Snippets: "Back to Work" for QPR Players...Foodtime...Flashbacks: Two Years to Waddock and Paladini Looking Forward...Mike Sheron Joins QPR.

-
Update: Photos from today's first day back on the job.

Back To Work: It's back to work today (today or tomorrow!) for QPR players...The players will be joined by the four new sigings made since the end of last season, with three more supposedly coming this week (according to both messageboard rumours - and QPR Sporting Director Gianni Paladini! Still officially at the club are a handful of players that one might have thought would have moved on. Today is actually the last day of players' contracts, so presumably throughout football, the transfer floodgates will now open!


UPDATE II: NEW CATERING for the Players
OFFICIAL SITE - FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It's all change at the Club's Harlington Training Complex, with the introduction of new caterers. At the request of Chairman Flavio Briatore, the Club have introduced new caterers from one of London's top restaurants - and the early feedback appears to be very positive.
"It's the best food I've tasted for a long while here," Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth told www.qpr.co.uk. "The taste and the flavours are exceptional and all the lads are delighted with it."
Coupled with the new-look gymnasium and the on-going refurbishments at Loftus Road, it appears the Club are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit for perfection this season. QPR


Flashback: Two Years Ago
OFFICIAL SITE REPORT ON Waddoci-Paladini PRESS CONFERENCE
Flanked by Chairman Gianni Paladini, Gary Waddock met the press today (Friday) for the first time since being appointed R's manager.
After being named as Ian Holloway's successor on Wednesday afternoon, Waddock oversaw his first training session yesterday, before taking time out this morning to meet the national press.
"It's my dream job - without a doubt,'' said Waddock.
"I've played and coached the Club and this is the final step for me.
"It's good for everyone that the situation is resolved; for me, the Club and for Ian Holloway - the timing is great.''
Waddock revealed he has tried calling Ollie to wish him all the best, saying: "I've tried ringing Ian, but the phone has been engaged non stop. I'll try him again today, because I genuinely wish him all the best at Plymouth - except when we play them!''
Waddock continued: "It was a great experience last season. I learnt a lot in that period of time as Caretaker and it should stand us in good stead for next season.
"The players are back and the buzz is back. We've got a fantastic set-up and we're all really looking forward to the new campaign.
"Our first league game is the one I'm really looking forward to. The next game is always the most important in football.
"We've got to be realistic, but we - the staff and the players - think we can drastically improve on last season.
"There are some big, big sides in the Championship, spending a lot of money, but we believe the players we've signed, and those we're targeting, can take us to the next level.
"We'd love to go out and match the spending power of the Coventry's and Birmingham's of this division, but we need to balance the books at the same time.''
Paladini also expressed his delight at the appointment, commenting: "I trust Gary, I believe in him and I'm sure he can take this Club to a new level; back to where I and the fans think we belong.
"We made the decision that Gary was the natural replacement. They type of football he plays is fantastic; his attitude is second to none; and he's QPR through and through.
"Myself and the board aim to take this Club forward and with Gary in charge we're confident that will be the case.
"This is a new era for the Club. We're trying to put this Club back to where it belongs.
"Our aim, our ambition is to make the play-offs. You've got to set yourself targets and that is our aim. It might not happen immediately, but if you don't set yourself targets there is nothing to aim for.''
Paladini also reserved praise for Holloway, saying: "I'm glad for Ian and I'd like to thank him for the job he's done here. I wish him all the best at Plymouth.
"He was fantastic for this Club, but things change. The past is the past and we're focusing on the future. That's what counts most now.''
Paladini also revealed that the search for new players in continuing: "We're still on the look out for players.
"We're interested in one who has played in the World Cup and one who is with a Premiership side, but we'll have to wait and see.
"We'll not take any risks. We've got a few irons in the fire, but until we're convinced by the players 100 per-cent, we won't sign them.''
And finally, Paladini had a message for the fans: "The board is united, the Club is together. We're working towards being financially stable and I can definitely say that any problems we had in the past are now firmly behind us.
"We're moving forward for the good of this Club. Success breeds success and I'm confident that under the guidance of Gary Waddock, his staff, and the players, we can progress" QPR


And 'Flashbacking' Eleven Years ago (tomorrow) to one of those "ruinous" signings
QPR's Record Signing: Stoke's Mike Sheron-
July 1st, 1997, after a "bidding war" with Birmingham, QPR's Stuart Houston paid Lou Macari's Stoke some 2.5 million pounds for their forward, Mike Sheron. Still our record signing (hopefully to be broken soon!). Joining up with John Spencer and Trevor Sinclair (and a recovering Kevin Gallen), the "on paper" unbeatable forward line, looked a good for promotion. Unfortunately not! Sheron's signing really marked the beginning of the end.
Some 18 months later, after 56 league games and 13 goals, Gerry Francis sold him to Barnsley for 1 million pounds plus (in part to cut down on QPR wages).
After playing for a number of other clubs, Sheron was recently appointed youth team manager at Bury (after previously being in charge of Bury's Center of Excellence... QPR