-
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Gigi won't cut off Gaz supply yet
QPR boss Luigi de Canio has reassured new club captain Gareth Ainsworth that his playing days are far from finished.
The winger has not appeared for Rangers' first team since their FA Cup defeat at Chelsea six weeks ago and assisted with coaching duties from the dugout when De Canio was absent due to a recent bereavement.
The manager selected Ainsworth as club captain after allowing Adam Bolder to join Sheffield Wednesday on loan and, although the player's current contract runs out in the summer, he remains an integral member of the Rs' squad.
"The gaffer's said I'm still involved in his plans as a player and that's great to hear," Ainsworth told the Times. "His words were 'Gareth, I want you to lead this club off the pitch' and I regard that as a fantastic honour.
"I think he regards the role of club captain as an experienced figure who can be a link between himself and the players and voice his opinion.
"Steve Palmer, Kevin Gallen and Adam Bolder all played their fair share of games for the club and I'm not looking to stop now. Whether I'm at Loftus Road or walking around the town centre, I wear the badge with pride. "
Martin Rowlands - who, along with Ainsworth, is the club's longest-serving player - will captain the side even if both men are on the field at the same time.
Bolder was appointed skipper at the start of the season by previous manager John Gregory, but joined the Hillsborough club on loan recently and is likely to move on a permanent basis at the end of the season. Kilburn Times
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