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"...Magilton expressed his delight at bringing the former Avellino front-man to Loftus Road."Alessandro has done well with us during his trial period," said Magilton. "He's a natural goalscorer and we're delighted to add him to the already healthy attacking options we have at our disposal. He'll take time to settle over here, but we're really excited by his arrival..."
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - TURKISH FRIENDLY CONFIRMED
QPR will play Turkish giants Trabzonspor in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 4th August.
Mark Hughes's side will lock horns with the Turkish Süper Lig Club at
the TSV Aindling stadium in Germany - 6.30pm kick-off (local time).
Seven days later, QPR will come up against Bundesliga side FC Augsburg at the SGL Arena - 4.00pm kick-off (local time).
Tickets for the Trabzonspor friendly are only on sale from the
stadium, whilst tickets for the second fixture versus FC Augsburg are
available online here from August 1st. QPR
Former Manchester City, Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is training with the QPR First Team. The 31 year-old, who has 42 England caps, joined the R's squad for his first session today. QPR Manager Mark Hughes told www.qpr.co.uk: "Owen is training with the group. There is no obligation for either party. "He is keen to retain his fitness and we are more than happy to
help him by allowing him to train with us and use our facility at
Harlington."
Hargreaves is a free agent following his release from City at the end of last season. QPR
\
After seeking advice from an external Independent QC, and
having considered the evidence and Magistrates' Court decision in the
John Terry case, The FA has today charged the Chelsea player following
an alleged incident that occurred during the Queens Park Rangers versus
Chelsea fixture at Loftus Road on 23 October 2011.
It is alleged that Terry used abusive and/or insulting words and/or
behaviour towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand, contrary to FA
rules.
It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Anton Ferdinand.
This charge is the result of The FA’s long-standing enquiries into this
matter, which were placed on hold pending the outcome of the criminal
trial, and relates to rules governing football only.
During this period John Terry remains available to play for England.
Terry has until 3 August 2012 to respond.
The FA will make no further comment during this time. FA
John Terry has denied an FA charge announced today (Friday) and will be requesting the opportunity for a personal hearing...."
Nice piece re Hoilett at QPR
Goal.com Arsenal & Tottenham have missed a trick by allowing Hoilett to join QPR The
versatile attacker has re-united with former manager Mark Hughes at
Loftus Road but only after two of London's biggest clubs decided against
signing him
By Chris Myson
Junior Hoilett may not be a
player who has occupied as many column inches as Robin van Persie or
Luka Modric this summer, but he was one of the most exciting properties
up for grabs on the transfer market.
Alongside Yakubu, the
22-year-old was the standout figure in the poor Blackburn Rovers side
which suffered relegation last season, scoring seven times and
contributing as many assists.
Constantly the source of
inspiration, it always seemed that he was destined for better things,
even if Steve Kean’s side had avoided the dreaded drop to the
Championship.
With his contract running down, it became apparent
he would be leaving Ewood Park whatever the outcome of the Premier
League season, and he soon had a long list of clubs admiring him.
And
why not? With his contract expiring, the Canadian was available on a
free transfer, with just a compensation fee needing to be paid. He has
three years of top-flight experience, youth on his side, bags of ability
and the versatility to play in a number of attacking positions, most
notably on either wing or in the centre behind a main striker.
THE INSIDE TRACK ON HOILETT
GREG STOBART, CORRESPONDENT
The
battle for Hoilett’s signature ended as a straight fight between QPR
and Borussia Monchengladbach - but only after a number of Premier League
clubs had shown interest in the exciting winger.
Arsenal,
Tottenham, Newcastle and Everton - along with Rangers - were at the
forefront of those interested and all made contact with his advisors
after tracking his progress at Blackburn.
The four clubs all
pulled out of talks for the same reason: money. Hoilett may have been at
the end of his contract with Blackburn but QPR will have to pay
significant compensation - as much as £5m - on top of the player’s
£60,000-a-week salary.
The clubs decided against it. Spurs in
particular had doubts about Hoilett’s consistency while Arsenal decided
to focus on other wide targets, signing Germany international Lukas
Podolski from Koln.
It appeared certain Hoilett would join a
top-six club and Arsenal and Tottenham expressed an interest and both
looked to be close to securing his signing at one stage.
In the
end, though, they turned their backs on the deal, allowing the attacker
to sign a four-year deal at QPR. Despite long reported interest from
Borussia Monchengladbach, it was always hard to envisage him leaving the
Premier League.
It is hard not to think that both Arsenal and
Spurs have missed a trick in not making their concrete interest count by
securing a deal. While there is a compensation fee to consider, that is
only a maximum of £5 million – within both clubs’ respective budgets –
and the wages, while high for a young player, are still affordable.
For
the Gunners this appeared to be an ideal Arsene Wenger signing. A
young, technically gifted player who could be developed while
immediately playing an important part in the team. The option was always
there to sell him on at a profit in the future too; his value is not
going to go down.
First-team football may have been harder to
come by with Arsenal, but as they struggle to sign Santi Cazorla or Nuri
Sahin to add more guile to their ranks, it appears they have missed an
opportunity closer to home.
Andre Villas-Boas may have Gareth
Bale and Aaron Lennon at his disposal, but in the latter part of last
season Tottenham were caught out by the lack of high quality squad cover
they had below their most important performers.
With Modric
also likely to leave, there is certainly room for creative additions to
Spurs’ squad and Hoilett’s ability to play in a number of attacking
positions could have soon seen him establish himself as a key first-team
figure.
For both clubs, the move made sense on paper and it was surprising when their interest cooled so suddenly.
The
move may actually work out well for Hoilett’s development. At QPR he
can still be the key figure like he was at Blackburn, the man who his
team rely on, as well as enjoying the regular first-team football in the
Premier League he needs to hone his skillset.
But there must be a
feeling of what might have been in the player’s camp, with the
opportunity to play with some top calibre players and in the spotlight
having eluded him and another opportunity unlikely to emerge for the
foreseeable future.
Hoilett said after signing: "Mark Hughes
played a big part in my decision to come here. He's someone I know well
here having worked with him and his backroom team at Blackburn.
"I
signed my first professional contract under him and I will always
remember that and be grateful. Working under such a great manager will
help me to develop my skills and further my career.
“QPR are a club that are certainly heading in the right direction."
He
will want to enjoy a couple of strong seasons at QPR, a club who
themselves are upwardly mobile, and make it impossible for the biggest
clubs to ignore him next time around.
Arsenal, Tottenham and
others could get their chance to make a move again, but you suspect when
that time arrives they will have to dig a lot deeper into their pockets
and may look back to this summer, ruing the fact they did not act
differently Goalcom
Mirror - Wat DJ: New Watford boss Gianfranco Zola eyes move for QPR striker DJ Campbell
Striker Campbell, 30, made just two Premier League starts for Rangers last season
Gianfranco Zola is trying to bolster Watford's attack with a move for QPR's DJ Campbell. Striker Campbell, 30, made just two Premier League starts for Rangers last season. He struggled with injuries following a move from Blackpool. The forward is now surplus to requirements at Loftus Road.
But
he is keen to stay in London and is willing to join the Championship
Hornets under new boss Zola following the club's Italian takeover. Mirror
Dave McIntyre/West London Sport - Coaching chief hails ‘massive step’ for QPR
Glyn Hodges believes QPR’s youngsters moving to a new base in Acton is a hugely significant development for the club.
Hodges is assessing the set-up at Rangers following his recent appointment as head of coaching.
And he says securing the use of the Park Club on East Acton Lane for
the club’s youth teams – who previously trained at Harlington along
with the first team – could turn out to be a watershed moment.
“It’s a massive step. For starters, there’s an indoor area that means
on the dark winter nights we can get the boys in there when otherwise
they wouldn’t be able to train,” he said.
“There are great facilities there. There’s an astroturf pitch and everything else to give the boys what they need.
“It ticks all the boxes and it’s exciting that things are now in place to take the club forward.”
Camden New Journal/Steve Barnett - Learn with Premier coaches
YOUNGSTERS
are being invited to show off their soccer skills this summer with the
help of top coaches from a Premier League club.
The West Euston
Partnership have teamed up with Queens Park Rangers to host daily
sessions at the Cumberland Market Sports Pitch in Regent's Park Estate.
The
soccer school will give boys and girls the chance to sharpen their
skills and practise their passing before taking part in a series of
competitive matches.
Anyone interested should email Tony Louki on tony@westeuston.org for further details. Camden New Journal
Bucks Free Press/Andy Carswell - Life's a Gaz for coach Ainsworth
MISSING
out on the dressing room banter is the biggest difference between
playing and coaching that Gareth Ainsworth has noticed.
He says
his team mates have made his transition from player to staff less
painful than it could have been after being made player-coach at Adams
Park.
Previous experience in the dugout at QPR gave Ainsworth the
management bug but he admits his relationship with some of the players
at Loftus Road suffered as a result.
The 39-year-old said: "At
QPR when I was a player and I went on to manage it was really difficult.
One day you're a team mate of the lads, the next day you're telling
them what to do.
"I'm missing out on most of the banter because I'm upstairs in my office doing some session plans with Richard Dobson."
But life as player-coach with Blues is a different prospect, he says.
Ainsworth
said: "I'm always going to be Gaz to the lads. They'll always respect
me for what I've done throughout my career and how I play. They're a
great set of lads and they've made it easy for me.
"I've been
taking sessions as well as joining in. The gaffer's trusted me with
coaching the first team. We all do it together, we try to keep it
structured and work on a specific topic if we need to.
"It's a good learning curve for me and I've got two great people to learn off."
Ainsworth
has never hidden his desire to get into management but said: "At the
moment being a coach under Gary Waddock and Richard Dobson is more than
enough for me. I'm learning plenty and I'd be stupid to think I could go
straight in and become manager of a Premier League side like QPR. You
start small and hopefully get there in the end.
"I'm really happy at Wycombe, it's a great club and it's where I want to be."
Adjusting to the longer days as a coach is another big difference he's noticed since changing roles.
He
was in the dugout for Wanderers' friendly at Luton on Wednesday night,
having put the non-playing members of the squad through their paces on
the training ground in the morning.
Ainsworth said: "You don't
realise as a player how easy it is and how well you're looked after.
It's not easy as a coach. You're well looked after as a player but you
can't go on forever as a player. I do want to be a coach and also a
manager one day. This is my first step." Bucks Free Press
FLASHBACK: Dave McIntyre/Evening Standard - July 26, 2001
Council promise to stop QPR move
Hammersmith and Fulham Council are to support the campaign to prevent Queens Park Rangers moving out of Loftus Road.
Former director Andrew Ellis, a Knightsbridge property developer, is poised to buy the club, who are in administration, and his eventual plan is to move them to a new stadium near Heathrow Airport.
But a consortium of supporters have tabled a rival takeover bid and pledged to keep the club at the ground which has been home since 1931.
Now councillors have also vowed to do all they can to stop the Loftus Road ground from being sold. Ellis is in talks with owner Chris Wright and has until 6 August to finalise his offer.
But Mayor Andrew Slaughter said: "The overwhelming majority of QPR fans say that the club is associated with the ground. We aim to see QPR survive and thrive at Loftus Road."
Councillor Wesley Harcourt said: "The Council is committed to keeping Queens Park Rangers in the borough. If Andrew Ellis gets control of QPR, our planning policy is such that we can make it very difficult for the ground to be sold at a profit.
"This Council fought the redevelopment of Chelsea's ground and gave planning permission for Fulham to develop theirs. It's about time QPR had the same amount of air time."
Parading the back page of Tuesday's Evening Standard, which revealed that a consortium of Rangers fans had tabled a bid to rival Ellis's, Councillor Stephen Burke told last night's Council meeting: "If QPR leave for Heathrow, it would be disastrous for the club and the borough. It would be the death knell for the club and the fans do not want it."
Tory councillor Greg Hands added: "When clubs have moved, those that have been typically successful have been based in a city or town where there is only one club, like Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
"Moving to Heathrow is not obviously going to work when there are 12 other teams in London competing for children to aspire to them. I very much support attempts to keep QPR in the borough."
Meanwhile, QPR manager Ian Holloway has offered defender Matthew Rose and trialist Alex Bonnot threemonth contracts. The short-term deals have been put in place while QPR sort out their financial future.
But Rose is disappointed that he has been unable to secure a move to a club in the top two divisions.
Rose said: "I played for QPR in a friendly against Watford on Saturday and I was twice as good as most of their players, but I have only heard of some interest, nothing concrete." ... Standard
SKY/Chris Galea - Cook at ease over his future Midfielder is in no rush to commit himself to a club for next season
Lee Cook is playing a waiting game as he hopes to land himself a lucrative contract with a Championship team this season.
The
29-year-old is a free agent after his contract at Premier League side
QPR ran out this summer and he was released by the west London club he
supported as a boy.
The winger was loaned out to a number of
League One clubs last season including Charlton where he helped them
secure promotion and would consider another spell in the third tier.
Cook
revealed he has had a number of offers from other League One sides
already, but says he is going to take his time to weigh up his options
before committing.
"I have had offers from League One clubs,"
said Cook. "But I am just waiting for a Championship club to show some
interest and make a move.
"At the moment that has not happened
and I am surprised by that, but I have spoken to a number of other
players who are in the same boat.
"I felt that going out on loan
last season and being able to get those games under my belt I might have
had an offer from somewhere.
"However if that does not happen
then I will look to League One and focus on staying there for just a
single season before earning the right to play in the Championship
again. Sky
Joey Barton as reported by Blackpool Gazette from on his blog “....The simple fact is that on top of my much-deserved punishment by the FA and then, of course,QPR, I’ve also been omitted from the senior QPR squad that are now out in Asia, which is, of course, even more gutting than the original punishment. "I respect that (manager) Mark Hughes makes his own decisions, of course, and fair play to him for doing what he believes is right. QPR want me to train with the young guys and the reserves in the meantime. “The possibility of a loan move has been mentioned. There’s been interest from several European clubs and a lot of Championship clubs too, as you may expect..." Blackpool Gazette
FLASHBACK: Dave McIntyre/Evening Standard - July 26, 2001
Council promise to stop QPR move
Hammersmith and Fulham Council are to support the campaign to prevent Queens Park Rangers moving out of Loftus Road.
Former director Andrew Ellis, a Knightsbridge property developer, is poised to buy the club, who are in administration, and his eventual plan is to move them to a new stadium near Heathrow Airport.
But a consortium of supporters have tabled a rival takeover bid and pledged to keep the club at the ground which has been home since 1931.
Now councillors have also vowed to do all they can to stop the Loftus Road ground from being sold. Ellis is in talks with owner Chris Wright and has until 6 August to finalise his offer.
But Mayor Andrew Slaughter said: "The overwhelming majority of QPR fans say that the club is associated with the ground. We aim to see QPR survive and thrive at Loftus Road."
Councillor Wesley Harcourt said: "The Council is committed to keeping Queens Park Rangers in the borough. If Andrew Ellis gets control of QPR, our planning policy is such that we can make it very difficult for the ground to be sold at a profit.
"This Council fought the redevelopment of Chelsea's ground and gave planning permission for Fulham to develop theirs. It's about time QPR had the same amount of air time."
Parading the back page of Tuesday's Evening Standard, which revealed that a consortium of Rangers fans had tabled a bid to rival Ellis's, Councillor Stephen Burke told last night's Council meeting: "If QPR leave for Heathrow, it would be disastrous for the club and the borough. It would be the death knell for the club and the fans do not want it."
Tory councillor Greg Hands added: "When clubs have moved, those that have been typically successful have been based in a city or town where there is only one club, like Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
"Moving to Heathrow is not obviously going to work when there are 12 other teams in London competing for children to aspire to them. I very much support attempts to keep QPR in the borough."
Meanwhile, QPR manager Ian Holloway has offered defender Matthew Rose and trialist Alex Bonnot threemonth contracts. The short-term deals have been put in place while QPR sort out their financial future.
But Rose is disappointed that he has been unable to secure a move to a club in the top two divisions.
Rose said: "I played for QPR in a friendly against Watford on Saturday and I was twice as good as most of their players, but I have only heard of some interest, nothing concrete." ... Standard
