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Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - No back-up plan for Gorkss battle
QPR have no plans to enter the transfer market for another defender if their protracted attempt to sign Kaspars Gorkss falls through.
Rangers have been trying to lure the Latvian international from Blackpool all summer, but are yet to tie up the £250,000 deal - even though Gorkss has joined them for pre-season training.
The proposed move has been coated with controversy after Blackpool accused their Championship rivals of an illegal approach and submitted a complaint to the Football League.
Rangers boss Iain Dowie told the Times: "I don't think there is a Plan B, but there are plenty of other options here - we've got Damion Stewart, Fitz Hall, Matt Connolly and Zesh Rehman.
"Yes, we'd like to get Kaspars here. We've put a bid on that we believe is the right bid, given the clause in his contract, and I felt that was fine.
"Certainly I haven't talked to anyone untoward, but this is obviously rumbling on and that's for people in a higher position than me to deal with.
"We've made our choice and we hope to see it over the line, but we'll have to wait and see."
The 26-year-old centre-back joined Blackpool from Ventspils in his homeland 18 months ago, becoming a key figure as the Seasiders gained promotion and established themselves in the Championship last season.
He attracted the attention of QPR after his performance - and headed goal - in the Lancashire side's 3-2 defeat at Loftus Road towards the end of the campaign.
Whether or not Gorkss becomes a member of Rangers' squad, Dowie is expecting to have a clearer picture of his preferred starting 11 after they return from next week's trip to Scotland.
The Rs are up against SPL duo Falkirk on Saturday (3pm) and Kilmarnock on Tuesday (7.45pm) before returning to Loftus Road for their only home pre-season friendly, against Chievo a week on Saturday.
"Falkirk and Kilmarnock will be good games, then we're into Chievo and by then we'll be looking to bullet down the team," said the QPR manager.
"Don't forget we'll miss Martin Rowlands for three games and [Rowan] Vine and [Akos] Buzsaky won't be available. But come Chievo, we shouldn't be far away from what my starting line-up will be. Kilburn Times
Blackpool Gazette -By Steve Canavan - Danny Nardiello
DANIEL Nardiello has revealed he expects to leave QPR before the start of the season - and could come to Blackpool.
The Wales striker, 25, has been lined up to move to Blackpool as part of the deal which will see Seasiders centre half Kaspars Gorkss go in the opposite direction.
Pool and QPR have been negotiating for a month about the transfer but it is expected to happen before the start of the season, and it appears that Nardiello knows it too.
"There's things going on - negotiations and things like that," said the former Barnsley and Manchester United frontman.
"I can't really say I'm going to be here in the near future. I think I'll be getting off. I've just got to sort a few things out."
Blackpool accused QPR of making an illegal approach to Gorkss after the west London club moved to sign him at the end of last season.
However, the centre half is training with Rangers and the transfer is expected to go through.
Pool will receive £250,000 plus Nardiello. There is also the possibility that another QPR player could arrive at Bloomfield Road as part of the deal, with Zesh Rehman and Chris Barker's names also being mooted. Blackpool Gazette
Mirror - Birmingham tell QPR Martin Taylor is staying
Birmingham have told QPR to forget about signing Martin Taylor after assuring the defender he will play a key role in their bid for promotion.
Centre-back Taylor, 28, received death threats after accidentally breaking
Arsenal star Eduardo's leg and dislocating his ankle in February.
But Blues' manager Alex McLeish says Taylor will be useful after relegation to the Championship, despite picking him just once after the player returned from suspension.... Mirror