QPR's Lee Camp Talks About Moving On From Derby

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Camp: Time to move on - Derby Evening TElegraph BY STEVE NICHOLSON
Goalkeeper Lee Camp headed out of Pride Park yesterday afternoon as Derby County stepped up their bid to bring in Portsmouth defender Andy Griffin.
Derby-born Camp became the first departure of the summer when he joined Queens Park Rangers in a £300,000 deal.
After putting pen to paper on a three-year contract at Loftus Road, the 22-year-old spoke of how proud he feels to have played for his home-town club but now he is looking forward to a fresh start with QPR...
Uncertainty had surrounded Camp's future at Derby for a number of months and this increased when the club brought in two keepers.
Welsh international Lewis Price, 23, arrived from Ipswich Town on Thursday and 18-year-old Ben Hinchliffe was signed earlier this month after being released by Preston.
Camp was already second choice behind Stephen Bywater, who is set to make his first appearance of pre-season in Derby's game against Mansfield Town at Field Mill today.
"Joining QPR is an opportunity to play first-team football," said Camp.
"I just felt I would drop to number three in the pecking order at Derby and so the move is a fresh start for me and a new challenge.
"I am proud to have played for my home-town club and I wish everybody at Derby all the best for the season."
Billy Davies said he spoke to Camp a few weeks ago about staying and fighting for a place.
"Lee did not come back to me," added the Rams boss, "and so it was evident to me he wanted to go and become number one at QPR. I felt I had to go into the marketplace for another keeper."
Camp is back at QPR where he enjoyed two successful loan spells and Rangers boss John Gregory is delighted to have landed the England Under-21 international. "I have finally got my number one priority of the summer in," said the ex-Rams boss.
"Lee played an integral part in helping us to maintain our Championship status last season. He is an outstanding goalkeeper and his arrival is a massive boost, not only to the squad but also the supporters."
Camp is set to play in a friendly at Wycombe today.
He came up through the Academy at Derby, turned professional in 2002 and made 98 first-team appearances.
His debut was at Walsall in April 2003 when he replaced Lee Grant at half time and he established himself as the number one in 2004-05. He was outstanding as the Rams reached the Championship play-offs under George Burley and picked up the young player of the year award.
Camp remained in possession of the gloves the following season apart from a six-match spell when he lost his place to goalkeeping coach Kevin Poole.
But last season he found himself out of favour despite playing in the opening game against Southampton.
Billy Davies signed Bywater from West Ham and Camp went in search of football by joining Norwich and QPR on loan.
His first loan stint at QPR was in March 2004 when he helped them to win promotion from League One and he was a key figure in the London club's battle to beat relegation last season. - Evening Telegraph