Rehman on Being Freed by QPR...Other QPR Snippets

-
- Want to be quickly in the know with QPR developments? Then visit the combination news and messageboard site: QPR Report Messageboard. With a football-only focus. No politics. No ad-hominems. Just news; eclectic articles and hopefully, interesting perspectives!


[Zesh Reman blogs about being freed - but without actually mentioning QPR!]
Zesh Rehman - Setanta The end of player power?
- This is the first time in my career that I have been a free agent in the off-season and I view it as a positive as it means a potential club will not have to pay a fee for me and can save some money.
-In the current climate, I would say the power has shifted in favour of the clubs as they have a large pool of unattached players to choose from. At Bradford, where I spent the second half of the season on loan, seven or eight players have not had their contracts renewed due to the way the game is going and clubs having smaller squads and budgets to operate on next season.
- I thoroughly enjoyed my three months at Bradford, playing 17 games in four positions and also making positive inroads with the local Asian community in terms of improving integration and cohesion. The number of Asian fans increased largely due to the groundwork of visiting the local schools and speaking to the kids first hand. Everyone from the chairman, manager, fans and local community made me feel at home.
- I have spoken to a few clubs but did not get the same feeling for them as I did for Bradford, and to be fair they are not probably bigger clubs than Bradford even though they are in a higher league.
- Clubs let you know their interest by either contacting you directly or enquiring via your agent if you have one. There is no set time in how quickly a deal can be concluded, it comes down to both parties, the player and the club being happy with the deal. Deals have been known to break down at the final hurdle due to small details, small details that could be the difference maker to the player or the club. On the other hand, talks can stop early if a player’s wage demands are too high or the club’s offer is too low. It’s all about reaching a sensible compromise.
- Luckily, I have had a few offers from clubs to choose from. However these are uncertain and anxious times for lots of players up and down the country who are looking for a club. Some clubs will have two or three targets for each position so the competition is fierce.
- In the off-season it’s down to the individual players to keep fit by doing runs, going to the gym and generally keeping things ticking over. It’s important to have a rest to allow the body and mind to recover. Most clubs provide the players with a program to stick to and it’s up to the player to be professional and return in shape. If you don’t, you will soon be found wanting!
- I tend to have a few weeks of resting and then start slowly to get things going again so I can return in decent shape. I am looking forward to pre-season and, ideally that will be at Bradford, as I loved my time at the club and really settled in well. Hopefully, a good deal can be concluded fairly soon so I can hit the ground running next season and embrace all the challenges on and off the pitch" Setanta


- Team QPR Racing Team Rumour


- Supposed QPR Managerial Target, Jimmy Calderwood Explains Why He Left Aberdeen


- Sad but inspiring Tale of Ex-player Danny Wallace who has MS


- "Former Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd is hoping to beat Jim Magilton for the QPR manager's job." BBC Gossip - Daily Star"


- QPR's recently-released 20 year old goalie, Reece Crowther has signed for the New Zealand team, Wellington Phoenix. Crowther signs


- The 2009-2010 Championship and Bookie's Promotion Odds


- Damien Stewart scored a late equalizer for Jamaica in a friendly against low-ranked Haiti - Match Report


- Dani Parejo Speaking About Real Madrid


Antonio Caliendo's Golden Foot 2009 Awards: The Nominees Were Announced


- Coming up to Six Weeks Since Club Officials Met with the QPRFan "coalition" OneQPR. Still no Report posted.


- 92 Clubs 92 Hours" Charity Effort Mission Accomplished - Photos! -- Photos from all 92 Clubs


- Top Ten Training Ground Fights


- The Gianni Paladini Appreciation Society


- 2009-2010 QPR Schedule - QPR add Wycombe Latest Friendly


- Also Six Months Since Long-Serving Club Secretary Sheila Marson was "terminated" by QPR


- 1979 Video of Loftus Road & Link to Fascinating Football Grounds Website


- Danny Wallace with MS Feature


- Congratulations to Burnley


- The England Squad for the next two games has been announced


- QPR co-owner, Bernie Ecclestone taking credit for "finding" QPR

Bernie Ecclestone Interviewed in Gulf News
- ".....What about your interests in football?
"- Yes I persuaded Flavio Briatore to join me and put some money into buying Queens Park Rangers, the old and long-established club that had fallen on hard times. I had a look at buying Chelsea - but it was too complicated an issue and needed far too much effort to sort out the books. Liverpool,too, and Manchestyer United were considerations, too, but in the end I figured I lived too far away ... 200 or so miles ... to buy into teams so distant from my home in London. I didn't fancy the idea of traipsing up and down the country on top of all the travelling I do on F1 business.
- When I approached Flavio with the proposal he thought it was a restaurant we'd be buying! No kidding. But he was just as excited as me when I told him it was a football team.
- I have since become a friend of Roman Abramovich who took up where I left off and bought Chelsea. And I often share his box at Stamford Bridge or fly off in my own plane to watch them when they are playing overseas. I must say I never would have believed it, but I am real big soccer fan now. I used to say that if the two greatest teams in the world were playing in my back garden I wouldn't be bothered to watch them. Not now. I'm hooked on the game.... Gulf News


Briatore's Perspective: Charles Sale/Daily Mail - QPR bosses got me wrong, says Flavio
- Renault motor racing boss Flavio Briatore has pledged his long-term commitment to Championship club Queens Park Rangers, despite the crazy turmoil at Loftus Road since he took charge 18 months ago.
- Briatore, at the Monaco Grand Prix, says: ‘I believe that I can successfully run a Formula One team and a football club. I have only had a short time in football and now is not the time to judge me. That’s for the future, as I have no intention of quitting QPR.’
- The 59-year-old Italian, who had his 29-year-old TV hostess wife Elisabetta Gregoraci on his arm, says he’s been wrongly portrayed as interfering in team affairs, although every QPR boss claims he does.
- The fact that Briatore had different views about strikers Gavin Mahon and Dexter Blackstock from those of Iain Dowie and Paulo Sousa was pivotal to both managers’ departures. But Briatore claims: ‘I send emails but I don’t get in the way. Dowie was the only manager I sacked. Sousa was dismissed for breach of contract. We have had so many applicants to be our new manager and we will decide soon.’ Daily Mail


Borrowdale Flashback: November 26 -QPR Official Site - BORROWDALE JOINS ON LOAN
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club is pleased to confirm the emergency loan signing of Coventry City defender Gary Borrowdale.
- The 23 year-old left back has put pen to paper on a deal until 31st December 2008, and is in contention to make his R's debut against former Club, Crystal Palace, on Saturday.
- Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, Borrowdale expressed his delight at the move, commenting: "I'm really pleased to be here - it's a great move for me.
- "Things have gone a bit stale for me since the change in management at Coventry, but I've got every belief in my own ability and I'm confident I'll be a success here."
- Borrowdale added: "It's a fresh start for me and I'm looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead." QPR


-Six months ago today: Helguson Finally (truly) signed on Loan for QPR. (Only from Bolton did one learn that "Helguson has finally completed a loan move." From QPR's Official site, one would never have known there had been any difficulties in the process after QPR had announced the deal as completed the previous week.)