QPR Sign 27-year Old Cardiff Defender, Chris Barker on a Free Transfer

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QPR sign 27 year old Cardiff full back, Chris Barker on a free transfer. Barker spent all of last season at Colchester. Barker played in the playoff final against QPR! See Barker/Wikipedia and Barker Statistics - Soccerbase

QPR Official Site

We are delighted to announce the free transfer signing of Cardiff City left back Chris Barker.
The 27 year-old, who spent last season on loan at Championship newcomers Colchester United, has put pen to paper on a two year deal at Loftus Road.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, gaffer John Gregory revealed his delight at the signing: "He's one I've been interested in for some time, so I'm delighted he's signed.
"He excelled in a very successful Colchester side last year and he was a firm favourite at Cardiff before the arrival of Dave Jones.
"There were four or five other Clubs in this division pursuing him, so it's quite a coup for us.''
After being voted the Cardiff City Supporters' Player of the Year in 2004/05, Barker found himself surplus to requirements following the arrival of Dave Jones at Ninian Park.
Undeterred, the ever dependable left sided defender joined Colchester in mid-August and quickly established himself as the first choice left back at Layer Road, having initially signed on loan until January.
That move was eventually prolonged until the end of the 2006/07 season and Barker, who won many admirers for his consistent performances on the left hand side of the U's defence, made 39 appearances in all competitions for Geraint Williams' side.
Widely regarded as the U's most impressive defender during a campaign which saw them exceed all expectations with a tenth place finish, Barker's season ended on a sour note when he was forced to sit out the final game of the campaign after receiving a red card against Stoke City, a ban which still has three games to run.
Barker will wear the number three shirt, vacated by Mauro Milanese. QPR

CARDIFF CITY OFFICIAL SITE - BARKER LEAVES NINIAN PARK
QPR Have Signed Former Cardiff City left back Chris Barker on a permanant transfer.
The 27-year-old defender, who has appeared in 144 league games for the Bluebirds after joining from Barnsley for £600,000, has agreed a permanent transfer to Loftus Road.
Ironically Chris' biggest game for Cardiff came against his new employers; he played in the 1-0 win in the League One Play Off final at the Millennium Stadium which saw QPR's chances of promotion shattered with an Andy Campbell wonder strike.
Chris Barker appeared in 38 league games for Colchester on loan, but will now join up with John Gregory's QPR team Championship side.
We would like to wish Chris all the best and thank him for his time at Ninian Park.
Cardiff

South Wales Echo - Barker signs for QPR By Mark Bloom
CARDIFF City full-back Chris Barker has signed for Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers, we can reveal.
Barker, who was on loan to Colchester for much of last season, was today flying out to Greece for a holiday after signing for the London club last night.
“I had no future with Cardiff and I wanted to sort things out before my flight this morning, now I can relax,” he told the Echo as he prepared to board the plane.
“I’m happy things are sorted. I enjoyed my time at Cardiff but the writing was on the wall that I didn’t figure in the manager’s plans.
“I had several options but the move to QPR excited me and I hope to help them challenge for promotion next season.”
Barker’s departure ends a five-year spell for him as a City player having joined the club in July 2002 from Barnsley for £600,000 under the managership of Lennie Lawrence...
IC Wales