player, has done extremely well up against older boys.
“He’s very level-headed, has potential, a desire to succeed and that’s fantastic raw material to work with. Dean comes into a rich pool of talent able to stretch him, and he will stretch them. We’ve four internationals in our Under-16 age group and he makes it five.” Spurs
Also - Parrett Joins Spurs
Approaching the Five Year Mark Since QPR's ABC Loan
-
With QPR's 10 year, 10 million pound "ABC Loan" coming up to the crucial "half-time" mark in May - at which point the 10% per annum interest rate can be raised - or the entire loan could be paid off (with a new loan). And over the weeks, months and years, the messageboards have repeatedly focused on the ABC Loan (and who precisely are the people behind it.
At a recent meeting between the Chairman and various fan group representatives, the subject came up: (As posted on the Official Site - and other sites)
3. Financial
3.1. What is the current financial state (including concerning debts) and financial plan of the club?
GP started off by saying that with regards to clearing bills £250,000 is required and that includes the fee for Deloitte and Touche
He spoke about a recent tax payment (£1.5m) and how tax accrues all the time at the rate of around £300k per month, but that we no longer have a backlog. We have the ABC loan for £10m (£1m per year interest) and said that the aim is to get rid of the ABC loan as by May the interest could by put up to 13% and so this needs to be cancelled urgently and to get a fresh one. He said that the board are working continually on this stating the ground will not be sold and that there will be no sale and leaseback. He went on to describe the running of QPR as “like a big house, we have to pay bills, big bills and sometimes we have to prioritise”. He stated that there things like security bills which amount to £50k per month to be paid and that cashflow is the biggest problem, saying that to keep this club alive we need the money to do so, money in the bank, commenting that we do not even have an overdraft facility with the bank.
When asked about directors loans he said that yes, we are all aware of the directors loans but that if we were to go bust they would lose their money, they have no guarantee on anything and so it is not in their interests for us to go bust or go into administration.
GP denied that there were any truth in the rumour about Paul Kemsley (Tottenham vice chair) taking over/refinancing the ABC loan, saying there was no truth in this whatsoever.
SD again raised some questions that had been flagged on one of the message board’s, the first in relation to the ABC loan, which was regarding the legal implications of it and if the board had looked into this? NDM said that basically when it comes to challenging the loan, losses have to be shown and it would be difficult to establish losses given the club did borrow £10m. It would have to be proved that the company could have borrowed £10m on better terms (e.g. lower interest). He also said even if it was possible to prove corruption there would be little/no chance of receiving damages. ..
Official Site
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - December 2005 PALADIDINI Q & A
Paladini
QPR.CO.UK invited fans to send in their questions for QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini to answer.
...
Are there negotiations taking place with solicitors, lenders and ABC in order to either re-negotiate with ABC or a high street lender?
John Hardman
We are arranging a new loan with the Lloyds TSB. The directors will give their personal guarantee on the loan. We hope to get an interest rate between 5.75% to 6%. Depending on the final interest rate we will save between £400-425k per year.
QPR RIVALS Clive Whittingham - Q&A with PALADINI
The Paladini Interview - Off The PitchBy Clive Whittingham
Date: 2/5/2006
Five years until the ABC loan expires - should we be worried yet?
It is my mission to stop that. I didn't create that situation and it's a difficult one to deal with but while I'm here it is my mission to get rid of it.
The more people who see we're doing a good job the better the chance is that they'll help us out and work with us on this. We were very close to doing a deal with the Lloyds bank but then there was all that stuff in the Evening Standard and they pulled out, didn't want to know any more.
When I took over here, the VAT man, the tax man, the creditors - none of them trusted QPR, and we've had to catch up with payments. People were queuing up for money here in September.
We have to put forward a united front and look like a secure option for people to come and help us out. We're working hard on this, Antonio is in Milan today talking to banks and potential lenders. I am confident we'll be rid of the loan within the five years. Whatever happens I'm sure we'll do it.
Later at the QPR1st AGM the trust put forward the idea of the fans trying to raise the money themselves over the next five years in return for the ground being signed over to the supporters. This ambitious plan was given support by Gianni Paladini who described it as a "fantastic idea."
After the meeting had finished I spoke to, or rather listened to, Ross Jones' take on the loan. Jones maintains that with the football league breathing down our necks the deal was a good one for QPR; "You'd really struggle to find someone who'd lend you ten million pounds at anything less than ten percent. You may be able to get eight percent but time wasn't on our side. The football league wrote to us and said we would be expelled if we didn't find the funds to come out of administration - what would you have done?
"We took out the ten million because that's what we needed to come out of administration, seven million of it went to creditors immediately. Nobody will lend you that kind of money at six or seven percent. It was a good deal for QPR at that time."
Do we even know who ABC Corporation are?
No, no idea. They're based in Panama with a Swiss bank account I think but we just don't know.
Ross Jones does though - "I know who's behind it all but I gave my word that I wouldn't reveal who it is so that's that. I'm a man of my word."
FIVE YEARS AGO
May 2002: QPR Get out ofAdministration having take on the 10 Million Pound loan from the "mysterious" ABC Corporation.
Bucks Free Press - May 31, 2002
QPR on road to cash recoveryQPR or to be strictly accurate, parent company Loftus Road plc are out of administration following a High Court ruling on Monday.
The plc and QPR went into administration in April 2001, but following a refinancing package finalised by the directors last week, the company has been able to pay off its creditors.
Chief executive David Davies said: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods of our history. Having the administration order lifted marks the end of more than a year of tough financial decisions and hard work.
"This would not have been possible were it not for the commitment of coaches, players and backroom staff and the hard work of our administrators."
Mr Davies said, however, that one of the major factors in pulling the club back from the brink had been the supporters: "None it would have been possible without the support of the QPR fans. After seeing the club placed in administration, relegated and then lose more than half of our squad, they stuck by us in record numbers and continue to do so."
He went on to say that he felt the hard lessons learned would benefit the club in the future - "gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages" - at a time when many clubs are on the verge of calling in the administrators. In the past, QPR had been highlighted as being run "on the economics of the madhouse."
But Mr Davies warned that although coming out of administration was a major step forward, much remained to be done on and off the field, although he was optimistic that the hard work of manager Ian Holloway and others would bear fruit.
"We don't suddenly have a magic wand to wave and make everything better. We are not suddenly flush with cash. With hard work and passion, we will improve this club but by bit and season by season.
"Ian Holloway has restored pride to the team and brought together a hungry and talented bunch of players. With the handcuffs of administration finally removed, we can start to build a solid future for QPR."
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/search/display.var.183687.0.qpr_on_road_to_cash_recovery.php
QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini Answers QPR Rivals & QPR 1st Questions-
From QPR Rivals Interview/Q&A with QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:
Overview -http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410351
"On the Pitch" http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410348
"Off The Pitch" http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410350
And an Update/Clarification - CLarification
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Exclusive Q&A with Chairman Paladini - May 2006
Q&A
FROM QPR 1st Supporters Trust - Report of their April 27th 2006 AGM which included an appearance/address from QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini - QPR1st
QPR 1st from five Years Ago - QPR1st - May 2002
More Stories re ABC & QPR (and also Derby County) ABC Loans
With QPR's 10 year, 10 million pound "ABC Loan" coming up to the crucial "half-time" mark in May - at which point the 10% per annum interest rate can be raised - or the entire loan could be paid off (with a new loan). And over the weeks, months and years, the messageboards have repeatedly focused on the ABC Loan (and who precisely are the people behind it.
At a recent meeting between the Chairman and various fan group representatives, the subject came up: (As posted on the Official Site - and other sites)
3. Financial
3.1. What is the current financial state (including concerning debts) and financial plan of the club?
GP started off by saying that with regards to clearing bills £250,000 is required and that includes the fee for Deloitte and Touche
He spoke about a recent tax payment (£1.5m) and how tax accrues all the time at the rate of around £300k per month, but that we no longer have a backlog. We have the ABC loan for £10m (£1m per year interest) and said that the aim is to get rid of the ABC loan as by May the interest could by put up to 13% and so this needs to be cancelled urgently and to get a fresh one. He said that the board are working continually on this stating the ground will not be sold and that there will be no sale and leaseback. He went on to describe the running of QPR as “like a big house, we have to pay bills, big bills and sometimes we have to prioritise”. He stated that there things like security bills which amount to £50k per month to be paid and that cashflow is the biggest problem, saying that to keep this club alive we need the money to do so, money in the bank, commenting that we do not even have an overdraft facility with the bank.
When asked about directors loans he said that yes, we are all aware of the directors loans but that if we were to go bust they would lose their money, they have no guarantee on anything and so it is not in their interests for us to go bust or go into administration.
GP denied that there were any truth in the rumour about Paul Kemsley (Tottenham vice chair) taking over/refinancing the ABC loan, saying there was no truth in this whatsoever.
SD again raised some questions that had been flagged on one of the message board’s, the first in relation to the ABC loan, which was regarding the legal implications of it and if the board had looked into this? NDM said that basically when it comes to challenging the loan, losses have to be shown and it would be difficult to establish losses given the club did borrow £10m. It would have to be proved that the company could have borrowed £10m on better terms (e.g. lower interest). He also said even if it was possible to prove corruption there would be little/no chance of receiving damages. ..
Official Site
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - December 2005 PALADIDINI Q & A
Paladini
QPR.CO.UK invited fans to send in their questions for QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini to answer.
...
Are there negotiations taking place with solicitors, lenders and ABC in order to either re-negotiate with ABC or a high street lender?
John Hardman
We are arranging a new loan with the Lloyds TSB. The directors will give their personal guarantee on the loan. We hope to get an interest rate between 5.75% to 6%. Depending on the final interest rate we will save between £400-425k per year.
QPR RIVALS Clive Whittingham - Q&A with PALADINI
The Paladini Interview - Off The PitchBy Clive Whittingham
Date: 2/5/2006
Five years until the ABC loan expires - should we be worried yet?
It is my mission to stop that. I didn't create that situation and it's a difficult one to deal with but while I'm here it is my mission to get rid of it.
The more people who see we're doing a good job the better the chance is that they'll help us out and work with us on this. We were very close to doing a deal with the Lloyds bank but then there was all that stuff in the Evening Standard and they pulled out, didn't want to know any more.
When I took over here, the VAT man, the tax man, the creditors - none of them trusted QPR, and we've had to catch up with payments. People were queuing up for money here in September.
We have to put forward a united front and look like a secure option for people to come and help us out. We're working hard on this, Antonio is in Milan today talking to banks and potential lenders. I am confident we'll be rid of the loan within the five years. Whatever happens I'm sure we'll do it.
Later at the QPR1st AGM the trust put forward the idea of the fans trying to raise the money themselves over the next five years in return for the ground being signed over to the supporters. This ambitious plan was given support by Gianni Paladini who described it as a "fantastic idea."
After the meeting had finished I spoke to, or rather listened to, Ross Jones' take on the loan. Jones maintains that with the football league breathing down our necks the deal was a good one for QPR; "You'd really struggle to find someone who'd lend you ten million pounds at anything less than ten percent. You may be able to get eight percent but time wasn't on our side. The football league wrote to us and said we would be expelled if we didn't find the funds to come out of administration - what would you have done?
"We took out the ten million because that's what we needed to come out of administration, seven million of it went to creditors immediately. Nobody will lend you that kind of money at six or seven percent. It was a good deal for QPR at that time."
Do we even know who ABC Corporation are?
No, no idea. They're based in Panama with a Swiss bank account I think but we just don't know.
Ross Jones does though - "I know who's behind it all but I gave my word that I wouldn't reveal who it is so that's that. I'm a man of my word."
FIVE YEARS AGO
May 2002: QPR Get out ofAdministration having take on the 10 Million Pound loan from the "mysterious" ABC Corporation.
Bucks Free Press - May 31, 2002
QPR on road to cash recoveryQPR or to be strictly accurate, parent company Loftus Road plc are out of administration following a High Court ruling on Monday.
The plc and QPR went into administration in April 2001, but following a refinancing package finalised by the directors last week, the company has been able to pay off its creditors.
Chief executive David Davies said: "This is wonderful news and the conclusion of one of the darkest periods of our history. Having the administration order lifted marks the end of more than a year of tough financial decisions and hard work.
"This would not have been possible were it not for the commitment of coaches, players and backroom staff and the hard work of our administrators."
Mr Davies said, however, that one of the major factors in pulling the club back from the brink had been the supporters: "None it would have been possible without the support of the QPR fans. After seeing the club placed in administration, relegated and then lose more than half of our squad, they stuck by us in record numbers and continue to do so."
He went on to say that he felt the hard lessons learned would benefit the club in the future - "gone are the days when players will be paid excessive wages" - at a time when many clubs are on the verge of calling in the administrators. In the past, QPR had been highlighted as being run "on the economics of the madhouse."
But Mr Davies warned that although coming out of administration was a major step forward, much remained to be done on and off the field, although he was optimistic that the hard work of manager Ian Holloway and others would bear fruit.
"We don't suddenly have a magic wand to wave and make everything better. We are not suddenly flush with cash. With hard work and passion, we will improve this club but by bit and season by season.
"Ian Holloway has restored pride to the team and brought together a hungry and talented bunch of players. With the handcuffs of administration finally removed, we can start to build a solid future for QPR."
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/search/display.var.183687.0.qpr_on_road_to_cash_recovery.php
QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini Answers QPR Rivals & QPR 1st Questions-
From QPR Rivals Interview/Q&A with QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:
Overview -http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410351
"On the Pitch" http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410348
"Off The Pitch" http://queensparkrangers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=925&p=2&stid=8410350
And an Update/Clarification - CLarification
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Exclusive Q&A with Chairman Paladini - May 2006
Q&A
FROM QPR 1st Supporters Trust - Report of their April 27th 2006 AGM which included an appearance/address from QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini - QPR1st
QPR 1st from five Years Ago - QPR1st - May 2002
More Stories re ABC & QPR (and also Derby County) ABC Loans
Sunday, March 25, 2007
QPR's April 30 Friendly vs Witney United
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There has been no word from QPR (and in fact the rescheduled game - or even the originally-scheduled game's cancellation - was never announced on QPR's Official Site - but Witney United's site continues to list April 30 as the date for the visit of QPR. (The man who was originally heavily involved in this match being scheduled (and then rescheduled was QPR's currently-suspended Assistant Manager, Richard Hill)
Witney United - 19-01-07 full strength hoops coming to witney!!
The website can today reveal that the postponed friendly against Championship side Queens Park Rangers has been re-arranged and will now be played on Monday 30th April.
The original game was postponed due to QPR’s FA Cup replay at Luton Town being postponed but the game was swiftly re-arranged with a new date for nearer the end of the season.
QPR Assistant Manager and ex Witney Town man Richard Hill offered his apologies to any Witney fans over the change of date.
“It was totally out of our hands, we had actually got to Luton before the game was postponed so we also had a frustrating evening. However I made a promise to bring the First Team to Witney and I won’t go back on that, although the date is some way off it will be a very strong side that I will bring to Witney on the night. It would have been really easy to send a Youth or a Reserve side down and just fulfil the fixture but the deal was I would bring the First Team down so in April that’s what we will do. On behalf of Queens Park Rangers I would like to apologise for any inconveniences caused but we look forward to seeing you on the new date”
The club have announced that all tickets purchased for the original date will be valid for the re-arranged game and that tickets are now back on sale for the new date and are available from the following places.
Printinco Corn Street Witney 0845 652 6552
Ady Bircher 07747 123411
Mark Reid 07771 805823
Witney United Football Club 01993 848558
Witney United
Witney Fixtures:
Monday 30th Apr 07
Friendly Q.P.R Home 7-45pm
Witney United Schedule
See also: QPR Report - Friendly with Witney United
There has been no word from QPR (and in fact the rescheduled game - or even the originally-scheduled game's cancellation - was never announced on QPR's Official Site - but Witney United's site continues to list April 30 as the date for the visit of QPR. (The man who was originally heavily involved in this match being scheduled (and then rescheduled was QPR's currently-suspended Assistant Manager, Richard Hill)
Witney United - 19-01-07 full strength hoops coming to witney!!
The website can today reveal that the postponed friendly against Championship side Queens Park Rangers has been re-arranged and will now be played on Monday 30th April.
The original game was postponed due to QPR’s FA Cup replay at Luton Town being postponed but the game was swiftly re-arranged with a new date for nearer the end of the season.
QPR Assistant Manager and ex Witney Town man Richard Hill offered his apologies to any Witney fans over the change of date.
“It was totally out of our hands, we had actually got to Luton before the game was postponed so we also had a frustrating evening. However I made a promise to bring the First Team to Witney and I won’t go back on that, although the date is some way off it will be a very strong side that I will bring to Witney on the night. It would have been really easy to send a Youth or a Reserve side down and just fulfil the fixture but the deal was I would bring the First Team down so in April that’s what we will do. On behalf of Queens Park Rangers I would like to apologise for any inconveniences caused but we look forward to seeing you on the new date”
The club have announced that all tickets purchased for the original date will be valid for the re-arranged game and that tickets are now back on sale for the new date and are available from the following places.
Printinco Corn Street Witney 0845 652 6552
Ady Bircher 07747 123411
Mark Reid 07771 805823
Witney United Football Club 01993 848558
Witney United
Witney Fixtures:
Monday 30th Apr 07
Friendly Q.P.R Home 7-45pm
Witney United Schedule
See also: QPR Report - Friendly with Witney United
Half-a-Year Since Chairman Paladini's Took Action re a AKUTRs Fan Magazine Article
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In early September 2006, the QPR Fan Magazine, A Kick Up The Rs (AKUTRS) published an article to which QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini took strong exception. About couple of weeks after the AKUTRs publication (September 25) the club's official site posted a statement about the Chairman's response.
A month after this first statement, the QPR Official Site posted a statement entitled "An Apology" - although according to AKUTR's Dave Thomas, the "apology" was published without the pre-knowledge/agreemenet of Thomas. Among other things, the Chairman declared in the "Apology" that "I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition."
However, no such reply from Paladini was ever made. Meeting with the QPR Fan group in early January 2007, QPR1st in early January 2007, Paladini confirmed what many had begun to conclude: That there would be no written response by the Chairman to the AKUTRs article.
September 25, 2007 - QPR Official Site
Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'
The publication 'A Kick Up The Rs' has recently published a deeply misleading, inaccurate and scandalous article about myself and Queens Park Rangers FC.
A number of serious allegations have been made in that publication which are not true. The publication failed to contact myself or anyone else at the Club to verify their allegations.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I have been reluctantly forced to take legal action. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors.
I expect a comprehensive retraction and apology from the publication for publishing these falsehoods. If they are not prepared to provide that, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.
I am sorry it must come to this, but in order for me to be able to defend myself from such blatant and hurtful untruths, I have no alternative than to take this action.
I shall make no further comment on this matter until either the apology and retraction has been received or legal proceedings are concluded QPR
October 26 2006: - QPR OFFICIAL SITE: AN APOLOGY
The Editor and proprietor of the fanzine 'A Kick Up The R's' today agreed to publish the following retraction and apology to QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:
In the September edition of the newsletter 'A Kick Up the R's', we published a series of articles by Cos Atiolis about Mr Paladini, the Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers football club.
In these articles we falsely suggested that Mr Paladini was involved in fraud, corruption, malpractice and dishonesty, and made a number of other serious false, misleading and defamatory statements about him.
We now fully accept that there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations and we are extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.
The newsletter containing the articles has been withdrawn from sale and we have offered Mr Paladini a full right of reply to the articles, which will appear in the next edition.
Paladini said: "I am delighted that the fanzine has withdrawn the untrue and unfair allegations it made against me, and that it was possible to resolve this without legal action.
"Although everyone has a right to free speech, and I welcome constructive criticism, I take my professional reputation very seriously and will not stand by whilst I am accused falsely.
"I find these allegations distressing, not just because they damage me, but also because of the distress they cause to my family and to QPR fans.
"I would never want to fall out with any of our fans. The way to move this club forward is to be united.
"Fortunately, AKUTRs has accepted there was no truth to the serious allegations it published and has retracted them. I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition, and I hope that is then the end of the matter." QPR
QPR1st Full QPR1st report on their January 7, 2007 meeting with Chairman Paladini
"[Paladini] was asked about what was happening regarding his right to reply in the fanzine? His reply was that “he wished to thank the editor of the fanzine for his response; that never before had he personally received such an apology; it was an honourable thing; that because the reply in his fanzine was sufficient, he had decided to leave his right to reply, preferring to let sleeping dogs lie”.
He asked if we would put his response in our report, to which we agreed..." QPR1st
Paladini at the QPR Fan Forum mid-October
"GP on AKUTR'S: I didn't take this man to court. People think I take people to court because the coffee is too cold.....The magazine, I never said I would take them to court, I wanted a chance to respond to serious things that were said about me in that magazine, he never had the decency to get in touch with me for a discussion and my side, I'm talking about the journalist here not the man who edits the magazine. If you don't do anything about this, you're guilty. The allegations he made against me are wrong. If they are true then I shouldn't be the chairman. If they are right I'd resign tomorrow." Fan Forum
QPR1st Response to Chairman's Paladini Threatened Action:
QPR1st Statement: September 27, 2006 - AKUTR's and The Club - September 27, 2006
"QPR1st supports the right of supporters to express their views in a variety of ways including fanzines and message boards.
We acknowledge that the Club also has the right to challenge what it considers to be unfair or inaccurate comments in fanzines through the official site, the programme, fans forums or by requesting a 'right to reply' within the fanzines themeselves.
Nevertheless fanzines have limited resources with which to defend themselves against legal action and therefore 'threats to sue' can be perceived as an act of intimidation. We would urge the Club to withdraw such threats and to seek to redress what they regard as a wrong through other less confrontational means. The Trust would be happy to act as a mediator between the Club and AKUTRs in the belief that QPR is at its strongest when it is united" QPR1st
LSA - John Reid, the Secretary of the LSA, made the following statement:-...'The LSA offers wholehearted support for Dave Thomas and 'AKUTRs right to freedom of speech. We deplore the actions of the Club in taking legal action which could kill off one of the most respected fanzines in England. 'AKUTRs has played a crucial role in keeping our Club alive in difficult times and we would be poorer without it. We agree that a right of reply should be given to the Club to answer the points raised in the current issue. We would be happy to play a role in ensuring that these matters are dealt with, without recourse to legal action against one of the most respected supporters of our beloved Club. However, if the Club pursues with legal action against Dave, we will offer wholehearted support in any manner we deem fit, including publishing material and raising a financial fighting fund to defend 'AKUTRs in Court.' LSA News
In early September 2006, the QPR Fan Magazine, A Kick Up The Rs (AKUTRS) published an article to which QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini took strong exception. About couple of weeks after the AKUTRs publication (September 25) the club's official site posted a statement about the Chairman's response.
A month after this first statement, the QPR Official Site posted a statement entitled "An Apology" - although according to AKUTR's Dave Thomas, the "apology" was published without the pre-knowledge/agreemenet of Thomas. Among other things, the Chairman declared in the "Apology" that "I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition."
However, no such reply from Paladini was ever made. Meeting with the QPR Fan group in early January 2007, QPR1st in early January 2007, Paladini confirmed what many had begun to conclude: That there would be no written response by the Chairman to the AKUTRs article.
September 25, 2007 - QPR Official Site
Statement by Gianni Paladini on the recent edition of 'A Kick Up The Rs:'
The publication 'A Kick Up The Rs' has recently published a deeply misleading, inaccurate and scandalous article about myself and Queens Park Rangers FC.
A number of serious allegations have been made in that publication which are not true. The publication failed to contact myself or anyone else at the Club to verify their allegations.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, I have been reluctantly forced to take legal action. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors.
I expect a comprehensive retraction and apology from the publication for publishing these falsehoods. If they are not prepared to provide that, the matter will be dealt with by the courts.
I am sorry it must come to this, but in order for me to be able to defend myself from such blatant and hurtful untruths, I have no alternative than to take this action.
I shall make no further comment on this matter until either the apology and retraction has been received or legal proceedings are concluded QPR
October 26 2006: - QPR OFFICIAL SITE: AN APOLOGY
The Editor and proprietor of the fanzine 'A Kick Up The R's' today agreed to publish the following retraction and apology to QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:
In the September edition of the newsletter 'A Kick Up the R's', we published a series of articles by Cos Atiolis about Mr Paladini, the Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers football club.
In these articles we falsely suggested that Mr Paladini was involved in fraud, corruption, malpractice and dishonesty, and made a number of other serious false, misleading and defamatory statements about him.
We now fully accept that there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations and we are extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.
The newsletter containing the articles has been withdrawn from sale and we have offered Mr Paladini a full right of reply to the articles, which will appear in the next edition.
Paladini said: "I am delighted that the fanzine has withdrawn the untrue and unfair allegations it made against me, and that it was possible to resolve this without legal action.
"Although everyone has a right to free speech, and I welcome constructive criticism, I take my professional reputation very seriously and will not stand by whilst I am accused falsely.
"I find these allegations distressing, not just because they damage me, but also because of the distress they cause to my family and to QPR fans.
"I would never want to fall out with any of our fans. The way to move this club forward is to be united.
"Fortunately, AKUTRs has accepted there was no truth to the serious allegations it published and has retracted them. I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition, and I hope that is then the end of the matter." QPR
QPR1st Full QPR1st report on their January 7, 2007 meeting with Chairman Paladini
"[Paladini] was asked about what was happening regarding his right to reply in the fanzine? His reply was that “he wished to thank the editor of the fanzine for his response; that never before had he personally received such an apology; it was an honourable thing; that because the reply in his fanzine was sufficient, he had decided to leave his right to reply, preferring to let sleeping dogs lie”.
He asked if we would put his response in our report, to which we agreed..." QPR1st
Paladini at the QPR Fan Forum mid-October
"GP on AKUTR'S: I didn't take this man to court. People think I take people to court because the coffee is too cold.....The magazine, I never said I would take them to court, I wanted a chance to respond to serious things that were said about me in that magazine, he never had the decency to get in touch with me for a discussion and my side, I'm talking about the journalist here not the man who edits the magazine. If you don't do anything about this, you're guilty. The allegations he made against me are wrong. If they are true then I shouldn't be the chairman. If they are right I'd resign tomorrow." Fan Forum
QPR1st Response to Chairman's Paladini Threatened Action:
QPR1st Statement: September 27, 2006 - AKUTR's and The Club - September 27, 2006
"QPR1st supports the right of supporters to express their views in a variety of ways including fanzines and message boards.
We acknowledge that the Club also has the right to challenge what it considers to be unfair or inaccurate comments in fanzines through the official site, the programme, fans forums or by requesting a 'right to reply' within the fanzines themeselves.
Nevertheless fanzines have limited resources with which to defend themselves against legal action and therefore 'threats to sue' can be perceived as an act of intimidation. We would urge the Club to withdraw such threats and to seek to redress what they regard as a wrong through other less confrontational means. The Trust would be happy to act as a mediator between the Club and AKUTRs in the belief that QPR is at its strongest when it is united" QPR1st
LSA - John Reid, the Secretary of the LSA, made the following statement:-...'The LSA offers wholehearted support for Dave Thomas and 'AKUTRs right to freedom of speech. We deplore the actions of the Club in taking legal action which could kill off one of the most respected fanzines in England. 'AKUTRs has played a crucial role in keeping our Club alive in difficult times and we would be poorer without it. We agree that a right of reply should be given to the Club to answer the points raised in the current issue. We would be happy to play a role in ensuring that these matters are dealt with, without recourse to legal action against one of the most respected supporters of our beloved Club. However, if the Club pursues with legal action against Dave, we will offer wholehearted support in any manner we deem fit, including publishing material and raising a financial fighting fund to defend 'AKUTRs in Court.' LSA News
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Ex-QPR CEO, David Davies to Leave WASPS
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WASPS OFFICIAL SITE - March 12 - Wasps Chief Executive to stand down
London Wasps Chief Executive, David Davies has given notice that he will be standing down from his post at the start of September
Davies, who took up the post with Wasps three years ago, will be relinquishing his post in order to relocate for family reasons.
Over the next six months Davies will be working closely with the London Wasps board to recruit his successor, with a view to handing over in early September.
'I have enjoyed my time working with one of the most successful clubs in English and European rugby,' said Davies of his time at Wasps, 'and I wish everyone associated with the club the very best for the coming seasons.'
'The last three years have seen a lot of change at the club, both on and off the field,' he said, 'and I have enjoyed the challenge of steering the club though some testing times. I have made the decision to announce my resignation early in order to give the club time to locate my successor and plan a structured and smooth handover.
London Wasps Chairman, Chris Wright said, 'I'd like to thank David for the time and effort he has invested in the club over the last three seasons. During that time we have seen a significant expansion in the commercial activity of the company and David has developed some exciting plans to ensure the club continues to expand as a business and build on our current success in the coming seasons.
'I'd like to thank David for his open approach, which has given us a period of time to find a suitable candidate to succeed him, and I wish him and his family well with their future plans.' WASPS
Bucks Free Press/Alan Fedlberg - Davies makes executive decision
DAVID Davies will step down as chief executive of Wasps in September, but has told fans he does not believe the club will follow him out of Adams Park.
Davies announced his resignation on Monday but the man who has lobbied hardest for Wasps' High Wycombe future has gone a long way to calming worried fans.
He said: "I can assure the supporters that at present the board is foresquare for staying where it is.
"What happens in the future I think is crystal ball gazing, and people shouldn't spend time doing that.
"But people should recognise that we the board have stated publically and repeatedly that we're staying where we are."
At the moment Wasps only have a temporary lease agreement at Adams Park, but Davies is confident that will be firmed up by the autumn.
He said: "I think there'll be a signed agreement prior to September. Everybody knows the long term future is here at Wycombe and we're very comfortable with that."
Davies wants to return to the Midlands for family reasons, but will remain at his post another six months to give the club time to find a suitable replacement.
He said: "I've been thinking about it since I took some time off in August. I've been speaking to members of the board since early February and what we've arrived at enables the club to plan for change rather than have to be forced into it.
"I don't have anything planned at the moment. But part of the reason I had the conversation in the first place is I didn't want to do anything behind the club's back.
"In my position you can't just come out and start applying for jobs. I had to come out and make the first move.
"Now isn't the right time to be talking to people. But the season finishes at the end of next month and I suspect there'll be more serious discussions then."
For the time being Davies has his hands full at Wasps.
The club expect to be able to announce a new sponsorship deal with Magners shortly and are also expecting feedback from a safety advisory group regarding plans to carry out £5m-worth of upgrades to Adams Park.
Davies said: "We're in a better state now than we were three years ago. We're in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and we're in pretty good shape in the league.
"But you never look at silverware in anything else other than in dreams so at the moment I'm just looking at London Irish to see if we can get away with four points."
10:47am Friday 16th March 2007 Bucks Free Press
Updated: This is Local London
Davies makes executive decision
By Alan Feldberg
Comment
DAVID Davies will step down as chief executive of Wasps in September, but has told fans he does not believe the club will follow him out of Adams Park.
Davies announced his resignation on Monday but the man who has lobbied hardest for Wasps' High Wycombe future has gone a long way to calming worried fans.
He said: "I can assure the supporters that at present the board is foresquare for staying where it is.
advertisement
"What happens in the future I think is crystal ball gazing, and people shouldn't spend time doing that.
"But people should recognise that we the board have stated publically and repeatedly that we're staying where we are."
At the moment Wasps only have a temporary lease agreement at Adams Park, but Davies is confident that will be firmed up by the autumn.
He said: "I think there'll be a signed agreement prior to September. Everybody knows the long term future is here at Wycombe and we're very comfortable with that."
Davies wants to return to the Midlands for family reasons, but will remain at his post another six months to give the club time to find a suitable replacement.
He said: "I've been thinking about it since I took some time off in August. I've been speaking to members of the board since early February and what we've arrived at enables the club to plan for change rather than have to be forced into it.
"I don't have anything planned at the moment. But part of the reason I had the conversation in the first place is I didn't want to do anything behind the club's back.
"In my position you can't just come out and start applying for jobs. I had to come out and make the first move.
"Now isn't the right time to be talking to people. But the season finishes at the end of next month and I suspect there'll be more serious discussions then."
For the time being Davies has his hands full at Wasps.
The club expect to be able to announce a new sponsorship deal with Magners shortly and are also expecting feedback from a safety advisory group regarding plans to carry out £5m-worth of upgrades to Adams Park.
Davies said: "We're in a better state now than we were three years ago. We're in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and we're in pretty good shape in the league.
"But you never look at silverware in anything else other than in dreams so at the moment I'm just looking at London Irish to see if we can get away with four points." This is Local London
WASPS OFFICIAL SITE - March 12 - Wasps Chief Executive to stand down
London Wasps Chief Executive, David Davies has given notice that he will be standing down from his post at the start of September
Davies, who took up the post with Wasps three years ago, will be relinquishing his post in order to relocate for family reasons.
Over the next six months Davies will be working closely with the London Wasps board to recruit his successor, with a view to handing over in early September.
'I have enjoyed my time working with one of the most successful clubs in English and European rugby,' said Davies of his time at Wasps, 'and I wish everyone associated with the club the very best for the coming seasons.'
'The last three years have seen a lot of change at the club, both on and off the field,' he said, 'and I have enjoyed the challenge of steering the club though some testing times. I have made the decision to announce my resignation early in order to give the club time to locate my successor and plan a structured and smooth handover.
London Wasps Chairman, Chris Wright said, 'I'd like to thank David for the time and effort he has invested in the club over the last three seasons. During that time we have seen a significant expansion in the commercial activity of the company and David has developed some exciting plans to ensure the club continues to expand as a business and build on our current success in the coming seasons.
'I'd like to thank David for his open approach, which has given us a period of time to find a suitable candidate to succeed him, and I wish him and his family well with their future plans.' WASPS
Bucks Free Press/Alan Fedlberg - Davies makes executive decision
DAVID Davies will step down as chief executive of Wasps in September, but has told fans he does not believe the club will follow him out of Adams Park.
Davies announced his resignation on Monday but the man who has lobbied hardest for Wasps' High Wycombe future has gone a long way to calming worried fans.
He said: "I can assure the supporters that at present the board is foresquare for staying where it is.
"What happens in the future I think is crystal ball gazing, and people shouldn't spend time doing that.
"But people should recognise that we the board have stated publically and repeatedly that we're staying where we are."
At the moment Wasps only have a temporary lease agreement at Adams Park, but Davies is confident that will be firmed up by the autumn.
He said: "I think there'll be a signed agreement prior to September. Everybody knows the long term future is here at Wycombe and we're very comfortable with that."
Davies wants to return to the Midlands for family reasons, but will remain at his post another six months to give the club time to find a suitable replacement.
He said: "I've been thinking about it since I took some time off in August. I've been speaking to members of the board since early February and what we've arrived at enables the club to plan for change rather than have to be forced into it.
"I don't have anything planned at the moment. But part of the reason I had the conversation in the first place is I didn't want to do anything behind the club's back.
"In my position you can't just come out and start applying for jobs. I had to come out and make the first move.
"Now isn't the right time to be talking to people. But the season finishes at the end of next month and I suspect there'll be more serious discussions then."
For the time being Davies has his hands full at Wasps.
The club expect to be able to announce a new sponsorship deal with Magners shortly and are also expecting feedback from a safety advisory group regarding plans to carry out £5m-worth of upgrades to Adams Park.
Davies said: "We're in a better state now than we were three years ago. We're in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and we're in pretty good shape in the league.
"But you never look at silverware in anything else other than in dreams so at the moment I'm just looking at London Irish to see if we can get away with four points."
10:47am Friday 16th March 2007 Bucks Free Press
Updated: This is Local London
Davies makes executive decision
By Alan Feldberg
Comment
DAVID Davies will step down as chief executive of Wasps in September, but has told fans he does not believe the club will follow him out of Adams Park.
Davies announced his resignation on Monday but the man who has lobbied hardest for Wasps' High Wycombe future has gone a long way to calming worried fans.
He said: "I can assure the supporters that at present the board is foresquare for staying where it is.
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"What happens in the future I think is crystal ball gazing, and people shouldn't spend time doing that.
"But people should recognise that we the board have stated publically and repeatedly that we're staying where we are."
At the moment Wasps only have a temporary lease agreement at Adams Park, but Davies is confident that will be firmed up by the autumn.
He said: "I think there'll be a signed agreement prior to September. Everybody knows the long term future is here at Wycombe and we're very comfortable with that."
Davies wants to return to the Midlands for family reasons, but will remain at his post another six months to give the club time to find a suitable replacement.
He said: "I've been thinking about it since I took some time off in August. I've been speaking to members of the board since early February and what we've arrived at enables the club to plan for change rather than have to be forced into it.
"I don't have anything planned at the moment. But part of the reason I had the conversation in the first place is I didn't want to do anything behind the club's back.
"In my position you can't just come out and start applying for jobs. I had to come out and make the first move.
"Now isn't the right time to be talking to people. But the season finishes at the end of next month and I suspect there'll be more serious discussions then."
For the time being Davies has his hands full at Wasps.
The club expect to be able to announce a new sponsorship deal with Magners shortly and are also expecting feedback from a safety advisory group regarding plans to carry out £5m-worth of upgrades to Adams Park.
Davies said: "We're in a better state now than we were three years ago. We're in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and we're in pretty good shape in the league.
"But you never look at silverware in anything else other than in dreams so at the moment I'm just looking at London Irish to see if we can get away with four points." This is Local London
Late Paperwork Prevents Hislop From Making his Lewes Debut
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Argus O'Connor wins it for Rooks By Howard Griggs
Comment
Lewes 1, Salisbury 0: Steven King watched his Lewes side beat high-flying Salisbury and then declared: "Our play-off dream is still alive."...Many people believe the Rooks have little chance of a top five finish because they have played as many as five games more than some of their rivals.
Lewes suffered a blow before kick- off when new signing Matthew Hislop was prevented from playing.
The paperwork for the former Queens Park Rangers left-back had arrived a minute after the league's 24-hour deadline on Thursday.
With Matt McEntegart, who has been filling in at left-back for the injured Lewis Hamilton, ruled out with a broken foot it meant midfielder ...." Argus
See Yesterday: Hislop Set to make his debut for Lewes
Argus O'Connor wins it for Rooks By Howard Griggs
Comment
Lewes 1, Salisbury 0: Steven King watched his Lewes side beat high-flying Salisbury and then declared: "Our play-off dream is still alive."...Many people believe the Rooks have little chance of a top five finish because they have played as many as five games more than some of their rivals.
Lewes suffered a blow before kick- off when new signing Matthew Hislop was prevented from playing.
The paperwork for the former Queens Park Rangers left-back had arrived a minute after the league's 24-hour deadline on Thursday.
With Matt McEntegart, who has been filling in at left-back for the injured Lewis Hamilton, ruled out with a broken foot it meant midfielder ...." Argus
See Yesterday: Hislop Set to make his debut for Lewes
Zesh Rehman on Joining Brighton (and Rejecting Other Clubs)
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Andy Naylor/The Argus - Rehman: I owe it to Albion
Zesh Rehman has revealed he turned down other clubs to repay a debt of gratitude to Albion.
Rehman is back at Withdean on loan from Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers for the rest of the season, three years after the Seagulls borrowed him from Fulham.
"The manager (John Gregory) told me I wasn't allowed to go to another Championship club but I had an opportunity to go on loan to a couple of other clubs," Rehman said.
"As soon as I found out Brighton wanted me I thought I owe the club, because they were the first to give me regular first team football.
"I've got great memories of my time here before. The club and the fans have had a special place in my heart ever since, so I couldn't really turn it down."
Albion swooped to complete the signing of the versatile Rehman, just ten minutes before Thursday's loan transfer deadline, with captain Dean Hammond and Joe O'Cearuill troubled by injuries and Adam El-Abd on the verge of suspension.
He has played at rightback, centre half and in midfield for Rangers and the 23-year-old Brummie, who made 21 Premiership appearances for Fulham, is ready to fill in where required.
"Where ever Dean Wilkins wants me to play I will play there," he said. "I am here to help Brighton out. I'll play in goal if he wants me to. If needed today I am ready.
"I played every game for the first six and a half months at Rangers but I haven't played for a month or so now.
"This is an opportunity to keep my match fitness up and hopefully come and do well for Brighton.
"I've got two years left on my contract so I want to get some games under my belt and kick on.
"I was aware that the youngsters were coming through the last time I was here, so it is nice to see that they have been given an opportunity to show what they can do.
"By all accounts they have done well and I am looking forward to getting in amongst it." The Argus
Andy Naylor/The Argus - Rehman: I owe it to Albion
Zesh Rehman has revealed he turned down other clubs to repay a debt of gratitude to Albion.
Rehman is back at Withdean on loan from Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers for the rest of the season, three years after the Seagulls borrowed him from Fulham.
"The manager (John Gregory) told me I wasn't allowed to go to another Championship club but I had an opportunity to go on loan to a couple of other clubs," Rehman said.
"As soon as I found out Brighton wanted me I thought I owe the club, because they were the first to give me regular first team football.
"I've got great memories of my time here before. The club and the fans have had a special place in my heart ever since, so I couldn't really turn it down."
Albion swooped to complete the signing of the versatile Rehman, just ten minutes before Thursday's loan transfer deadline, with captain Dean Hammond and Joe O'Cearuill troubled by injuries and Adam El-Abd on the verge of suspension.
He has played at rightback, centre half and in midfield for Rangers and the 23-year-old Brummie, who made 21 Premiership appearances for Fulham, is ready to fill in where required.
"Where ever Dean Wilkins wants me to play I will play there," he said. "I am here to help Brighton out. I'll play in goal if he wants me to. If needed today I am ready.
"I played every game for the first six and a half months at Rangers but I haven't played for a month or so now.
"This is an opportunity to keep my match fitness up and hopefully come and do well for Brighton.
"I've got two years left on my contract so I want to get some games under my belt and kick on.
"I was aware that the youngsters were coming through the last time I was here, so it is nice to see that they have been given an opportunity to show what they can do.
"By all accounts they have done well and I am looking forward to getting in amongst it." The Argus
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