Snippets: Dowie Optimism... Preston Deny Whalley...Halmosi to Hull will Cost More

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QPR Official Site - DOWIE: 'LETS START AS WE MEAN TO CONTINUE'
Iain Dowie insists Rangers will cope with the loss of midfield maestro Akos Buzsaky and is determined to see his players hit the ground running in early August.
Buzsaky will miss the start of the season owing to ankle surgery, but the R's gaffer insists he has the squad to cope with the absence of a player he describes as 'top quality.'
"Akos is a top quality player - there's no doubt about that," he said.
"He scores goals, creates chances and is a forward-thinking, offensive player, but we can cope with his absence.
"Of course, it's a big blow and with Martin Rowlands missing too early on it's a double blow, but we've got a decent group of players here."
Following Monday's fixtures release, Dowie added: "We need to start as we mean to continue. "A good start can do wonders for the confidence and that's what we're aiming for. QPR


Lancashire Evening Post/Brian Ellis - Preston rubbish Whaley to QPR reports
Preston North End have rubbished reports that mega-rich Queens Park Rangers have made a bid for flying winger Simon Whaley.
And chairman Derek Shaw assured fans: "He's not for sale anyway."
Rangers are said by one national newspaper to have offered £500,000 for the 23-year-old as new boss Iain Dowie splashes the club's new-found wealth on building a squad for promotion.
Whaley is supposedly on a list of targets which also includes strikers Bobby Zamora, Kevin Phillips and Fredy Eastwood and a
selection of other talent like Blackpool centre-half Kaspars Gorkss.
But, while North End have a general policy of not talking about speculation, Shaw was happy to quash the rumours over the former Bury wideman.
"I don't know anything about these stories, but they aren't true," he told the Evening Post.
"The trouble is a report like that pops up somewhere and before you know it, everyone is running with it.
"Let me tell you, we have not had any contact from Queens Park Rangers for Simon.
"Without a doubt he is a player that Alan Irvine would like to hang on to, one of the first-team squad members he would wish to keep. There are players who he might consider moving on, but Simon Whaley is certainly not one of them."
Whaley ended last season on the bench after being ousted from the right-wing role by Chris Sedgwick and then replaced by Lewis Neal after a spell filling in on the left.
The midfielder, who can also play up front, arrived at Deepdale in January 2006 and has made more than 100 appearances for the club in two-and-a-half years, scoring 16 times. Lancashire Evening Post


Hull Daily Mail - Hull must increase Halmosi bid
Hull City have been told they must increase their £2m valuation of Peter Halmosi as Plymouth Argyle start their fight to retain his services.
The left-winger has been the subject of interest from the Tigers as Phil Brown looks to strengthen his squad ahead of a first Premier League season.
Halmosi, 28, is understood to head a list of creative midfielders with a fee mooted in the region of £2m.
QPR and Sheffield United are also understood to have made their interest known, but Plymouth will not see the Hungarian star leave without a fight.
With two years remaining on his current contract, the Pilgrims are believed to be holding out for a sum closer to £3m for Halmosi's services. This is Hull


Plymouth Herald: TIGERS CONFIRM HALMOSI INTEREST
"HULL CITY boss Phil Brown has confirmed his interest in Plymouth Argyle's midfield star Peter Halmosi. Brown is prepared to pay around £2 million to take the talented Hungarian international to the newly-promoted Premier League club.
Hull have sounded out Argyle about the transfer fee they would want for Halmosi, but have yet to submit an offer. Herald Sport understands that Argyle would want at least £2.5m for Halmosi, who is contracted to the club until June 2010.....
...Argyle have been in negotiations this close season with Sam Stapleton – the agent of Halmosi and Timar – about contract extensions for the two Hungarians.
Only last week, Pilgrims' boss Paul Sturrock described the talks as 'very positive' and it is thought they are still continuing. Stapleton was unavailable for comment when Herald Sport tried to contact him yesterday.... Plymouth Herald