Ex-QPR Snippets: Danny Cullip Goes Non-League...Tony Thorpe Update...Marcus Bignot Q&A

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The Argus- Former Albion skipper joins Lewes
Lewes have confirmed the signing of former Albion skipper Danny Cullip.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Fulham, Brentford, Sheffield United, Watford, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Gillingham, has signed a two-year contract at the Dripping Pan.
Manager Kevin Keehan said: "I am really pleased to have signed Danny and would like to thank our title sponsors, Magic Man, for their help in bringing Danny to Lewes.
"I have two more quality signings I hope to make in the near future and then we will be ready for the coming season. The Argus


Tony Thorpe Update -Halesowen Town FC/Greg Shelton - Tony deal way off Thursday 10th July 2008
A deal to bring former QPR and Reading striker Tony Thorpe to the Grove is still a long way off according to Yeltz player coach Darren Caskey, with defensive cover being the priority.
The 33-year-old centre forward, who during an illustrious career moved from Fulham to Bristol City for £1m back in 2002, has been training with Halesowen Town during pre-season.
However, hopes of a deal to bring a striker who has scored more than 150 goals during his professional career to the Grove are not top of the agenda says Caskey.
He said: “Tony is a friend of mine and Morell’s and we just invited him down to training.
“A deal to bring him here is probably not going to happen in the near future but is something that may happen at a later date.
“Our priority at the moment is a centre half.” ... Halesowen News


Interview with Ex-QPR, Marcus Bignot
Southwark News -MARCUS THINKING BIG

...THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD Marcus Bignot has fired back into pre-season after the summer break with renewed vigour and a determination to get the Lions off to a winning start come August.

With the first week of the gruelling pre-season that manager Kenny Jackett promised well-underway; the veteran former QPR full back has talked himself into contention for the vice-captaincy - a possibility that very few could question.

Do you see yourself as the granddad of the squad now that Richard Shaw has stepped up into a coaching role?
In terms of looks; I'm obviously still down with kids. But this fresh season is a chance for me to stamp my authority on the squad and have an effect not just on match days, but off the field and around the training ground.

We have got a lot of good, young players in the squad but I will be looking for the senior players around to step up to the plate and show them how. It is a matter of setting standards and examples, to prevent us having a season like last year.

What is the spirit like back after the summer?
The gaffer has laid the law down and said it will be very tough leading up to the Ireland tour. And with three sessions a day as standard; he is not messing around.
We are expected in at 7.15am for a 7.30am sharp start for a session before breakfast, then another before lunch, before a final session towards the end of the day.
The gaffer has drummed in the emphasis on getting a good start and being ready from the get-go as it sets you up for a season.

Do you expect to walk into the right back slot with Danny Senda out until Christmas?
While I believe in my ability to play in the first team, I would never be narrow-minded enough to think I will walk into a position or not be in direct competition with any individual. No-one is guaranteed a place in the team - you fight to wear the shirt and pre-season brings a fresh start for everyone - including me.

How are the new faces around the training ground settling in?
I had to have a chuckle at the 'keepers. There isn't a more competitive role in football than between the sticks, as there is only one jersey to fight for.
Yet, the camaraderie between them is there from the word go, which I find remarkably strange. With Dave [Forde], Lenny [Pidgeley] and Preston [Edwards] all ripping into each other and biting each other’s ear off - just a comedy sight. It was Ash's [Ashley Grimes] first day and he seems fine, but there is nothing quite like three sessions a day to bring a squad together.

How important are the results or performances in pre-season?
For me, you can't read into pre-season. I have had winless pre-seasons and then got off to a blinder and the same the other way around.
Pre-season is about getting the conditioning right of the body and the mind, being mentally ready. If there was a formula for pre-season then everybody would be doing it, but there isn't and it is about getting right for the set of players you have.
I remember with QPR a while back when we had a tour of Ibiza and lots of people pointed fingers about whether that was the right thing to do - but then we won six games on the bounce and it was forgotten.

What do you realistically expect from the season?
Every club, player, manager, supporter will set the same expectation in this league - promotion. There is a process of getting there and it's a matter of taking that process one step at a time.
Good pre-season. First game and first win. Develop a good start. And you really cannot look beyond that and the rest will take care of itself.

Talking of squad cohesion and coming together, can one individual disrupt that? Darren Byfield?
You can go a long way on team spirit alone and that's one thing the gaffer definitely wants. I've come across players that do disrupt dressing rooms in the past. Whoever the manager looks at; he will have done his homework, looked at the background and will be confident that the player is right and ready to take the team forward. Southwark News