QPR REPORT: June 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

QPR Back in Training Tomorrow...Zesh Rehman "Ambassador"...Other Football News

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For genuinely cutting-edge, continually-updated, news about QPR (and football in general): Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. And only QPR and football! All posters and all views welcome!

- Top Ten Loan Players Available

- Southampton in Trouble

- Flashback: Linked-to-Swansea John Harbin's Column "One More Round"

- The 1969/1970 Season- Memories

- QPR Official Site on QPR Lotto Sportswear at Wimbledon Tennis

- Delaney to Ipswich? "Ipswich boss Roy Keane is close to completing a £1m deal for QPR full-back Damien Delaney." BBC Gossip/(Daily Star)

- Di Matteo Supposed WBA Frontrunner

- Nottingham Forest sign McCormack AND Adebola....Nott F Still Supposedly Want Blackstock

- Notts County "Secret" Takeover Accepted

- Barnsley: Information Wanted by Police: Update

- Flashback: Then QPR Chairman Bill Power & CEO Mark Devlin Q&A re Ticket Prices and QPR Finances

- Flashback: New Manager Waddock and Chairman Paladini Press Conference

Zesh Rehman Blog - June 30 - World Cup Bid Ambassador
- "I am delighted and honoured to accept an offer from Lord David Triesman at The FA to become an ambassador for Englands bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. I hope to help the campaign in whatever that I can and hope its a success. England is one of 9 competitors bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament. My role will enatail attending and participating in selected bid functi0ns that will take place over the course of the campaign" Zesh Reman Blog

QPR Official Site Back in Training -
THE BOYS ARE BACK ON WEDNESDAY
- Jim Magilton will oversee his first training session as the new QPR Manager when the R's First Team squad report back for pre-season training on Wednesday morning.
- With the exception of Damion Stewart who is on CONCACAF Gold Cup duty with Jamaica, the entire squad will be put through their paces at Harlington - and the new R's gaffer can't wait to get started.
- "There are butterflies in the stomach," Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk.
- "I'm buzzing and so are the rest of the staff. It's the realisation that the summer is over and the new season is upon us."
- Magilton is a firm believer in making a big first impression - and that applies for him, as well as the players.
- "We need to set the tone from the very first session," he said.
- "First impressions are massive for me and that applies for all of us. I want to make an impression on the boys and I'm sure they'll want to do the same to me.
- "As players, you want to know where you fit into the Manager's thought process - where you are in the pecking order if you like. For that reason alone, all the lads will want to lay down a marker."
- And if the R's players needed reminding of the hard work that a pre-season campaign brings, Magilton added: "It's time to get the sand out of their flip-flops and get to work. QPR

- The QPR Accounts
- Excerpts from the 30+ page QPR Annual Report - Including Chairman (Briatore's) Report
- Discuss the Accounts I or Discuss the Accounts II

- Ex-QPR Players: Where Are They Now?
- Summer Transfers: A Club-by-Club List of Transfers Ins and Outs (thus far)
- Key QPR Dates for 2009-2010
- Pre-season Friendlies: Ticket Prices
- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?
- Fulham Fans Still Hate QPR: (A lot less than they hate Chelsea, but just a little less than they hate Manchester United!
- The London Football Fan Census Findings re QPR
- Video: QPR 0 Arsenal 6!
- The 2008-2009 QPR Squad (as announced last July)
- Liverpool Area Masters Tournament Held: Liverpool Not the Winners!
- Ex-Derby CEO + Two Ex-Derby Directors Found Guilty - Updated
- Cardiff Set to spend a Million on Defender Dowie tried to Sign Last Year
- Ex-QPR Dean Parrett in England U-19 Championship Squad
- Remembering the England U-18 Team of 1993 (including the brilliant Day and the prolific Kevin Gallen)

40 Years Ago: QPR's Great 1969/1970 Season...Snippets

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For genuinely cutting-edge, continually-updated, news about QPR (and football in general): Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. And only QPR and football! All posters and all views welcome!

- Top Ten Loan Players Available

- Delaney to Ipswich? "Ipswich boss Roy Keane is close to completing a £1m deal for QPR full-back Damien Delaney." BBC Gossip/(Daily Star)
- Di Matteo Supposed WBA Frontrunner
- Nottingham Forest sign McCormack AND Adebola....Nott F Still Supposedly Want Blackstock
- Notts County "Secret" Takeover Accepted
- Barnsley: Information Wanted by Police: Update
- Flashback: Then QPR Chairman Bill Power & CEO Mark Devlin Q&A re Ticket Prices and QPR Finances
- Flashback: New Manager Waddock and Chairman Paladini Press Conference

The 1969/1970 Season- Memories
- Restoring our panache/morale after the humiliating 1968/69 relegation. Four wins and a draw from first five games....Eight wins, one draw and a loss from first 10 games.
- The two cup runs, reaching the Quarter Finals of the League and FA Cup before going out to the two winners...The highscoring Barry Bridges...The pre-season friendly vs Glasgow Rangers (and Rodney Marsh)...The pre-Season sale of Alan Glover
The record signing of Terry Venables (70K) and the return of Clive Clark (who was then sold to Preston a few months later). The signing of Vic Mobley(without the Sheff Wed manager being aware)...The signing of Mike Ferguson....The month suspension of Rodney Marsh...Gerry Francis starting to come to the fore...Final game of season debut of 16 year old Martyn Busby. The sale of Frank Clarke. Rodney Marsh being considered for the 1970 Mexico World Cup.

- Memorable victories: 6-1 over Blackpool at Loftus Road...the 1-0 FA Cup Win over Brian Clough's Derby County and over First Division Wolves in the League Cup.
- Some amazing losses: 6-4 at Bolton and 0-4 at home to Bolton.

- Players of the 1969/1970:- Mike Kelly, Ian Watson, Vic Mobley, Ron Hunt, Tony Hazell Dave Clement, Terry Venables, Barry Bridges, Frank Clarke, Rodney Marsh
- Others Mike Ferguson, Mick Leach, Ian Morgan, Clive Clark, Alan Harris, Framl Sibley, Alan Wilks, Turpie, Alan Spratley, Dave Metchick.

- PHOTOS & FURTHER MEMORIES of 1969/1970 - POST YOUR MEMORIES!

QPR 1969/1970 Results
(From Soccerbase)

LEAGUE CUP RUN
English League Cup Mansfield 2-2 QPR --
English League Cup QPR 4-0 Mansfield --
English League Cup QPR 6-0 Tranmere --
English League Cup QPR 3-1 Wolves --
English League Cup Man City 3-0 QPR --

FA CUP RUNEnglish FA Cup QPR 4-1 South Shields --
English FA Cup Charlton 2-3 QPR --
English FA Cup QPR 1-0 Derby --
English FA Cup QPR 2-4 Chelsea --

DIVISION TWO
English Division 2 (old) QPR 3-0 Hull 09-08-1969
English Division 2 (old) Preston 0-0 QPR 16-08-1969
English Division 2 (old) Watford 0-1 QPR 20-08-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 3-2 Millwall 23-08-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 6-1 Blackpool 26-08-1969
English Division 2 (old) Birmingham 3-0 QPR 30-08-1969

English Division 2 (old) QPR 4-2 Huddersfield 06-09-1969
English Division 2 (old) Portsmouth 1-3 QPR 13-09-1969
English Division 2 (old) Blackburn 0-1 QPR 17-09-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-0 Swindon 20-09-1969
English Division 2 (old) Cardiff 4-2 QPR 27-09-1969

English Division 2 (old) QPR 4-0 Middlesbro 04-10-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 0-0 Preston 07-10-1969
English Division 2 (old) Norwich 1-0 QPR 11-10-1969
English Division 2 (old) Carlisle 3-2 QPR 18-10-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 1-1 Charlton 25-10-1969

English Division 2 (old) Aston Villa 1-1 QPR 01-11-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-1 Sheff Utd 08-11-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-1 Watford 11-11-1969
English Division 2 (old) Bristol C 2-0 QPR 15-11-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 1-1 Leicester 22-11-1969
English Division 2 (old) Bolton 6-4 QPR 29-11-1969

English Division 2 (old) QPR 1-2 Oxford 06-12-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-0 Portsmouth 13-12-1969
English Division 2 (old) Millwall 2-0 QPR 26-12-1969
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-1 Birmingham 27-12-1969

English Division 2 (old) Swindon 0-0 QPR 10-01-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-1 Cardiff 17-01-1970
English Division 2 (old) Huddersfield 2-0 QPR 20-01-1970
English Division 2 (old) Middlesbro 1-0 QPR 31-01-1970

English Division 2 (old) Hull 1-2 QPR 14-02-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 4-0 Norwich 17-02-1970
English Division 2 (old) Sheff Utd 2-0 QPR 24-02-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 4-2 Aston Villa 28-02-1970

English Division 2 (old) QPR 0-4 Bolton 14-03-1970
English Division 2 (old) Oxford 0-0 QPR 21-03-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 0-0 Carlisle 27-03-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-2 Bristol C 28-03-1970
English Division 2 (old) Charlton 1-1 QPR 31-03-1970

English Division 2 (old) Blackpool 1-1 QPR 04-04-1970
English Division 2 (old) QPR 2-3 Blackburn 14-04-1970
English Division 2 (old) Leicester 2-1 QPR 18-04-1970
Soccerbase

1969/1970 Stats

FA CUP FIFTH ROUND: 1970 QPR vs Derby County

Click to Play http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=46026

Pathe News - QPR V DERBY 1970
Queens Park Rangers V Derby County. Loftus Road, London.

SV Queens Park Rangers kicking off, right to left, in shirts blue and white hoops and white shorts, against Derby County all red, at Loftus Road. Angle shot of QPR. attacking. GV No. 7 of Rangers shoots. Goalie makes good save. Goalkeeper throws out. SV Midfield play. GV Derby attacking. No. 3 of Derby pushes ball out to left wing. SV No. 11 of Derby on the wing. He centres. Pan across to show players running about in front of goal. SV No. 10, Rodney Marsh, of Rangers dribbling the ball towards Derby goal. M/S Rodney Marsh dribbling ball across field. GV Marsh loses the ball and Derby start an attack. CU Derby attacking No. 7 with the ball. He loses it, ball runs free to etc. Rangers player who starts another attack.

GV Rangers attacking. Ball pushed out to right wing. Angle shot Rangers player shoots, goalie saves, (N.M.) He doesn't hold the ball. It runs free to Derby defender. GV Derby clear. CU Mid field play. Derby in possession. Rangers player kicks up field. LS As ball moves towards Derby goal, beats goalkeeper but hits cross bar. It bounces back into play. Two players fight for the ball. CU Two players fighting for ball. Rangers come away with it. Angle shot Player coming down right wing for Rangers. Ball is crossed. GV As ball comes across It's headed on by Rangers forward. Marsh runs in and hits it into net, but goal disallowed. CU Cheering crowd.

GV Crowd at half time. Angle shot second half. Derby attacking. In front of goal. Ball bobs about in front of goal going from player to player. It's eventually headed towards goal. Goalie dives and saves. GV As goalie gets up and players run back up field. Low AS Goalie kicks up field. SV Midfield player, Rangers attacking. Balls pushed up field. GV As player runs onto the pass and pushes it towards goal. Ball deflected by Dave Mackay and runs into net. Zoom in to players jumping about and Dave Mackay picks ball out of net. Angle shot Players with their arms in air congratulating each other. GV Mass crowds cheering. GV Players walking off, with people running onto field.

Board Items Recently Posted

- The QPR Accounts
- Excerpts from the 30+ page QPR Annual Report - Including Chairman (Briatore's) Report
- Discuss the Accounts I or Discuss the Accounts II

- Ex-QPR Players: Where Are They Now?
- Summer Transfers: A Club-by-Club List of Transfers Ins and Outs (thus far)
- Key QPR Dates for 2009-2010
- Pre-season Friendlies: Ticket Prices
- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?
- Fulham Fans Still Hate QPR: (A lot less than they hate Chelsea, but just a little less than they hate Manchester United!
- The London Football Fan Census Findings re QPR
- Video: QPR 0 Arsenal 6!
- The 2008-2009 QPR Squad (as announced last July)
- Liverpool Area Masters Tournament Held: Liverpool Not the Winners!
- Ex-Derby CEO + Two Ex-Derby Directors Found Guilty - Updated
- Cardiff Set to spend a Million on Defender Dowie tried to Sign Last Year
- Ex-QPR Dean Parrett in England U-19 Championship Squad
- Remembering the England U-18 Team of 1993 (including the brilliant Day and the prolific Kevin Gallen)

Monday, June 29, 2009

QPR News Updates and Snippets

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Flavio Briatore's "Chairman's Report" in The QPR Annual Report/Accounts

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For genuinely cutting-edge, continually-updated, news about QPR (and football in general): Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. And only QPR and football! All posters and all views welcome! Recent articles/items of interest:

- See: The QPR Accounts
- Excerpts from the 30+ page QPR Annual Report

Queens Park Rangers Annual Report - 2008
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MAY 2008

- On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to present the annual financial statements and report for the year ended 30 May 2008 with a review of what has been a historic year for Queens Park Rangers Football Club. In November 2007, we saved the club from certain administration and completed the takeover of QPR Holdings Limited, with the clear aim of seeking promotion from the Championship to the Premier League. Shortly afterwards, we were pleased to announce that we had secured a 20% investment from the Mittal family.

We understand the QPR heritage and our role as fans, owners and custodians of the Club. We believe in being courageous in the development of the Club and in taking managed risks. At the same time we remain committed to developing the long-term sustainability of the Club through maintaining a business that pays its own way.

An important part of this development was the launch of a new club crest. The crest was designed to combine elements of the past, present and future of the Club. The new crest features the famous blue and white hoops, which appeared on the Club’s badge before it was redesigned in the early 1980s. The change is to be representative of our aim to re-launch the Club into a global brand.

On the Field
The 2007/08 season unfortunately commenced with the tragic death of rising star Ray Jones. The impact of this had a clear knock-on effect to the team performance at the start of the season, with no wins and 6 losses in the first 9 games. Following this poor start, we decided to part company with the first teamcoach, John Gregory. As an interim measure we appointed Mick Harford as Caretaker Manager before installing Luigi De Canio as first team coach. Luigi managed to guide QPR to 14th place, which represented an improvement on the previous season, when we finished 18th.

Following the end of the season Luigi De Canio departed bymutual consent and we appointed Iain Dowie as first teamcoach. However, after 15 games in charge achieving a points total of 18 and guiding QPR to the 4th round of the Carling Cup, we gave Iain notice to terminate his employment. Gareth Ainsworth took on the role of Caretaker Manager.

Disappointingly, we were knocked out of the first stages of the Carling and FA Cups by Leyton Orient and Chelsea respectively.

Player transfers
The key barometer of our success is the on-pitch performance and thus we intend to pursue a policy of investing surplus cash into team development. In the January 2008 transfer window, we invested heavily in the first team squad bringing in 8 new players – Patrick Agyemang fromPreston, Akos Buzsaky from Plymouth, Matthew Connolly fromArsenal, Hogan EphraimfromWest Ham, Gavin Mahon from Watford, Fitz Hall fromWigan, Rowan Vine from Birminghamand Damien Delaney fromHull.

Although such sweeping changes to the teamwill take a period of adjustment, these additional player signings to the first teamimproved our win ratio from24% pre-January to 38% post January.

During the summer transfer window, we took a prudent and measured approach to player signings by bringing in players through free transfers and loan deals, notably Kaspars Gorkss from Blackpool, Samuel Di Carmine from Fiorentina, Emmanuel Ledesma from Genoa, Daniel Parejo from Real Madrid and Lee Cook from Fulham. In addition, Simon Walton and Chris Barker were sold to Plymouth Argyle and 6 players were released fromtheir contracts.

Finally, five players were sent out on loan – Chris Barker to Plymouth (subsequently transferred), Lee Brown to AFC Hornchurch, Lee Camp to Nottingham Forest, Jake Cole to Oxford United and Zesh Rehman to Blackpool.

Commercial partners
The current financial year witnessed the end of many commercial arrangements including shirt sponsor, Car Giant and kit sponsor, Le Coq Sportif. After the year-end, we were delighted to welcome Gulf Air as our official shirt sponsor on a
two brands that have mutual objectives and desires tomove forward and embrace a global audience. In addition we attracted Lotto Sport Italia as our official kit sponsor on a five-year deal – a partnership that will benefit QPR on and off the pitch.

We also attracted a two-year sponsorship from Abbey, who will become the Club’s financial partner. The partnership will provide the financial group with a bespoke programme including joint branding at Loftus Road, access to players and senior staff and the use of the Club facilities throughout the year. Finally, we announced that leading producer and distributor of watches, Chronotech will be the official time keeper on a one-year deal. Their ethos on quality complements our desire to build an exciting and stylish future for the Club.

These deals will allow QPR tomove towards our objective of ensuring that QPR is financially self-sustaining.

In the close season, we invested heavily on refurbishing key areas of the stadium. We refurbished the VIP boxes, hospitality suites, club superstore, ticket office and seating, as well as improving disabled access and the viewing experience for fans by installing a jumbo screen and scoreboard.

As part of this major transformation, we re-branded our hospitality areas. The C Club is an exclusive club available to only 100 members, allowing members tomix with some of the highest profile business people in the world. The W12 club is a premiummembers club, available to a limited number, providingmatch day
hospitality unrivalled at other clubs.

Catering
We were excited to confirm that renowned international restaurateur Cipriani’s would provide the catering at the Loftus Road stadium for the coming season. The Cipriani empire boasts some of the best restaurants, bars and hotels in theWorld and QPR will be joining this illustrious list, providing our corporate guests with some of the finest food available. Cipriani’s will cater for the C and W12 members clubs, as
well as our VIP boxes.

Prospects
With 39 games played so far in the 2008/09 season, we have accumulated 53 points and sit in 11th place with a win ratio of 33%. In addition, we reached the 4th round of the Carling Cup drawn against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Off the field, our season ticket sales for the 2008/09 season were extremely encouraging. In fact, we took the decision to cap season ticket numbers at 10,000 before the start of the season. We also launched a new membership scheme
which has gone extremely well and we plan to launch a new quarterly magazine soon.

Our community scheme, which seeks to engage children through themediumof football, has reached over 50,000 individuals in the current year and the target next Season is to reach 100,000. The scheme aims to encourage physical activity whilst also tackling crime and anti-social behavior.

Subsequent to the year-end, the ABC Corporation loan that attracted an interest rate of 11.76%was repaid and refinanced in July 2008 with a loan fromAmulya Property Limited, a company with which Amit Bhatia and I are connected. The interest rate under the Amulya Loan is 8.5%.

The transformation in this Club since we completed the takeover has been immense. The
changes to the Club have been very important and will allow us to ease our transition to the Premier League.

I would like to pay tribute to the shareholders, fans and commercial partners for their continued support and dedication and I look forward to welcoming you to Loftus Road to what I hope will be a successful season

Flavio Briatore - Chairman [pages 6-8 Report]
The QPR Accounts

QPR to Bid for Southampton's Surman?... "Britain’s most boring football club, QPR"...Flashbacks: Gallen Axed....Waddock Appointed

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The QPR Annual Report - The Accounts

QPR Transfers...The Selling of Players...Fulham Fans Still Hate QPR...QPR "On This Day" Flashbacks

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For genuinely cutting-edge, continually-updated, news about QPR (and football in general): Visit the combination messageboard and quasi-blog QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. And only QPR and football! All posters and all views welcome! Recent articles/items of interest:
- Ipswich Goalie Might Have Quit if Magilton Had Stayed
- Video Flashback: De Canio's QPR FA Cup Tie vs Chelsea
- Summer Transfers: A Club-by-Club List of Transfers Ins and Outs (thus far)
- Mark Yeates Joins Middlesbrough - Flashback Mark Yeates's QPR Loan Halted by Injury
- Flashback I: One Year Ago Today: Ledesma Joins QPR
- Flashback II: Two Years Ago Today: Nardiello Joins QPR
- Flashback III: Two Years Ago today: Warren Neil Signs up and Three Years ago today: Justin Skinner in as coach while Manager Waddock looks forward with new signings Paul Jones, Damion Stewart, Nick Ward and Armel Tchakounte
- The Selling of Michael Owen: The Complete Brochure
- Burnley Fans Refuse Cash Refunds
- Six Defunct Cup Competitions
- Ex-Derby CEO and Two Ex-Derby Directors Found Guilty...ABC!

- Fulham Fans Still Hate QPR
"....[b]In a survey of the capital's supporters conducted by Football Fans Census, Chelsea topped the list as the team London fans love to hate.
[b]FULHAM
1st - Chelsea 66 per cent
2nd - Manchester United 12 per cent
3rd - QPR 11 per cent[/b] Fulham Fans Still Hate QPR

Daily Mirror/Football Spy - RANGERS TEMPT 'RETIRED' TUGAY
- Queens Park Rangers are trying to talk veteran Turkish midfielder Tugay (above) out of retirement.
- Tugay, 38, hung up his boots at the end of his Blackburn career last month, but QPR are discussing a one-year deal.
- He is currently starting his coaching badges and has an offer to work with the Ewood backroom staff. Mirror

Borrowdale or Connolly to "Replace" Delaney?
From The London Informer/Paul Warburton "....A [QPR] source said: "It appears Magilton thinks he already has a good left-back in Matt Connolly. And although every one has forgotten him, Gary Borrowdale has never been given a chance of a first-team place - and he's still a QPR player? - Article/Discuss!

David McIntyre/606 - If Delaney doesn't go, who will?
- QPR's attempt to sell Damien Delaney is a test of how easy it will be for them to offload players.
- For some of us, the concern has been that signing unspectacular players on lucrative long-term contracts is a worrying development and a case of repeating a previous regime's mistakes.
- Rangers found in the late 90s that wanting to sell players is one thing, actually selling them is another.
- To do that you usually need to find a club that will match the player's current wages, and once again QPR are in a position where this will not be easy.
- A number of those signed during the Chris Wright era fell out of favour and stayed until their contracts expired, despite various attempts to offload them.
- The financial repercussions were well documented, and the danger of the same happening again is real.
- But a few factors are in Rangers' favour this time around. Selling certain players will be difficult, but not impossible.
- There are Championship clubs with money and it's no accident that three of them - Ipswich, Newcastle and Cardiff - are being enthusiastically mentioned by QPR sources with regard to various players.
- These are the clubs Rangers need to show an interest, because not many outside of the Premier League are going to be able to offer their players anything like the kind of deal they're on at Loftus Road.
- Just as importantly, the likes of Delaney, Fitz Hall and Mikele Leigertwood - players Rangers would sell for the right price - are not Keith Rowland, Steve Slade or Sammy Koejoe.
- The current crop are mostly proven performers in the Championship and of genuine interest to various managers who have money to spend.
- This interest might be vastly exaggerated by QPR, but it does exist.
- The question is whether such managers could convince these players to move.
- In Delaney's case, Ipswich and Roy Keane surely can.
- Delaney is a good pro - not the type to let his career stagnate for the sake of a few quid - and Ipswich is an attractive club at the moment.
So if Rangers cannot offload him, it won't bode well for the club as it looks to recoup some cash to then improve the squad.
- The word from Rangers is that they have accepted a bid from Ipswich for Delaney, but Ipswich haven't confirmed this.
- Reports that Delaney is moving are mostly based on what is coming out of QPR, where Cardiff - who have money to spend after agreeing the sale of Roger Johnson - are now being touted as another interested club. We shall see.
- Keane doesn't tend to comment on such matters and while I've always found Delaney good to talk to, I don't know the guy so don't know how close he is to moving.
- I do know that Keane is definitely interested in him and has money to spend on a left-back, and that Rangers are willing to sell for an initial £750,000 rising to around £1m if Ipswich are promoted.
- And aside from wages, without going into specifics it seems from talking to various parties yesterday that this deal may not be a straightforward one. There could be obstacles that need to be overcome before Delaney can move on.
- There's also the issue of a replacement.
- Paulo Sousa wasn't popular with some for ignoring Gary Borrowdale, who is more likely to play at least some part this season.
- But a number of other left-backs are also being considered and a signing is likely if Delaney goes. BBC606

East Anglia Daily Times/Elvin King - Keane agrees fee for Rangers star
- IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane faces competition from Cardiff City in his attempt to bring left-back Damien Delaney to Portman Road.
- The Blues are believed to have agreed a fee of around £700,000 with Queens Park Rangers over the 27-year-old who was born in Keane's home town of Cork.
- Delaney appeared set to put pen to paper before the weekend, but it now looks as though it will be next week before Keane makes his first Town purchase.
- And then they will have to overcome interest from a Cardiff club bolstered financially by agreeing a £5million move for central defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City.
- Keane's predecessor at Portman Road, Jim Magilton, was an admirer of Delaney and showed interest in bringing him to Suffolk last season.
- It is understood that the deal to bring the defender to Ipswich was well on the way to being buttoned up before Magilton took over as Rangers manager earlier this summer.
- Magilton would have liked to have kept Delaney, but after being placed on the transfer list last season the player's future has been set to be away from Loftus Road for some while now.
- The former Town boss is on a coaching course this week, and it may now be Monday before any further moves concerning Delaney are made.
- Ipswich will not comment, but it is known that Keane sees left back as a priority as he seeks four players to strengthen his squad for the start of the 2009/10 campaign....
- Delaney started his career at Cork City and had spells with Leicester, where he would have been known to current Town coach Tony Loughlan, and Hull before joining QPR.
- He won two Republic of Ireland caps last year with the player replying when asked about Ipswich interest: “It's one thing to be wanted, it's another for clubs to agree a transfer.” East Anglia Daily Times

London Informer/Paul Warburton - Delaney set for Ipswich after U-turn
- QPR have made an about turn as they agreed last night (Wednesday) to sell Damien Delaney to Ipswich.
- The fee could eventually rise to £1million.
- Hoops weren't originally going to play ball with the club that sacked new manager Jim Magilton in April - as well as one who could thwart their own ambitions.
- But once Ipswich boss Roy Keane pressed home his case to take the man born in the same Irish city as him, Rangers agreed to take the money and run all the way to the bank.
- Delaney's deal will see Hoops get £750,000 up front, with a further £250,000 should his new club make it to a final top six place during his time there.
- It marks the end of a 17-month stint at Loftus Road for the 27-year-old, who has yo-yoed between rave reviews after becoming a £1m signing from Hull in January 2008, to being dropped as left-back last season in favour of Matt Connolly.
- Despite the Irish connection, Delaney barely knows Keane, even though they both hail from Cork.
- Earlier, when your favourite local paper broke the news to the man capped twice by his country that Ipswich were interested, Delaney described Keane as 'a legend' - and the man on the cusp of a switch to Portman Road had lost favour in west London.
- A source said: "It appears Magilton thinks he already has a good left-back in Matt Connolly. And although every one has forgotten him, Gary Borrowdale has never been given a chance of a first-team place - and he's still a QPR player." London Informer

London Informer - Ainsworth linked with switch to Port Vale
- PORT VALE are eyeing Gareth Ainsworth as their new player-assistant boss.
- Vale manager Micky Adams is considering a move for the 36-year-old, who enjoyed the first big move of his career when he was bought by the League Two club for a record £500,000 12 years ago.
- Ainsworth (pictured) enjoyed two stints as caretaker boss at Rangers last season and admitted he's got a taste for life on the touchline.
- He said: "As far as I know, I'm wanted as a player next season if Rangers want to keep me. But I had a great 13 months at Vale.
- "And it's not for me to comment further - but of course I would like to be involved in coaching in the future."
- Ainsworth was put in charge at Rangers when Iain Dowie was sacked in November and again when successor Paulo Sousa was shown the door in April.
- The winger is not thought to be a part of new boss Jim Magilton's plans on the coaching staff - especially as the new manager has already brought in John Gorman as his number two.
- Ainsworth, who at one time fronted a rock band playing gigs around Hammersmith pubs, has a year to go on his playing contract with Hoops. But he fondly remembers his playing days with Vale - and in particular a testimonial match when he was substituted at the same time as Vale fan Robbie Williams and hundreds of screaming girls rushed over to mob them.
- Ainsworth joked: "This was when Robbie was at his height - but I've always figured the screams were really for me in anticipation of my career as the front man of my own band." London Informer

- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?

- The London Football Fan Census Findings re QPR

- Key QPR Dates for 2009-2010

- Pre-season Friendlies: Ticket Prices

Friday, June 26, 2009

Ainsworth to Port Vale?

Cardiff Interest in Delaney and Gorkss? (and Liam Miller and Chad Evans) or Ipswich Signing Delaney?...Danny Maddix on Winning the London Masters

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- For truly cutting-edge, continually-updated, news about QPR (and eclectic items re football in general): Visit the combination, quasi-blog and messageboard QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. Only QPR and football! All posters; all views welcome!
- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?
- The London Football Fan Census Findings re QPR
- Briatore's F1 Focus
- Key QPR Dates for 2009-2010

- Two Ex-Derby Directors Found Guilty...A...B...C!
- Ex-QPR Simon Barker Member of the Sports Betting Integrity Panel
- The Notts County "Secret" Takeover
- The World Of the Sporting Director
- Ebbsfleet/Fan Ownership Update
- Iran Bans Protesting Players. FIFA Examining
- Horrible Strips

- Pre-season Friendlies: Ticket Prices

Delaney to Cardiff or Sheffield United? - South Wales Echo/Terry Phillips - Dave Jones poised for battle with Keane
- DAVE Jones is steeling himself for a million pound tug-of-war with Roy Keane.
- Ipswich Town manager Keane was poised to takeDamien Delaney from QPR – until Cardiff City expressed their interest in the Irish defender.
- Jones is also being linked with moves for Manchester United’s highly-rated young Irish defender Craig Cathcart on loan and Birmingham City’s Liam Ridgewell,.
- With Roger Johnson’s £5m sale to Birmingham completed yesterday, City moved quickly for Delaney, inset, who can play at left-back or centre-back.
- “Delaney was on his way to Ipswich Town, it looked certain the deal would go ahead without a hitch,” said a QPR insider. “That’s on hold while talks progress with Cardiff City.”
- Keane’s offer, which was accepted by QPR manager Jim Magilton, was £750,000 plus another £250,000 if Ipswich qualify for the Championship play-offs.
- Another £100,000 would be paid after Delaney’s 50th appearance.
- The Bluebirds are also keen on Cathcart, who has had loan spells with Royal Antwerp and Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
- The 6ft 3in Cathcart, a player Sir Alex Ferguson believes can make the grade, had a solid campaign with Argyle last season.
- Ridgewell’s place with Birmingham is under pressure now they have signed Johnson from City and Scott Danns from Coventry City. This is South Wales

Or Ipswich..." Lowestoft Journal - Ipswich agree fee for QPR star
- IPSWICH Town manager Roy Keane faces competition from Cardiff City in his attempt to bring left-back Damien Delaney to Portman Road.
- The Blues are believed to have agreed a fee of around £700,000 with Queens Park Rangers over the 27-year-old who was born in Keane's home town of Cork.
- Delaney appeared set to put pen to paper before the weekend, but it now looks as though it will be next week before Keane makes his first Town purchase.
- And then they will have to overcome interest from a Cardiff club bolstered financially by agreeing a £5million move for central defender Roger Johnson to Birmingham City.
- Keane's predecessor at Portman Road, Jim Magilton, was an admirer of Delaney and showed interest in bringing him to Suffolk last season.
- It is understood that the deal to bring the defender to Ipswich was well on the way to being buttoned up before Magilton took over as Rangers manager earlier this summer.
- Magilton would have liked to have kept Delaney, but after being placed on the transfer list last season the player's future has been set to be away from Loftus Road for some while now.
- The former Town boss is on a coaching course this week, and it may now be Monday before any further moves concerning Delaney are made.
- Ipswich will not comment, but it is known that Keane sees left back as a priority as he seeks four players to strengthen his squad for the start of the 2009/10 campaign.
- Ben Thatcher will miss the start of pre-season training on Thursday as he recovers from a medial knee ligament injury, but he should be fit for the start of the season on August 8.
- But there are no other regular left-backs in the Town squad although David Wright, Pim Balkestein and Tommy Smith can all play there.
- Delaney started his career at Cork City and had spells with Leicester, where he would have been known to current Town coach Tony Loughlan, and Hull before joining QPR.
- He won two Republic of Ireland caps last year with the player replying when asked about Ipswich interest: “It's one thing to be wanted, it's another for clubs to agree a transfer.” Lowestoft Journal

Cardiff City look to replace Roger Johnson
Jun 26 2009 by Terry Phillips, South Wales Echo
- DAVE Jones admits Cardiff City could not stand in the way of Roger Johnson’s move to the Premier League – but now faces the task of filling the considerable hole left at the heart of the Bluebirds defence.

Johnson’s £5m move to Birmingham City – which was completed yesterday – swells the coffers for Jones as he looks to fill the central defensive berths left by Johnson and Darren Purse, who moved to Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.

“We’ve been paid £5m for a player who cost us £275,000 when he was signed from Wycombe Wanderers,” said Jones.

“Roger Johnson had signed a new contract and we could have said no, but we could not deny him the chance of Premier League football.”

Now Jones needs to repeat the feat and find another gem to complement left-sided Gabor Gyepes, the Hungarian international plucked from the lower divisions with Northampton Town.

So just who is on Jones’ shopping list?

One option is highly-rated Craig Cathcart, a 20-year-old developing under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Belfast-born Cathcart has had loan spells with Royal Antwerp and Plymouth Argyle, where he made more than 30 Championship appearances last season.

Strong in the air and in the tackle, Cathcart is also comfortable in possession.

Jones may even go back to Birmingham City for talks with Liam Ridgewell.

A regular in Birmingham’s promotion-winning team, having signed in a £2m move from Aston Villa two years ago, Ridgwell could find his path to the first team at St Andrews blocked by Johnson and fellow summer signing Scott Dann, for whom the Blues paid £8.5m.

Jones is a known to be a fan of 6ft 3in Latvian international Kaspars Gorkss.

Gorkss first appeared on City’s radar last summer as a possible replacement for Glenn Loovens, but QPR stepped in to sign him from Blackpool.

It would take a hefty offer to prise the Riga-born centre-half from Rangers after he formed a solid partnership with Damion Stewart at Loftus Road.

Another defender Jones admires is Charlton Athletic’s Mark Hudson.

The Bluebirds moved for Hudson when Purse was keen to sign for Norwich City during the January transfer window, but Charlton wanted him to aid their ultimately doomed fight against relegation.

Out-of-contract Spanish defender Miguel Angel Llera is another potential City target, having played a major part in MK Dons’ chase for promotion last season.

Llera, 29, and Liverpool-born Sean O’Hanlon, 26, were the two main central defenders for MK Dons last season and either could make the step up to the Championship, having missed out in the play-offs last term.

Doncaster Rovers’ Matt Mills remains a target for a number of Championship clubs, including City.

He is among the most coveted defenders in the division and Nottingham Forest made an official bid of £2m.

That was turned down and Forest manager Billy Davies has currently turned to Blackpool’s Shaun Barker instead.

Manchester City’s Tal Ben Haim, plus West Ham United pair James Collins and Callum Davenport would also be players of interest to the Bluebirds, but are unlikely to want a permanent move to the Championship.

Any of the three, though, may agree to a loan move which would mean they stay on their current Premier League wages.

Jones is keen to strengthen his Cardiff City team in all outfield areas.

Paul Quinn (Motherwell) and Damien Delaney (Queens Park Rangers), the Irishman who can play at left-back or centre-half, have been discussed by Bluebirds’ staff, while Liam Miller is a central midfield player out of contract and released by Sunderland.

Former Manchester United player Miller has Premier League and European experience. He is also a free agent.

Manchester City’s young striker Ched Evans remains near the top of Jones’ list.

The £3m asking price is way too high – at least double the fee interested clubs Cardiff City and Sheffield United will pay.

Evans would surely not initially be a first-choice striker with Cardiff City with Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra likely to start in the opening league match at home to Scunthorpe United. This is South Wales

Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Maddix finally Masters the art of winning trophies
- DANNY Maddix paid tribute to his team-mates following his first trophy as a QPR player on Saturday - eight years after leaving the club.
- The centre-back captained Rangers' over-35 team to their first ever London Masters success as they beat West Ham in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Arena to reach the national finals.
And the Rs' victory was all the more impressive given that they lost two of their nine-man squad - Steve Palmer and Bradley Allen - to injury early in the evening.
"I take my hat off to the lads," Maddix told the Times. "To do it with seven men shows how much work the others put in. We didn't expect to win it with some of the other teams and the players they had.
"It's a real achievement and it feels great. I said to the lads in the changing room 'that's the first time I've won anything for QPR!'
"Obviously you have pre-season trips where you might win a cup, but it's not the same as when it's televised. I didn't realise the number of QPR supporters that were here until I lifted the trophy.
"It's good to meet up with the boys I used to play with a good 10 or 15 years ago - some of them playing for other teams. Maybe they should have come and played for us instead!"
Rangers' squad will travel to Liverpool in September to contest the national Masters title with the seven other regional winners. Kilburn Times

Thursday, June 25, 2009

What QPR Fans Think....Derby Ex-Directors Found Guilty...QPR Croatia Pre-Season?....Reserve Games at Aldershot...Ramage Warns Newcastle

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For cutting-edge, continually-updated news about QPR: Visit the combination, quasi-blog/messageboard QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. Nothing else! All posters and all views welcome!

- Two Ex-Derby Directors Found Guilty...A...B...C

- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?

What QPR Fans Think re QPR
[Combining/excerpting the QPR - This is London report by Raoul Simons on the London Football Fan Census) posted in full, below)

- "....There are signs that London's Premier League clubs are showing some empathy with fans hit by the recession. Taking into account ticket prices and other key expenses, fans of all five of the capital's top-flight clubs reported a drop in the cost of watching football. The average cost for a game in London was £55, the same as 2008, which includes a significant hike reported by fans of QPR (11.5 per cent).
- Despite this plateau in costs, 70 per cent fans still believe ticket prices are too high with 20 per cent admitting they will either attend fewer matches next year and/or not be renewing season tickets. Twenty five per cent of Arsenal fans said the price of tickets will mean they go to fewer games next season - the highest of all London clubs - while 20 per cent of QPR fans claim they won't renew season-tickets. ... This is London

Football Fan Census - Part II
- ...Research company Football Fans Census asked more than 2,000 supporters - with a minimum of 100 from each club - to rate their manager's performance last season. The top mark was +5 with the bottom grade -5...
- In west London, Paulo Sousa (-0.6) was not a hit with Queens Park Rangers fans and chairman Flavio Briatore has already acted to appoint Jim Magilton in his place....
- DIRECTORS
- "....- Elsewhere, the bubble appears to have burst for Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone's regime at QPR.
- Gripped by a wave of optimism in the wake of their takeover - along with Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal - fans of the so-called "richest club in the world" made Rangers directors the most popular in London in 2008.
- Twelve months later, following a season of underachievement, the same set of directors are bottom of the pile with a rating of -2.9."
PLAYERS
- Only 38 per cent of supporters quizzed thought their players had provided "value for money" last season given the salaries they earn.
- Fans of Charlton (9 per cent), Tottenham (12 per cent), Crystal Palace (12 per cent) and QPR (14 per cent) were the most unhappy with their squads' efforts...."
- RIVALRY
"Chelsea topped the list as the team London fans love to hate with 23 per cent naming the Blues as their most disliked club....". This is London

- The Football Fan Census Questions

Aldershot Official Site - QPR Reserves At EBB 2009/10
We are pleased to confirm that QPR Reserves will play their Football Combination fixtures at the EBB Stadium for season 2009/10.

We are delighted to announce that QPR Reserves will play their home matches at the EBB Stadium next season.

Manager Gary Waddock, a former Ranger player and Manager, spoke to The Shots after the announcement was released and said, "It is great to have QPR Reserves at the EBB for next season.

"It is a similar situation to when we had Reading Reserves a couple of seasons ago. It provides me and Martin [Kuhl] the opportunity to keep tabs with Combination football on the doorstep too.

"Importantly though, it also enables Aldershot as a club to develop good, positive links with a Championship outfit and that is something that is encouraging.

"Our Secretary Graham Hortop, has undertaken a great deal of time and effort as this arrangement has been confirmed and he should be greatly credited for his involvement.

"For QPR though it also enables their Reserve team to play on such a fine surface too and one that we are so proud of here at Aldershot."

Rangers boss Jim Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's imperative that the First Team have the best possible playing surface next season.

"As a Club, we have invested significantly on the Loftus Road pitch this summer and by only playing First Team fixtures there, we will maximise what we are able to get out of it.

"We want to play an attractive, passing brand of football and to do that to the best of our ability, we need a surface that will stand up to the rigours of a long Championship campaign."

QPR have placed on the record its thanks to Aldershot Town Football Club for their cooperation and assistance with regards to this agreement. Aldershot

QPR OFFICIAL SITE |RESERVES AT THE REC NEXT SEASON
- QPR Reserves will play their home matches at Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground next season.
- The R's have opted to switch their home fixtures to The Rec, in a bid to preserve the Loftus Road playing surface for the 2009/10 Coca Cola Championship season.
- R's boss Jim Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk: "It's imperative that the First Team have the best possible playing surface next season.
- "As a Club, we have invested significantly on the Loftus Road pitch this summer and by only playing First Team fixtures there, we will maximise what we are able to get out of it.
- "We want to play an attractive, passing brand of football and to do that to the best of our ability, we need a surface that will stand up to the rigours of a long Championship campaign."
- Admission for the Football Combination Central Division fixtures at the Recreation Ground will remain the same as last season, whereby Season Ticket holders and Members - upon the production of their cards - will be able to enter free of charge.
- Adults will be charged £3, whilst children and senior citizens can watch the R's second string in action for just £1.
- The Club would like to place on the record its thanks to Aldershot Town Football Club for their cooperation and assistance with regards to this agreement." QPR

Chronicle - Peter Ramage tells NUFC of tough task ahead
Jun 25 2009 by Luke Edwards, Evening Chronicle

PETER Ramage has warned Newcastle United they will be made to fight for every single point in the toughest league in Europe following their relegation to the Championship.

The defender cannot wait to face the club he has both supported and played for, particularly as his Queens Park Rangers side are set for a potentially pivotal final game of the season showdown at Loftus Road on May 2.

But, if Ramage has a personal interest in playing against Newcastle, he claimed every Championship player will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of playing against the Magpies and predicted 46 cup finals for United’s players next season.

Although Newcastle are the early favourites for promotion, Ramage knows his former club are going to be the scalp everyone wants for other reasons.

He said: “Newcastle are going to be a massive scalp. Everyone I’ve spoken to over the summer, at QPR or other Championship clubs, that is the first thing they mention.

“Newcastle are going to be the big boys in the division and that is going to cause them problems.

“It really will be a cup final for them, home and away, every single game. Everyone will want to beat them and every player will raise their game that little bit extra when they are facing them.

“It certainly isn’t going to be easy and I think it’s vital they get a good start.

“Newcastle are arguably the third biggest club in the country if you look at the fanbase and they are in the Championship. Some players won’t get that opportunity to play at St James’s Park again and they will want to make the most of it.

“We actually watched the Aston Villa game out in Las Vegas and as soon as Newcastle lost the game, all the boys could talk about was playing them next season and how great it will be.

“Obviously, as a Newcastle fan, it will mean a lot to me personally and I can’t wait, but it’s the same for every player in the Championship.”

QPR, with their wealthy backers, will be one of the teams who will feel they can offer a challenge to Newcastle for a promotion place, but Ramage also argued it is impossible to know who will emerge as United’s rivals in the race to reach the Premier League.

He said: “For me, the Championship is the toughest league in Europe because every game can be won by either side. It’s definitely the most unpredictable league and that’s why it’s hard to say who Newcastle’s main rivals for promotion will be.

“If you look at last season, QPR were expected to do well and we were disappointed with where we finished. Having said that, we were still only seven or eight points off the play-off places so that shows you how tight it is.

“Everyone can beat everyone else. We beat both Wolverhampton and Birmingham City at our place and we drew with Reading twice.

“If you look at Plymouth, they were in relegation trouble, but they beat Wolves at Molineux and nobody expected Burnley to do well, let alone win promotion.

“I think the three relegated teams will be the ones to beat again, like they are every season, but then there are the likes of ourselves and Sheffield United who should do well. And one team will come from nowhere to challenge, like Burnley did last season.”

Ramage has had a new lease of life in west London, firmly establishing himself as a first-team regular with QPR following five years as a back-up at Newcastle. It is a move he has never regretted.

He explained: “The move has been an excellent one for me on a personal level. When Kevin Keegan told me last summer that I wasn’t likely to be a first-team regular I wasn’t going to gamble and stay.

“In the end, given the lack of cover they had in defence, I may well have played a fair amount of games, but I don’t regret the move at all, despite the fact I played under four different managers last season and QPR didn’t have the season we thought we were going to.

“I played more than 30 games for the first time in my career and the move has been a successful one both on and off the pitch. I’ve really enjoyed living in a new place and meeting new people.”

In an ideal world, Ramage will be able to celebrate QPR and Newcastle going up next May, but what if he is part of the team which denies the Toon Army promotion on that last day of the season?

He joked: “Can you imagine what it would be like if we both need something from the game and QPR go up and keep Newcastle down? It would be intense for me to say the least. I might end up being the new Graham Fenton!”Chronicle

- Holloway Talking

- Some Terrible-Looking Playing Strips

- Flashback: QPR's former CEO Simon Crane (who was replaced by David Davies)

- Flavio Briatore's Websites

- Video: 1969/1970 Fifth Round FA Cup: QPR vs Derby County (Rodney Marsh vs Dave Mackay)

London Football Fan Census - Part II: What QPR Fans Think

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- For cutting-edge, continually-updated news about QPR: Visit the combination, quasi-blog/messageboard QPR Report Messageboard. QPR and football. Nothing else! All posters and all views welcome!

- QPR Pre-Season in Croatia?

- Published Yesterday: Part I of the Evening Standard/Football Fan Census

Football Fan Census - Part II
- Evening Standard/Raoul Simons - Support for Arsene Wenger on the wane as Arsenal fans face a test of faith

Arsene Wenger faces the most serious questioning of his leadership since becoming Arsenal manager 13 years ago.

Figures revealed in the Evening Standard's London Football Report 2009 show an alarming slump in the Frenchman's approval rating among Gunners fans following the club's fourth successive season without a trophy.

Wenger is London's least popular Premier League manager in the eyes of his club's own supporters with Roy Hodgson, Guus Hiddink, Gianfranco Zola and Harry Redknapp all polling higher marks for last season.

Research company Football Fans Census asked more than 2,000 supporters - with a minimum of 100 from each club - to rate their manager's performance last season. The top mark was +5 with the bottom grade -5.

Wenger's score of 2.1 is certainly not damning enough to be interpreted as a call for him to go, but it is a significant fall from his previous status and appears indicative of a changing mood among some sections at Emirates Stadium.

When the London Football Report began in 2006, Wenger achieved a near-perfect score of 4.6, making him easily the capital's most popular top-flight boss.

Despite Arsenal's failure to win anything in 2007 and 2008, his rating remained strong with the fans won over by the potential of his young side, the quality of their play and his successful track record.

However, things went far less smoothly for Wenger in 2008/9 and his lower polling coincides with other evidence of discontent.

Fans booed his substitutions at times last season - when the club finished fourth in the Premier League - and the 59-year-old was upset when his decisions were questioned at a fiery shareholders' meeting last month.

Amid rumoured interest from Real Madrid, a group of fans organised a march in support of their boss ahead of the last home game against Stoke, however the report shows unrest among others has not gone away.

But an Arsenal spokesperson said: "We don't think too much emphasis should be placed upon the survey results as proof of our fans' strong and deep bond with Arsene has been demonstrated consistently over the years.

"Most recently, at the Stoke game when a march was undertaken in his honour by the fans and the vocal backing from them was clear."

In contrast to Wenger's troubles, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has much to celebrate after scoring an outstanding approval of 4.9. The club were written off as relegation fodder at the start of the season and Hodgson's achievement in leading them into Europe is fully appreciated.

Brentford fans are equally delighted with rookie boss Andy Scott who oversaw promotion from League Two, while caretaker Guus Hiddink's strong rating of 4.7 has set a high benchmark for new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Kenny Jackett, of Millwall, Geraint Williams, of Leyton Orient, and Gianfranco Zola at West Ham also registered impressive ratings in excess of 4.

At the other end of the scale, Phil Parkinson (-2.1) receives little sympathy for failing to avert Charlton's slide towards Championship relegation.

In west London, Paulo Sousa (-0.6) was not a hit with Queens Park Rangers fans and chairman Flavio Briatore has already acted to appoint Jim Magilton in his place.

Neil Warnock was the capital's top- ranked manager in 2007/8 (4.9) after Crystal Palace's surprise play-off charge but a season of mid-table mediocrity has seen his popularity take a considerable nosedive (0.6).

As well as the performances of managers, the report also asked the fans to rate contributions of their directors and players and to name their club's biggest rivals.

DIRECTORS
The feelgood factor at Fulham extends beyond the dugout and into the boardroom, according to the report.

Chairman Mohamed Fayed's popularity has soared after appointing Hodgson and providing the funds for successful signings such as Andrew Johnson and Mark Schwarzer.

The Harrods owner is now head of London's highest-ranked Premier League club board which trail only Brentford in the overall standings.

For their part, the Bees are the capital's only professional side owned by a supporters' trust and their board, led by chairman Greg Dyke, receive a ringing endorsement (4.9) from fans.

Millwall's American chairman John Berylson (3.8) also emerges with plenty of credit for restoring stability to the boardroom after years of turmoil.

Elsewhere, the bubble appears to have burst for Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone's regime at QPR.

Gripped by a wave of optimism in the wake of their takeover - along with Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal - fans of the so-called "richest club in the world" made Rangers directors the most popular in London in 2008.

Twelve months later, following a season of underachievement, the same set of directors are bottom of the pile with a rating of -2.9.

The handling of Charlton's ignominious slide down the leagues and the Icelandic financial meltdown at West Ham have not impressed fans of those clubs either.

PLAYERS

Only 38 per cent of supporters quizzed thought their players had provided "value for money" last season given the salaries they earn.

Fans of Charlton (9 per cent), Tottenham (12 per cent), Crystal Palace (12 per cent) and QPR (14 per cent) were the most unhappy with their squads' efforts.

Arsenal's wage bill is in excess of £100million but just 18 per cent of their fans believed the players had justified their pay packets.

There was greater levels of contentment with Chelsea's high-earning players (44 per cent), while footballers received the best reviews from fans of Brentford (96 per cent), Millwall (93 per cent) and Fulham (85 per cent).

RIVALRY

Chelsea topped the list as the team London fans love to hate with 23 per cent naming the Blues as their most disliked club.

But the figures also demonstrate how short-term factors can change the face of football rivalry.

For the past two years, Arsenal fans have named 'Big Four' counterparts Chelsea as their bete noire in preference to traditional foes Tottenham.

But, this year, as the Gunners have struggled, improving Tottenham have come back onto the radar.

Chelsea and Spurs both attract 32 per cent of Arsenal fans' venom.

It is a similar theme among Chelsea fans with Arsenal viewed as less of a threat and, unlike in previous years, they don't feature in the top three of Blues fans' biggest rivals. This is London

The Football Fan Census Questions

- Some Terrible-Looking Playing Strips

- Flashback: QPR's former CEO Simon Crane (who was replaced by David Davies)

- Flavio Briatore's Websites

- Video: 1969/1970 Fifth Round FA Cup: QPR vs Derby County (Rodney Marsh vs Dave Mackay)

QPR Report Twitter Feed