Looking Back to QPR's "Golden Summer" - June 2005

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June 2005: Just two years ago, but seemed pretty good: QPR had just completed their first season back in "Division One." Bill Power was Chairman. Mark Devlin was CEO Gianni Paladini had just replaced Olga Paladini on the QPR Board. Ian Holloway was manager.
And QPR were making several summer signings about whom they were pretty optimistic: Ian Evatt signed from Blackpool. Tommy Doherty from Bristol Rovers. Steffan Moore from Aston Villa. Simon Royce was set to sign. QPR were considering signing Andre Flo and resigning Richard Langley. And Danny Shittu signed a new three year contract. Ugo Ukah had not yet joined! (Nor had Nygaard or Milanese)
June 2005 Transfers

BBC - 2 June, 2005, Evatt completes Loftus Road move
QPR have completed the signing of defender Ian Evatt from Chesterfield for around £100,000.
Evatt, 23, has signed a three-year contract after a clause in his Chesterfield deal allowed him to move if a six-figure bid was tabled.
QPR chairman Bill Power and major shareholder Gianni Paladini flew to Majorca, where Evatt is on holiday.
"We wanted to get the deal done and it was always clear he wanted to come and play for us," said Power.
"We flew out to make sure we tied it all up. There were lots of other clubs interested but he wants to play for us, no-one else.
"He's a really good player and we're not surprised there are other clubs after him, but he's keen to join QPR."
Evatt joined Chesterfield from Derby County in July, 2003 and has since started 89 games for Roy McFarland's side, scoring 10 times. BBC

BBC - June 13, 2005 Villa striker makes switch to QPR
QPR have signed Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore on a three-year deal.
The 21-year-old, who ended last season on loan at Leicester, has been allowed to leave on a free by Villa despite having a year left on his contract.
Rangers boss Ian Holloway said: "He's the sort of player who will help get us back into the Premiership.
"We're looking to get him back to where he started. What he needs is to get a few games under his belt and, when he does, he'll be flying." BBC

BBC - June 29, 2005 - City's Doherty completes QPR move
Queens Park Rangers boss Ian Holloway has signed Bristol City midfielder Tommy Doherty for an undisclosed fee.
The 26-year-old Northern Ireland international has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal at Loftus Road.
He said: "I've known of QPR's interest for a while. They wanted to sign me on loan last season, but it didn't happen.
"I'm stepping up from League One, but I have no doubts about my ability to play at this level and higher. Ian Holloway is ambitious and so am I."
Bristol-born Doherty made 226 senior appearances for City and skippered the side which won the LDV Trophy in 2003.
However, he was relieved of the captaincy midway through last season, and transfer-listed in May.
City chairman Steve Lansdown told his club's website he was "naturally sad" to see Doherty leave.
But he added: "I stand by the comments I made at the end of last season when I said it was time for both Tommy and the club to move on."
BBC

BBC - June 2005 Holloway cool on Langley return
Langley moved from QPR to Cardiff in August 2003
Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway says he is "a million miles" from signing Cardiff's Richard Langley.
The 25-year-old midfielder moved from QPR to the Bluebirds in August 2003.
QPR previously expressed interest in re-signing him, but he has a year left on his contract and wages are thought to be double what he got in London.
"If you want to talk percentages, the chances of us signing Rich are 20%," said Holloway. "We can't pay what he's getting at Cardiff."
Cash-strapped Cardiff face the task of trimming their playing squad over the summer.
They need to reduce a wage bill that the Ninian Park side, more than £30m in debt, can ill afford.
But the only prospect of Langley's return to QPR would seem to be if the Bluebirds agreed to part-fund his wages at the London club. BBC

BBC _ June 30, 2005 Holloway admits interest in Flo
Flo has played in Italy for the past two seasons
QPR boss Ian Holloway has confirmed his side are hoping to sign ex-Chelsea striker Tore Andre Flo.
But he admits he is not confident on his chances of persuading the 32-year-old Norway international to leave his Italian club Siena.
"He will attract interest elsewhere. To get a player of his quality is a real 100-1 shot," he told QPR's website.
"We've done all we can to persuade him that QPR is a great club, but we fully respect Tore will need to take time."
Flo scored 50 goals in 95 starts for Chelsea before moving to Rangers for £14m in November 2000.
He moved to Sunderland in August 2002 at spent a season at the Stadium of Light before joining Siena.
"We are shooting for the stars here - but there is nothing wrong with trying to bring in the very best players available," Holloway added.
Holloway has already signed defender Ian Evatt, midfielder Tommy Doherty and striker Stefan Moore this summer, while goalkeeper Simon Royce will join on 1 July after his contract at Charlton has expired. BBC

BBC - 23 June, 2005 - Shittu signs new three-year deal
QPR's Nigerian international defender Dan Shittu has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
The 24-year-old centre-back's previous deal expired next summer and he had been linked with a move to the Premiership.
"It feels good for me to know that I'm going to be here next season," Shittu told the club's website.
"There was a lot of talk about me playing in the Premiership next season, but I feel I can get there with QPR." BBC

Come end of July, and QPR won the Copa Ibiza Final (beating Coventry 3-2Cole, Bignot, Santos, Evatt, Rose, Miller, Birch, Chambers, Brown, Furs, Gallen Subs: Royce, Shimmin, Hugo, Hislop, Cook, Bean, Shittu, Sturridge, Moore & Doherty) -Sturridge (2), Gallen

August 1, 2005 - BBC Championship Guide
Nickname: Rangers/R's/Hoops
Ground: Loftus Road
Capacity: 19,148
Last season: 11th
Manager: Ian Holloway (February 2001)

In: Stefan Moore (Aston Villa), Ian Evatt (Chesterfield, undisclosed), Tommy Doherty (Bristol City), Simon Royce (Charlton), Marc Nygaard (Brescia, undisclosed)
Ugo Ukah

Out: Tony Thorpe (Swindon), Jamie Cureton (Swindon), Gino Padula (Nott'm Forest), Chris Day (Oldham)
Generoso Rossi, Richard Edghill

BBC Sport verdict: When Rangers strung together the results they challenged up at the top of the table, but consistency was a problem and before long they were mired in mid-table mediocrity.

On paper Ian Holloway has worked well in the transfer market to bring in a good blend of players at minimal cost, but only time will tell if they work on the pitch - as the boss will no doubt let us know in his own inimitable style.

Key man: Martin Rowlands BBC


Within a couple of months, much had changed, both on and off the field.