Ben Watson Update...Paul Bruce, QPR Coach? ...Nardiello and Gorkss...Criticizing Gulf Air Sponsorship...Shimmin...ABC Analysis...

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Ben Watson - "Birmingham Post - Meanwhile, Birmingham could lose out in the race to sign Ben Watson after Queens Park Rangers submitted an improved offer of around £2m for the Crystal Palace midfielder. Nottingham Forest are also considering bidding for a player who is one of the hottest properties in the Championship. Birmingham were last week unsuccessful with an offer of £1.5m." Birmingham Post

Meanwhile... Croydon Today - Warnock: Watson won't play
Eagles boss Neil Warnock has revealed that wantaway midfielder Ben Watson will not play for the club while his future remains in limbo.
The former England U21 international rejected a new Eagles deal earlier this summer, a contract that Warnock says would have made Watson the best paid player at the club.
The 22-year-old has been heavily linked with moves to QPR and Birmingham in recent weeks, with a fee of around £2 million believed to be good enough for Warnock to let the midfielder leave.
Watson has not featured in Palace's previous three pre-season friendlies - and speaking to the Advertiser, Warnock revealed that the red-headed midfielder's absence will continue. He said: “Ben won't play for the club while he remains in the current situation - he has rejected our offer of a contract and as far as I know wants to leave. But, to be honest, it's not something I worry about. This is Croydon


Somewhat strange (if true): Paul Bruce Back to QPR?
Hearts Advertiser "...The future of experienced midfielder Paul Bruce remains unclear. The former Dagenham & Redbridge man has not featured for City in pre-season and has been offered a coaching role at Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. The 30-year-old scored seven league goals for City last term..." Herts Advertiser

St Albans Official Site:
"...Paul Bruce was again absent and at present his chances of appearing for City in the coming months are rated as no more than 50/50. The former City captain has been offered a position coaching the academy at Queens Park Rangers and is currently mulling over the proposition. Even if he should move to Loftus Road it is hoped that City could retain his registration and call upon his services when he is available and fit." St Albans

[- Dagenham/Paul Bruce Profile


Praise for Nardiello and Rehman
Blackpool Gazette - New boys are class acts, says Pool boss
Daniel Nardiello and Zesh Rehman will be huge additions to the Seasiders squad – that's the view of Simon Grayson.
The Seasiders chief believes he has signed two high quality players who can play a big part in ensuring Pool have a successful Championship campaign.
Grayson has spoken in more detail about the two new boys, who have arrived at Bloomfield Road as part of the deal which saw Kaspars Gorkss go in the opposite direction.
He reckons he can help Nardiello recapture the scoring form he displayed at Barnsley, where he netted 28 goals in 55 starts.
And he claims he is such a big fan of Rehman's that he was trying to sign him earlier in the summer, before QPR had even launched a bid for Gorkss.
"Zesh is someone who can play right back, centre back and in midfield and he's a player that we spoke about earlier in the summer, even before the Kaspars Gorkss situation came around," revealed Grayson. "His utility and versatility will be very useful for us.
"As for Danny he is hard working with an eye for goal and we like those kind of players. I want people who work hard for the team.
"It has always been the case that we needed some strikers and at this moment in time with two injured (Stephen McPhee and Steve Kabba) it highlights that.
"He had a frustrating period last year at QPR but the year before he got quite a lot of goals at Barnsley and hopefully we can help him recapture that sort of form and those fitness levels and he can get the goals that can earn us some points in the Championship."
Grayson added: "A big thing with both the players is that they were very keen to come here.
"They have impressed us with their attitude and I am delighted to get the pair of them."
Nardiello and Rehman will make their Pool debuts at Tranmere on Saturday in the final pre-season workout.Blackpool Gazette


Chutzpah! Gulf Daily News/Geoffrey Bew - "Downward flight'
BAHRAIN's national carrier Gulf Air is on a flight path to financial ruin, unless it completely overhauls its business strategy and management team, according to an MP. Parliament's financial and economic affairs committee head Abdulhaleem Murad based this on the airline's 2009-2013 financial plan, which was allegedly leaked to the media and shows it is set to lose BD131 million this year....Mr Murad also criticised Gulf Air's sponsorship of the English Championship football team Queens Park Rangers (QPR), which he described as pointless. "If it was a well-known and high-profile team we would have welcomed it but nobody knows them," he said. "Why not sponsor a team from Bahrain?..."
Gulf Daily News


4TheGameBuddies to decide on Shimmin
Wednesday 30 Jul 2008
St Mirren boss Gus MacPherson is still to decide whether to offer a permanent contract to former Arsenal trainee Dominic Shimmin who is currently on trial at Love Street.
An unnamed Spaniard is also on trial with the Buddies as MacPherson continues to look at ways of strengthening his squad.
MacPherson said: "We've had a chat with Shimmin and we've said we'd like to have another look at him.
"We'll give him some more time on the park before we make a final decision.
Get bang up to date with all the latest transfer rumours and tell us your own gossip right here... "It's the same with the Spanish lad that we had over in Italy."
Shimmin played four games for QPR after being released by Arsenal and ended last season with Crawley Town. 4theGame


Clive Whittingham/Loft for Words "This week - have QPR bid farewell to the ABC loan?" - on ABC Loan and pre-season and players Loft for Words