-
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY OFFICIAL SITE
Wednesday were left frustrated after being held by Queens Park Rangers despite dominating the Hillsborough contest and creating enough chances to win two matches.
The Owls dominated the play but were left lamenting their inability to make their superiority count, as R's keeper Paul Jones and the woodwork kept them at bay.
Deon Burton gave Wednesday an early advantage but Marc Bircham popped up to earn the Londoners a point just before half-time.
Scott Carson - one of two Owls loanees making their debut along with Mikkel Bischoff - was called into action in the opening minutes as he smartly clutched Gareth Ainsworth's long-range drive, while Paul Jones made a superb stop to repel Burton in the sixth minute. Burton O'Brien swung over a pinpoint cross from the left which Burton met sweetly only for the Wales goalkeeper to paw his header around the post.
However Wednesdayites didn't have long to wait to see the former Derby man open his SWFC account, as he struck in the 13th minute to give the Owls first blood. Chris Brunt took a quick throw-in to Glenn Whelan, whose first time flicked pass spun behind the Rangers backline for Burton to race in between defenders and goalkeeper to prod home.
Lee Bullen saw a header saved from O'Brien's centre and Yoann Folly was well off target from long distances, as tempers began to rise on and off the field with the officials coming up with some questionable decisions. One such incident led to QPR's equaliser two minutes from the break, as Bircham headed home a Lee Cook free-kick at the near post after a dubious foul was awarded close to the Owls' left-hand corner flag.
How Wednesday failed to get themselves back in front in the first four minutes of the second half will remain an eternal mystery. Firstly they were kept out by a fine double save from Jones, who palmed away Marcus Tudgay's toe-ender before rising to block Burton's blast.
Then the veteran stopper twice thwarted Tudgay in an amazing goalmouth scramble in which the ball seemed to be kept from crossing the line by an invisible force. Tudgay saw a brace of efforts saved before Folly hit the bar from close range.
Tudgay could only head tamely at Jones after smart work and an accurate centre from Bullen and then saw his header creep agonisingly across goal after Burton pulled back Brunt's pass. O'Brien's drive was blocked by Marcus Bignot and Tudgay was off target from the former Livingston man's cross soon after as Wednesday continued to press forward.
Carson had been a spectator for much of the half but was alert when called upon to behind Cook's inswinging free-kick. The Owls continued to try everything with Steven MacLean and Leon Best both coming into the fray, however the desired winner failed to materialise.
http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10304~31115,00.html
QPR Official Site Report on Sheff Wed 1 QPR 1
Rangers rode their luck to grind out a draw in a gritty encounter at Hillsborough.
Marc Bircham's fearsome header on the stroke of half time proved priceless, as Gary Waddock's side weathered a second half storm to leave the Steel City with a plucky point.
The Hoops midfielder - who was recalled to the starting line up after missing the home clash with Wolves due to illness seven days earlier - stooped to head home Lee Cook's 43rd minute free kick.
Earlier, the Owls were ahead on 12 minutes, courtesy of Deon Burton's close range strike.
The Jamaican international notched from inside the six yard box, after Glenn Whelan's sublime through ball from midfield cut open the entire Hoops defence.
Hoops custodian Paul Jones was the hero of the hour during the second period, producing five top-drawer saves to keep the hosts at bay.
Rangers threatened sporadically, with Cook calling Scott Carson into a neat save at his far post, but it was the home side who were left licking their wounds at full time, as the realisation of their relegation dog-fight started to hit home.
Rangers Caretaker Manager Gary Waddock recalled midfield pair Steve Lomas and Bircham, with Richard Langley and Stefan Bailey the unlucky duo to miss out.
Wednesday included recent loan signings Carson and Mikkel Bischoff, who joined from Liverpool and Manchester City respectively on Friday.
Rangers were on the front foot almost immediately, with Cook's out-swinging cross narrowly evading the on-rushing Paul Furlong.
On two minutes, Gareth Ainsworth's right foot curler from fully 25 yards forced Carson into a splendid stop, just when the ball seemed destined to nestle into the roof of the net.
Play quickly switched to the other end, where Burton evaded his marker, only to see his powerful header superbly tipped round by Paul Jones.
The Owls were winning the midfield battler early on and when Yoann Folly played a clever one-two with Marcus Tudgay, Matthew Rose was called into a terrific last ditch cover tackle to thwart the Southampton loanee from getting his shot away.
Dan Shittu required treatment for a facial injury, before the Owls took the lead on 12 minutes.
Whelan's deft through ball from the middle of the park was weighted to perfection and Burton nipped in to apply the finishing touch past the exposed Jones from the edge of the six yard box.
Cook was beginning to have an impact as the half wore on, getting free of his marker on more than one occasion, only for his final ball to go missing all too often.
Chris Brunt, who Waddock had earmarked as a danger-man before the trip North, broke free on 21 minutes, but Shittu was in the right place at the right time to divert the ball for a corner.
New signing Bischoff marked his Owls debut with a booking for a lunge on Furlong on 23 minutes, much to the dismay of the home crowd, who thought their man took the ball.
Mauro Milanese was getting forward to good effect, with his searching left sided cross narrowly evading Furlong at the front post in the 27th minute.
Ainsworth's speculative 30 yard volley was easily held by Carson on the half hour, but it was Wednesday who continued to force the initiative, with Brunt and Burton at the heart of their positive display.
Rangers drew level on the stroke of half time when Cook's superb in-swinging free kick was met by Bircham's powerful glancing at the near post. Carson stood no chance, as the ball nestled in the top corner of the net to the delight of the travelling Hoops faithful.
Jones was Rangers' saviour a minute into the second half, firstly tipping away Tudgay's point blank strike, before flinging himself to his left to deny Burton from the edge of the penalty box.
Seconds later, the Welsh stopper was at it again, twice denying Tudgay with what can only be described as world class saves, before Folly's follow up cannoned off the crossbar to safety.
The Owls continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and when Lee Bullen out-foxed Cook on the right flank, Burton arrived bang on cue only to head straight at Jones.
There was simply no respite for the visitors, as the Owls - backed by a fanatical home crowd - continually forced the Superhoops to defend in numbers.
Burton headed wide from ten yards after fine wide play from O'Brien, before Cook's bending set piece was tipped to safety by Carson with the match approaching the 70 minute mark.
Rose judged his tackle on Burton to perfection just as the former Pompey striker seemed poised to test Jones yet again, while at the other end, substitute Langley ballooned his left footed shot well wide of the post.
As the home side became increasingly frustrated, it was referee Andy D'Urso who bore the brunt of their annoyance.
Both sides went in search of a winner, but despite five minutes of added time, it ended all square.
Sheffield Wednesday: Carson, Bullen, Folly, Coughlan, Whelan, O'Brien, Brunt (Best 83), Burton, Bischoff (Simek 83), Gilbert, Tudgay (MacLean 76).
Subs: Adamson, Hills.
Goals: Burton 12
Bookings: Bischoff 23
QPR: Jones, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanaese, Ainsworth, Bircham, Lomas, Cook (Langley 69), Gallen, Furlong (Baidoo 86).
Subs: Royce, Evatt, Bailey.
Goals: Bircham 42
Bookings:
Referee: A D'Urso
Attendance: 22, 788
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/MatchReport/0,,10373~31115,00.html
Welcome to QPR REPORT - A completely unofficial and unaffiliated fan site focusing on G-d's Chosen Team, Queen's Park Rangers (QPR) FC. (Visit also QPR Report Messageboard and Follow on Twitter.) QPR Report accepts no sponsorship, advertising or financial contributions. In 2008, QPR Report was named as one of the top two blogs in the Football League
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Ex-QPR's Leroy Griffiths - Aldershot Manager Wants Improvement in Discipline
-
Aldershot Manager on Leroy Griffiths
Aldershot Official Site
Manager Terry Brown has confirmed why striker Leroy Griffiths was on the substitutes bench on Tuesday evening in the 4-1 reverse at home to league leaders Accrington Stanley.
The 29 year old Londoner came on as an early second half replacement for Ryan Williams and scored his fifth goal since his arrival on loan from Fisher Athletic in January.
Talking to www.theshots.co.uk the boss said, "Leroy is a problematical young lad and the fact that he appeared for the game was magical enough really. We have had words and he has been disciplined. Hopefully he will decide that he wants to knuckle down and finish the season off with us.The decision is in his hands but he has to train with us and work hard. When he plays he does well. He is a lively performer and he scored when he came on. I have no problems with Leroy on the park it is just getting him to turn up".
He is a lovely likeable player who has all the ability in the world. It is up to him to show his dedication
Continuing, the boss said that he hopes that Leroy can show the commitment to reward the talent that he has stating, "Leroy has had one or two problems in the past and if he is to do himself justice then he has to improve on his discipline. He is a lovely likeable player who has all the ability in the world. It is up to him to show his dedication".
http://www.theshots.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=27180&type=n
BBC -Brown wants Griffiths improvement
Aldershot boss Terry Brown has told striker Leroy Griffiths that he must improve his off-field discipline. Griffiths, 29, has scored five goals for the Shots since signing on loan from Fisher Athletic in January. "Hopefully he will decide that he wants to knuckle down and finish the season with us," Brown told the club website. "The decision is in his hands but he has to train with us and work hard. I have no problems with Leroy on the park it's just getting him to turn up." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/4790292.stm
Aldershot Manager on Leroy Griffiths
Aldershot Official Site
Manager Terry Brown has confirmed why striker Leroy Griffiths was on the substitutes bench on Tuesday evening in the 4-1 reverse at home to league leaders Accrington Stanley.
The 29 year old Londoner came on as an early second half replacement for Ryan Williams and scored his fifth goal since his arrival on loan from Fisher Athletic in January.
Talking to www.theshots.co.uk the boss said, "Leroy is a problematical young lad and the fact that he appeared for the game was magical enough really. We have had words and he has been disciplined. Hopefully he will decide that he wants to knuckle down and finish the season off with us.The decision is in his hands but he has to train with us and work hard. When he plays he does well. He is a lively performer and he scored when he came on. I have no problems with Leroy on the park it is just getting him to turn up".
He is a lovely likeable player who has all the ability in the world. It is up to him to show his dedication
Continuing, the boss said that he hopes that Leroy can show the commitment to reward the talent that he has stating, "Leroy has had one or two problems in the past and if he is to do himself justice then he has to improve on his discipline. He is a lovely likeable player who has all the ability in the world. It is up to him to show his dedication".
http://www.theshots.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=27180&type=n
BBC -Brown wants Griffiths improvement
Aldershot boss Terry Brown has told striker Leroy Griffiths that he must improve his off-field discipline. Griffiths, 29, has scored five goals for the Shots since signing on loan from Fisher Athletic in January. "Hopefully he will decide that he wants to knuckle down and finish the season with us," Brown told the club website. "The decision is in his hands but he has to train with us and work hard. I have no problems with Leroy on the park it's just getting him to turn up." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/4790292.stm
QPR Leaving Loftus Road?...And Caliendo Expects QPR in Premiership in 2007/2008
-
BBC Gossip "QPR are planning to leave Loftus Road and move to a new stadium
half-a-mile down the road, opposite the BBC at White City. (Daily Mirror)
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/4795668.stm
DAILY MIRROR
QPR READY TO LEAVE LOFTUS ROAD
By John Cross
QPR are secretly plotting to desert Loftus Road and move to a new stadium half-a-mile down the road.
QPR director Antonio Caliendo has revealed the club has targeted a site opposite the BBC headquarters at nearby White City which would be part of one of the biggest shopping and leisure developments in Europe.
Italian-born Caliendo, the former agent of ex-World Cup superstar Roberto Baggio, has now set a two-year target for manager Gary Waddock to get the club back into the Premiership.
Caliendo, 61, said: "It would be good one day to play in the Premier League in our new home despite the fact we love playing in Loftus Road.
"We are here to achieve that. I believe that in 2007-2008 QPR will play again in the Premier League, which is what our fantastic fans deserve."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16800936&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=qpr-ready-to-leave-loftus-road--name_page.html
BBC Gossip "QPR are planning to leave Loftus Road and move to a new stadium
half-a-mile down the road, opposite the BBC at White City. (Daily Mirror)
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/4795668.stm
DAILY MIRROR
QPR READY TO LEAVE LOFTUS ROAD
By John Cross
QPR are secretly plotting to desert Loftus Road and move to a new stadium half-a-mile down the road.
QPR director Antonio Caliendo has revealed the club has targeted a site opposite the BBC headquarters at nearby White City which would be part of one of the biggest shopping and leisure developments in Europe.
Italian-born Caliendo, the former agent of ex-World Cup superstar Roberto Baggio, has now set a two-year target for manager Gary Waddock to get the club back into the Premiership.
Caliendo, 61, said: "It would be good one day to play in the Premier League in our new home despite the fact we love playing in Loftus Road.
"We are here to achieve that. I believe that in 2007-2008 QPR will play again in the Premier League, which is what our fantastic fans deserve."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16800936&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=qpr-ready-to-leave-loftus-road--name_page.html
Friday, March 10, 2006
Sheffield Wednesday vs QPR
-
[Remember QPR beating Sheffield Wednesday 8-2 in a League Cup game in 1974? (the round before we lost 0-3 at home to 3rd Division Plymouth). A couple of other victories from the early 1970s: Jago's total football in 1972/73 4:2 (4-0 at half time, I think). And the year or two before, 3-0 - All these Games of coure, were at Loftus Road). Remmeber when we signed Vic Mobley from Sheff Wed in 1969 for a massive 50,000 pounds. He 'looked" like a tough center half. Unfortunately didnt play too many games for us before injury.
Sheffield Wednesday Official Site
QPR Preview
Coca Cola Championship - Saturday 11th March 2006
Team News
Wednesday - John Hills, Peter Gilbert and Steven MacLean could both be back in the squad for Saturday. MacLean missed the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff last weekend with a suspected broken toe, but a scan earlier in the week confirmed that it was merely swelling on the bone. Paul Sturrock is also hoping to dip into the loan market and add at least one new face to his ranks by the weekend.
Queens Park Rangers - Simon Royce (hip), Martin Rowlands (knee) and Dominic Shimmin (groin) were ruled out of the goalless draw against Wolves last week.
Previous Fixture Line-Up
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City: Adamson, Bullen, Coughlan, Collins, Simek, Brunt (Best 77), Whelan, Folly, O'Brien, Tudgay, Burton. Subs Not Used: Kirby, Partridge, Spurr, Rocastle.
QPR v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jones, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley, Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Youssouf 63), Furlong.Subs Not Used: Thomas, Santos, Kus, Baidoo.
Selected Odds from www.owlsbet.co.uk:
Owls win - 6/4QPR win - 13/8Draw - 21/10
Correct Score - Owls to win 2-1 - 17/2
Scorecast - Chris Brunt to score first in 2-1 Owls win - 65/1
Time of First Goal - 71-80 minutes - 20/1
Last Time Out: 26th August 2005: QPR 0 - SWFC 0
John Hills saw red while three Owls players had to be withdrawn through injury as Wednesday clung on to earn a point at Loftus Road in August. The best chances fell to the home side - Gareth Ainsworth tested David Lucas with a stinging volley, while Tommy Doherty and Kevin Gallen both wasted chances. Wednesday's best effort came in the closing stages - a snapshot from Burton O'Brien being turned around the post by Simon Royce.
Competitive Form: Last 5 results (Home and Away):
SWFC -D-L-L-L-LQPR - L-W-L-W-D
History
Matches Played: 52 Owls Wins: 24Draws: 10QPR Wins: 18
At Hillsborough: Matches Played: 26SWFC Wins: 17Draws: 2QPR Wins: 7
Split Loyalties: A selection of players who have appeared for both QPR and SWFC:
Ron Springett, Vic Mobley, Peter Springett, Andy McCulloch, Gary Bannister, Simon Stainrod, Trevor Francis, Chris Woods, Andy Sinton, Marlon Broomes, Danny Maddix, Leon Knight
One To Watch
Gareth Ainsworth (11): Profile taken from www.qpr.co.uk - Having been released by Cardiff City, winger Gareth Ainsworth signed for Rangers in June 2003. Beginning his league career with Preston, Ainsworth had spells at Cambridge United, Lincoln, Preston (again) and Port Vale before moving to then-Premiership side Wimbledon for £2,000,000. He made just 45 appearances for the Dons due to injury problems and moved on to Cardiff City, only to be released at the end of the 2002-03 season.
His contribution to Rangers' recent success is without question, providing leadership and pace, not to mention a couple of cracking goals throughout their promotion winning 2003-04 season, which culminated in a 3-1 win at Hillsborough. Ainsworth has taken to life in the Championship without any problems. He scored only twice in 23 appearances last season, but has managed six goals in his 33 league outings in the current campaign
http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/NextMatchPreview/0,,10304~799780,00.html
Mixed News For Sturrock
Owls boss Paul Sturrock has had mixed news on the injury front - with three players in contention to return against QPR but Richard Wood ruled out for the rest of the month.
Wood, who was hoping to be back in action next week, will be missing for an additional fortnight after new scans revealed he has a slight tendon problem around the site of his previously-diagnosed groin injury.
Sturrock said: "Woody wasn't responding to treatment so we scanned him from a different angle, which showed some fibres of his tendon have peeled off the bone. It'll set him back another 2-3 weeks."
But John Hills, Peter Gilbert and Steven MacLean all have a chance of being fit to face the Rs:
"Hills has trained all week and we're building Gilbert up slowly," said Sturrock on Thursday morning. "If they come through training today they should both be available for Saturday."
He added: "MacLean is still feeling some pain but he'll do the loosener on Thursday and see how he feels."
There could be a further double boost, with Jon-Paul McGovern and Steve Adams pencilled in to return to full training next week.
Sturrock said: "JP's had some good news. The thigh tear has near enough totally healed. He's back into kicking for the next couple of days and then will start training on Monday. Stevie's nipped a cartilage but it shouldn't stop his build-up [from his Achilles problem]. He hasn't had a serious reaction but the proof of the pudding will come next week when he starts ball work."
http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/News/0,,10304~799720,00.html
[Remember QPR beating Sheffield Wednesday 8-2 in a League Cup game in 1974? (the round before we lost 0-3 at home to 3rd Division Plymouth). A couple of other victories from the early 1970s: Jago's total football in 1972/73 4:2 (4-0 at half time, I think). And the year or two before, 3-0 - All these Games of coure, were at Loftus Road). Remmeber when we signed Vic Mobley from Sheff Wed in 1969 for a massive 50,000 pounds. He 'looked" like a tough center half. Unfortunately didnt play too many games for us before injury.
Sheffield Wednesday Official Site
QPR Preview
Coca Cola Championship - Saturday 11th March 2006
Team News
Wednesday - John Hills, Peter Gilbert and Steven MacLean could both be back in the squad for Saturday. MacLean missed the 1-0 defeat at Cardiff last weekend with a suspected broken toe, but a scan earlier in the week confirmed that it was merely swelling on the bone. Paul Sturrock is also hoping to dip into the loan market and add at least one new face to his ranks by the weekend.
Queens Park Rangers - Simon Royce (hip), Martin Rowlands (knee) and Dominic Shimmin (groin) were ruled out of the goalless draw against Wolves last week.
Previous Fixture Line-Up
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City: Adamson, Bullen, Coughlan, Collins, Simek, Brunt (Best 77), Whelan, Folly, O'Brien, Tudgay, Burton. Subs Not Used: Kirby, Partridge, Spurr, Rocastle.
QPR v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Jones, Bignot, Shittu, Rose, Milanese, Ainsworth, Langley, Bailey, Cook, Gallen (Youssouf 63), Furlong.Subs Not Used: Thomas, Santos, Kus, Baidoo.
Selected Odds from www.owlsbet.co.uk:
Owls win - 6/4QPR win - 13/8Draw - 21/10
Correct Score - Owls to win 2-1 - 17/2
Scorecast - Chris Brunt to score first in 2-1 Owls win - 65/1
Time of First Goal - 71-80 minutes - 20/1
Last Time Out: 26th August 2005: QPR 0 - SWFC 0
John Hills saw red while three Owls players had to be withdrawn through injury as Wednesday clung on to earn a point at Loftus Road in August. The best chances fell to the home side - Gareth Ainsworth tested David Lucas with a stinging volley, while Tommy Doherty and Kevin Gallen both wasted chances. Wednesday's best effort came in the closing stages - a snapshot from Burton O'Brien being turned around the post by Simon Royce.
Competitive Form: Last 5 results (Home and Away):
SWFC -D-L-L-L-LQPR - L-W-L-W-D
History
Matches Played: 52 Owls Wins: 24Draws: 10QPR Wins: 18
At Hillsborough: Matches Played: 26SWFC Wins: 17Draws: 2QPR Wins: 7
Split Loyalties: A selection of players who have appeared for both QPR and SWFC:
Ron Springett, Vic Mobley, Peter Springett, Andy McCulloch, Gary Bannister, Simon Stainrod, Trevor Francis, Chris Woods, Andy Sinton, Marlon Broomes, Danny Maddix, Leon Knight
One To Watch
Gareth Ainsworth (11): Profile taken from www.qpr.co.uk - Having been released by Cardiff City, winger Gareth Ainsworth signed for Rangers in June 2003. Beginning his league career with Preston, Ainsworth had spells at Cambridge United, Lincoln, Preston (again) and Port Vale before moving to then-Premiership side Wimbledon for £2,000,000. He made just 45 appearances for the Dons due to injury problems and moved on to Cardiff City, only to be released at the end of the 2002-03 season.
His contribution to Rangers' recent success is without question, providing leadership and pace, not to mention a couple of cracking goals throughout their promotion winning 2003-04 season, which culminated in a 3-1 win at Hillsborough. Ainsworth has taken to life in the Championship without any problems. He scored only twice in 23 appearances last season, but has managed six goals in his 33 league outings in the current campaign
http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/NextMatchPreview/0,,10304~799780,00.html
Mixed News For Sturrock
Owls boss Paul Sturrock has had mixed news on the injury front - with three players in contention to return against QPR but Richard Wood ruled out for the rest of the month.
Wood, who was hoping to be back in action next week, will be missing for an additional fortnight after new scans revealed he has a slight tendon problem around the site of his previously-diagnosed groin injury.
Sturrock said: "Woody wasn't responding to treatment so we scanned him from a different angle, which showed some fibres of his tendon have peeled off the bone. It'll set him back another 2-3 weeks."
But John Hills, Peter Gilbert and Steven MacLean all have a chance of being fit to face the Rs:
"Hills has trained all week and we're building Gilbert up slowly," said Sturrock on Thursday morning. "If they come through training today they should both be available for Saturday."
He added: "MacLean is still feeling some pain but he'll do the loosener on Thursday and see how he feels."
There could be a further double boost, with Jon-Paul McGovern and Steve Adams pencilled in to return to full training next week.
Sturrock said: "JP's had some good news. The thigh tear has near enough totally healed. He's back into kicking for the next couple of days and then will start training on Monday. Stevie's nipped a cartilage but it shouldn't stop his build-up [from his Achilles problem]. He hasn't had a serious reaction but the proof of the pudding will come next week when he starts ball work."
http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/News/0,,10304~799720,00.html
Thursday, March 09, 2006
QPR Fined £5,000 for their Conduct at Stoke (For How they Responsed to the Fan Assault on Simon Royce)
-
QPR were fined £5,000 for their conduct at the Stoke game. (That was the game when Simon Royce was attacked by a fan and QPR players raced to his defense. And apparently failed to "conduct themselves in an orderly fashion."]
The FA - March 9, 2006
QPR fined
At a disciplinary commission hearing today, Queens Park Rangers were fined £5,000 and warned as to their future conduct. The club admitted a charge of failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. The charge related to an incident during QPR's match against Stoke City on 3 December 2005.
Queens Park Rangers FC - Stoke City FC v Queens Park Rangers FCFootball League Championship, 3 December 2005
Admitted breach of FA Rule E20(a) - failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, and refraining from provocative behaviour. Result: Warned as to future conduct and fined £5,000
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/03/Qpr_fined.htm
QPR were fined £5,000 for their conduct at the Stoke game. (That was the game when Simon Royce was attacked by a fan and QPR players raced to his defense. And apparently failed to "conduct themselves in an orderly fashion."]
The FA - March 9, 2006
QPR fined
At a disciplinary commission hearing today, Queens Park Rangers were fined £5,000 and warned as to their future conduct. The club admitted a charge of failing to ensure that their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion. The charge related to an incident during QPR's match against Stoke City on 3 December 2005.
Queens Park Rangers FC - Stoke City FC v Queens Park Rangers FCFootball League Championship, 3 December 2005
Admitted breach of FA Rule E20(a) - failing to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, and refraining from provocative behaviour. Result: Warned as to future conduct and fined £5,000
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2006/03/Qpr_fined.htm
QPR's Official Site Staff Directory - Still Not Updated
-
Still listed on the Official QPR Directory, nine days in March:
Chief Financial Officer - Chris Pennington
New Media Manager - Billy Rice billyr@qpr.co.uk
[And, there remains reference to changes in the status of the Coaching Staff, or the arrival of Alan McDonald:
First Team Coaching StaffManager - Ian HollowayFirst Team Coaches - Tim Breacker, Gary Waddock, Gary Penrice, Tony Robert
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StaffDirectory/0,,10373,00.html
[Assuming of course, that there was no alteration of plans!]
How the QPR Official Site announced/reported the forthcoming departures of QPR's CFO, Chris Pennington and "New Media Manager", Billy Rice.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JANUARY 20, 2006
PENNINGTON DEPARTS
QPR's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Pennington, is leaving the club and moving on to pastures new.
Chris, who has agreed to stay on until the end of February, said:
"I wish the club all the best for the future and I'll look forward to returning to Loftus Road to cheer on the Superhoops."
QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini, thanked Pennington for his help.
"I'd like to thank him for his help since we came to the club. I wish him all the best for the future and he'll always be welcome at Loftus Road."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~771465,00.html
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - February 2, 2006
RICE DEPARTS
New Media Manager Billy Rice is to leave QPR after three and a half years at the club.Rice took responsibility for QPR World which is the most successful World site in the Football League.Last year, Rice also took overall responsibility for the QPR website.
He said: "I've been very fortunate to work at the club through some really great times; I'll always have memories of Paul Furlong's goal against Oldham, the day of the play-off final and promotion the following season.
"I've lived every fan's dream of working for the club I've supported all my life and I'll certainly leave with a heavy heart, but life moves on and I have been offered a great opportunity elsewhere.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell our fans what a truly special club this is. I may be leaving in one sense but I'll still be back every Saturday cheering the lads on.
"I'd like to thank the people I have worked with in our department over my time here, Jim, Phil, Clinton, Jackie and Ian and also the rest of the staff at Loftus Road who do a really good job away from the spotlight.
"I'd also like to thank Ian Holloway and his staff and players for being so accommodating and for some great memories both on and off the pitch.
"My biggest thank you is to our fans that make the club what it is and make the website and QPR World amongst the top performers in the Football League. So farewell, see you in the Loft!"
Chairman Gianni Paladini is sorry to see him go: "I wish Billy all the best in the future, the place will certainly be a lot quieter without him. He's been a joy to work with and we'll really miss him around here.
"He has provided a service to QPR World that is second to none and he should be extremely proud of what he has achieved here."
Rice will leave the club at the end of February.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~777798,00.html
Still listed on the Official QPR Directory, nine days in March:
Chief Financial Officer - Chris Pennington
New Media Manager - Billy Rice billyr@qpr.co.uk
[And, there remains reference to changes in the status of the Coaching Staff, or the arrival of Alan McDonald:
First Team Coaching StaffManager - Ian HollowayFirst Team Coaches - Tim Breacker, Gary Waddock, Gary Penrice, Tony Robert
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/StaffDirectory/0,,10373,00.html
[Assuming of course, that there was no alteration of plans!]
How the QPR Official Site announced/reported the forthcoming departures of QPR's CFO, Chris Pennington and "New Media Manager", Billy Rice.
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - JANUARY 20, 2006
PENNINGTON DEPARTS
QPR's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Pennington, is leaving the club and moving on to pastures new.
Chris, who has agreed to stay on until the end of February, said:
"I wish the club all the best for the future and I'll look forward to returning to Loftus Road to cheer on the Superhoops."
QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini, thanked Pennington for his help.
"I'd like to thank him for his help since we came to the club. I wish him all the best for the future and he'll always be welcome at Loftus Road."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~771465,00.html
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - February 2, 2006
RICE DEPARTS
New Media Manager Billy Rice is to leave QPR after three and a half years at the club.Rice took responsibility for QPR World which is the most successful World site in the Football League.Last year, Rice also took overall responsibility for the QPR website.
He said: "I've been very fortunate to work at the club through some really great times; I'll always have memories of Paul Furlong's goal against Oldham, the day of the play-off final and promotion the following season.
"I've lived every fan's dream of working for the club I've supported all my life and I'll certainly leave with a heavy heart, but life moves on and I have been offered a great opportunity elsewhere.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell our fans what a truly special club this is. I may be leaving in one sense but I'll still be back every Saturday cheering the lads on.
"I'd like to thank the people I have worked with in our department over my time here, Jim, Phil, Clinton, Jackie and Ian and also the rest of the staff at Loftus Road who do a really good job away from the spotlight.
"I'd also like to thank Ian Holloway and his staff and players for being so accommodating and for some great memories both on and off the pitch.
"My biggest thank you is to our fans that make the club what it is and make the website and QPR World amongst the top performers in the Football League. So farewell, see you in the Loft!"
Chairman Gianni Paladini is sorry to see him go: "I wish Billy all the best in the future, the place will certainly be a lot quieter without him. He's been a joy to work with and we'll really miss him around here.
"He has provided a service to QPR World that is second to none and he should be extremely proud of what he has achieved here."
Rice will leave the club at the end of February.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~777798,00.html
Birthday Today - Mike Ferguson: QPR's Ex- Accrington Stanley/Blackburn/Aston Villa ..Turns 63
-
Mike Ferguson - Turns 63!...Born March 9, 1943
QPR's Les Allen signed him in 1969 from Aston Villa for something like 15,000 pounds to replace Rodney Marsh who was suspended for a month (the days of draconian suspensions for 3 bookings). Skillful foward/winger...Ferguson was with QPR for 4 seasons, even captaining the club for a while in the 1971/72 season, when Venables was injured. Famous for being the last Accrington Stanley player playing in the League. (Ironically Accrington Stanley look like they will be returning to the League.) After we won promotion, joined Cambridge for a small fee.
Accrington Observer - 4th December 2002
Fergie remembers
LAST scorer: Mike Ferguson in action at Peel Park during the fateful 1961-62 season.
MIKE Ferguson scored Accrington Stanley’s last-ever Football League goal … and has spent more than half a lifetime listening to other people claim the distinction.
And Fergie, now 58, holds another record of sorts.
He was the first player to be transferred from the Football League to another club, joining neighbours Blackburn Rovers for around £2,500, a fraction of the fee he would have earned stricken Stanley had he gone before their demise.
Ironically, such a windfall might have gone some way towards saving the club. But cynics suggested that predatory rivals who had guessed at Stanley’s fate were hovering like vultures to swoop down on whatever meat remained on the carcass.
Ferguson’s goal, his first and only Stanley goal, earned the Reds their final point at Doncaster four days before their final game. It was one of only four points the ailing side picked up in their final 17 games after the last win, a 1-0 success at home to Crewe in mid-October 1961.
Mike, who now lives in Worsthorne, said: "I didn’t even realise it was the last goal until someone contacted me and told me a few years ago. I have met all kinds of people who said they scored it, people I know didn’t even play for the club!
"Football was so different then. I used to go to the ground from Burnley on the bus, with spectators getting on all the way down Burnley Road. If it was good enough for Tom Finney it was good enough for me. Diets? Unheard of in those days. I remember once pulling up at a transport café at 4am on the way to Gillingham and Harry Hubbick, the trainer, said: "Nobody have peas with your pies!"
Mike had a fine career as a winger-cum-midfield schemer with Blackburn, Aston Villa and QPR, living the London high-life with the likes of Rodney Marsh and Terry Venables at one stage. He also managed with great success abroad and as recently as 1996 was scouting foreign teams for his old pal Venables, then England manager.
http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/s/48/48020_fergie_remembers.html
Spotlight on: The Career of Mike Ferguson
17/2/2002 - Rochdale Rivals
A keen desire to make the grade as a professional footballer saw the Burnley born inside forward travel in excess of 200 miles south after accepting an offer to join Plymouth Argyle. The first team proved just beyond him during his time at Home Park throughout which he remained an amateur. So the offer of professional terms combined with a move closer to home with Accrington Stanley was gleefully accepted.
Despite their lowly status Ferguson spent almost two seasons with Stanley. Blackburn Rovers scouts regularly attended games across Lancashire and on one of these visits saw Ferguson and marked him down as a transfer target. Financial problems primarily led to the demise of the club. Their subsequent loss of Football League status only hastened his arrival at Ewood Park in return for a £1500 fee. Although bought as a striker he was converted to a right sided midfielder usually operating on the wing. It was a move which benefited both parties as Blackburn had created an extra option going forward with a player who knew the strikers art and could anticipate the needs of the forwards as well as weighing in with his fair share of goals.
For his part Ferguson revelled in his creative role due to the responsibility and extra satisfaction he gained from the switch. However, that was tempered by a powerful will to win which unfortunately exposed a short fuse when the battle for points got heated enough. Although he missed just a handful of games during his six seasons with Rovers a fair share of these absences came through suspensions.
Although a crowd favourite like many other players he had a price which could buy his services and by offering £50,000 at the close of the 1967-68 season Aston Villa found it. Like Blackburn Villa were a major force during the fledging years of the Football League but neither enjoyed a comfortable level of standing. Rovers were relegated from the top flight in 1966 and weren't looking good bets for a quick return. The Midlanders were in the same division but usually finished well up the table while never pushing for promotion. They were eventually relegated to the Third Division but believed that the skills displayed by Ferguson could help them break back into the big time. However, by this time they suffered the drop Fergsuon had left the club. He spent just over a year with The Villains playing a more peripheral role than he had been used to with previous clubs before joining Queens Park Rangers in a cut price deal.
In complete contrast the London club got a keen deal and managed to give their signing a new lease of life. Their direct style being more suited to his style of play. Cambridge United provided a stop off before he arrived at Rochdale in time for the 1974-75 campaign. In two seasons at Spotland he became an established first choice in the centre of the park only breaking away to set up a pioneering transfer to Icelandic side IAK Arkanes. The move as player/coach only lasted a short time but a result of this move he became one of the first English players to sample life in Europe's northern most outposts. It was this experience and exposure to different techniques which set him in good stead when he took on other coaching posts. However, before concentrating on that side of the game he played a couple of matches for Halifax Town in the spring of 1977.
His backroom career literally had him journey from continent to continent although it started at lowly Enfield. Rochdale were the only Football League club he served as manager. He took the reigns at Spotland a few weeks into the 1977-78 season after a bad start to the campaign saw Brian Green's tenure ended. Form barely picked up throughout the campaign as Dale finished bottom of the league seven points shy of the second from bottom Southport and seventeen points clear of not having to battle out yet another re-election vote. In the event the Merseyside club rather than Dale were shown the door by their fellow league clubs. Just eight games were won all season and just one before Ferguson's arrival. No victories came on the club's travels except in the League Cup when a narrow win was recorded over Halifax Town. In the league two points were picked up away from Spotland from draws with York City and Doncaster Rovers.
He was given another chance to turn things around and retained his job. There was clearly a lot of pressure to produce but things got little better the following season with just one win and six draws picked up by the end of November. However, earlier in the month the manager had left Dale allowing him to embark on another oddessy around the world coaching teams as far a field as Cyprus and The Far East. Upon leaving the game during the 1980s despite all the places and climates he had experienced he chose to return to Burnley where he still lives.
http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=967&p=2&stid=8237450
Mike Ferguson - Turns 63!...Born March 9, 1943
QPR's Les Allen signed him in 1969 from Aston Villa for something like 15,000 pounds to replace Rodney Marsh who was suspended for a month (the days of draconian suspensions for 3 bookings). Skillful foward/winger...Ferguson was with QPR for 4 seasons, even captaining the club for a while in the 1971/72 season, when Venables was injured. Famous for being the last Accrington Stanley player playing in the League. (Ironically Accrington Stanley look like they will be returning to the League.) After we won promotion, joined Cambridge for a small fee.
Accrington Observer - 4th December 2002
Fergie remembers
LAST scorer: Mike Ferguson in action at Peel Park during the fateful 1961-62 season.
MIKE Ferguson scored Accrington Stanley’s last-ever Football League goal … and has spent more than half a lifetime listening to other people claim the distinction.
And Fergie, now 58, holds another record of sorts.
He was the first player to be transferred from the Football League to another club, joining neighbours Blackburn Rovers for around £2,500, a fraction of the fee he would have earned stricken Stanley had he gone before their demise.
Ironically, such a windfall might have gone some way towards saving the club. But cynics suggested that predatory rivals who had guessed at Stanley’s fate were hovering like vultures to swoop down on whatever meat remained on the carcass.
Ferguson’s goal, his first and only Stanley goal, earned the Reds their final point at Doncaster four days before their final game. It was one of only four points the ailing side picked up in their final 17 games after the last win, a 1-0 success at home to Crewe in mid-October 1961.
Mike, who now lives in Worsthorne, said: "I didn’t even realise it was the last goal until someone contacted me and told me a few years ago. I have met all kinds of people who said they scored it, people I know didn’t even play for the club!
"Football was so different then. I used to go to the ground from Burnley on the bus, with spectators getting on all the way down Burnley Road. If it was good enough for Tom Finney it was good enough for me. Diets? Unheard of in those days. I remember once pulling up at a transport café at 4am on the way to Gillingham and Harry Hubbick, the trainer, said: "Nobody have peas with your pies!"
Mike had a fine career as a winger-cum-midfield schemer with Blackburn, Aston Villa and QPR, living the London high-life with the likes of Rodney Marsh and Terry Venables at one stage. He also managed with great success abroad and as recently as 1996 was scouting foreign teams for his old pal Venables, then England manager.
http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/news/s/48/48020_fergie_remembers.html
Spotlight on: The Career of Mike Ferguson
17/2/2002 - Rochdale Rivals
A keen desire to make the grade as a professional footballer saw the Burnley born inside forward travel in excess of 200 miles south after accepting an offer to join Plymouth Argyle. The first team proved just beyond him during his time at Home Park throughout which he remained an amateur. So the offer of professional terms combined with a move closer to home with Accrington Stanley was gleefully accepted.
Despite their lowly status Ferguson spent almost two seasons with Stanley. Blackburn Rovers scouts regularly attended games across Lancashire and on one of these visits saw Ferguson and marked him down as a transfer target. Financial problems primarily led to the demise of the club. Their subsequent loss of Football League status only hastened his arrival at Ewood Park in return for a £1500 fee. Although bought as a striker he was converted to a right sided midfielder usually operating on the wing. It was a move which benefited both parties as Blackburn had created an extra option going forward with a player who knew the strikers art and could anticipate the needs of the forwards as well as weighing in with his fair share of goals.
For his part Ferguson revelled in his creative role due to the responsibility and extra satisfaction he gained from the switch. However, that was tempered by a powerful will to win which unfortunately exposed a short fuse when the battle for points got heated enough. Although he missed just a handful of games during his six seasons with Rovers a fair share of these absences came through suspensions.
Although a crowd favourite like many other players he had a price which could buy his services and by offering £50,000 at the close of the 1967-68 season Aston Villa found it. Like Blackburn Villa were a major force during the fledging years of the Football League but neither enjoyed a comfortable level of standing. Rovers were relegated from the top flight in 1966 and weren't looking good bets for a quick return. The Midlanders were in the same division but usually finished well up the table while never pushing for promotion. They were eventually relegated to the Third Division but believed that the skills displayed by Ferguson could help them break back into the big time. However, by this time they suffered the drop Fergsuon had left the club. He spent just over a year with The Villains playing a more peripheral role than he had been used to with previous clubs before joining Queens Park Rangers in a cut price deal.
In complete contrast the London club got a keen deal and managed to give their signing a new lease of life. Their direct style being more suited to his style of play. Cambridge United provided a stop off before he arrived at Rochdale in time for the 1974-75 campaign. In two seasons at Spotland he became an established first choice in the centre of the park only breaking away to set up a pioneering transfer to Icelandic side IAK Arkanes. The move as player/coach only lasted a short time but a result of this move he became one of the first English players to sample life in Europe's northern most outposts. It was this experience and exposure to different techniques which set him in good stead when he took on other coaching posts. However, before concentrating on that side of the game he played a couple of matches for Halifax Town in the spring of 1977.
His backroom career literally had him journey from continent to continent although it started at lowly Enfield. Rochdale were the only Football League club he served as manager. He took the reigns at Spotland a few weeks into the 1977-78 season after a bad start to the campaign saw Brian Green's tenure ended. Form barely picked up throughout the campaign as Dale finished bottom of the league seven points shy of the second from bottom Southport and seventeen points clear of not having to battle out yet another re-election vote. In the event the Merseyside club rather than Dale were shown the door by their fellow league clubs. Just eight games were won all season and just one before Ferguson's arrival. No victories came on the club's travels except in the League Cup when a narrow win was recorded over Halifax Town. In the league two points were picked up away from Spotland from draws with York City and Doncaster Rovers.
He was given another chance to turn things around and retained his job. There was clearly a lot of pressure to produce but things got little better the following season with just one win and six draws picked up by the end of November. However, earlier in the month the manager had left Dale allowing him to embark on another oddessy around the world coaching teams as far a field as Cyprus and The Far East. Upon leaving the game during the 1980s despite all the places and climates he had experienced he chose to return to Burnley where he still lives.
http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=967&p=2&stid=8237450
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Gallen on Waddock, Holloway & His Injury (Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times)
-
Winning run can clinch it for Waddock
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - 08 March 2006
KEVIN Gallen has urged his QPR team-mates to end the season on a high - and clinch the manager's job for Gary Waddock.Gallen, who has just returned to the Rangers side after a three-month injury lay-off, is convinced that a good run of form in the last 10 games will see Waddock confirmed as Ian Holloway's replacement.
And the QPR captain hopes his former team-mate Alan McDonald - who is currently assisting Waddock with coaching duties - can be persuaded to stay at Loftus Road on a permanent basis.
Realistically, the Rs will not be involved in either the play-off picture or the relegation issue this year and Gallen observed: "The play-offs would be nice, but I think that's too far away."But hopefully we can play some good football, get results and get Waddo the job. I think it's pretty likely that'll happen if we finish the season well."We're behind Waddo and I'm delighted he got his chance because he's a QPR man and I hope it goes really well for him."Hopefully then Macca will stay and he can buy some new clothes - he's still wearing the same ones he had when he was a player, so he could do with a few win bonuses!"
Gallen made his comeback with an hour's run-out in Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Wolves, his first taste of competitive action since picking up a hamstring injury against Hull in late November.A nerve problem then developed in the striker's lower back and left him frustrated by his inability to help influence the team's fortunes during a difficult period."
Saturdays were bad enough, but what really got to me was every day, watching the lads train while I was sitting on my bike in the gym," Gallen recalled."The more time you're out, the harder it is to regain your fitness, so I was delighted to put on the kit and get back into the old routine."I couldn't have spent another Saturday shopping with the missus - she said, 'any chance of you getting fit and going back to playing football?'
"Of course I'm disappointed that I didn't get the chance to play those last games for Ian Holloway. Maybe I could have made a difference, who knows?"Ollie was good to me - he brought me back to the club and got me playing well again. But people come and go and it's a case of 'the king is dead, long live the king'.
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED08%20Mar%202006%2012%3A13%3A33%3A967
Winning run can clinch it for Waddock
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - 08 March 2006
KEVIN Gallen has urged his QPR team-mates to end the season on a high - and clinch the manager's job for Gary Waddock.Gallen, who has just returned to the Rangers side after a three-month injury lay-off, is convinced that a good run of form in the last 10 games will see Waddock confirmed as Ian Holloway's replacement.
And the QPR captain hopes his former team-mate Alan McDonald - who is currently assisting Waddock with coaching duties - can be persuaded to stay at Loftus Road on a permanent basis.
Realistically, the Rs will not be involved in either the play-off picture or the relegation issue this year and Gallen observed: "The play-offs would be nice, but I think that's too far away."But hopefully we can play some good football, get results and get Waddo the job. I think it's pretty likely that'll happen if we finish the season well."We're behind Waddo and I'm delighted he got his chance because he's a QPR man and I hope it goes really well for him."Hopefully then Macca will stay and he can buy some new clothes - he's still wearing the same ones he had when he was a player, so he could do with a few win bonuses!"
Gallen made his comeback with an hour's run-out in Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Wolves, his first taste of competitive action since picking up a hamstring injury against Hull in late November.A nerve problem then developed in the striker's lower back and left him frustrated by his inability to help influence the team's fortunes during a difficult period."
Saturdays were bad enough, but what really got to me was every day, watching the lads train while I was sitting on my bike in the gym," Gallen recalled."The more time you're out, the harder it is to regain your fitness, so I was delighted to put on the kit and get back into the old routine."I couldn't have spent another Saturday shopping with the missus - she said, 'any chance of you getting fit and going back to playing football?'
"Of course I'm disappointed that I didn't get the chance to play those last games for Ian Holloway. Maybe I could have made a difference, who knows?"Ollie was good to me - he brought me back to the club and got me playing well again. But people come and go and it's a case of 'the king is dead, long live the king'.
http://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/content/camden/kilburntimes/sport/story.aspx?brand=KLBTOnline&category=sportfootball&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=sportklbt&itemid=WeED08%20Mar%202006%2012%3A13%3A33%3A967
Ex-QPR Players "In Action" Yesterday
-
John Hollins Crawley at QPR
Crawley OFFICIAL SITE
STRONG RESERVE SIDE BEATS QPR
A strong Reds reserves side produced an excellent performance to defeat Championship side Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday afternoon. Goals from Steve Burton and Omari Coleman sealed the win for Town, while Rangers' only response was a late strike from former Aston Villa forward Stefan Moore.
The win moves Crawley up to fifth place in the league. Woking are the visitors to the Broadfield Stadium this Tuesday in the next Combination game.
Crawley opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Paul Armstrong broke from midfield and sent a perfect cross into the box for Burton to slide home. Rangers rarely troubled Scott Ward in the Town goal despite having a strong side out, including ex Premiership stars Moore, Georges Santos and keeper Simon Royce. Moore had the best chance for QPR during the first half, as a back pass was incepted and Moore's attempted chip was flicked away for a corner.
Playing in a strong wind and rain, neither side troubled their opposition goalkeepers too much in the second half until Crawley wrapped up the win with five minutes to play. A long kick by Ward caused all sorts of trouble for the Rangers defence and Coleman was left free to slide the ball under Royce to extend the Reds' lead.
There was a glimmer of hope for Rangers when Moore pulled a goal back two minutes later but the final chance of the game fell to the Reds. Good work by the impressive Lee Blackburn set Burton free on the right and he sent a ball right across the face of the goal, with Coleman's out stretched leg only narrowly failing to convert it.
Result: Tuesday 7th March 2006 (Pontins Holiday's Combination Central Division) QPR 1 Crawley Town 2Crawley Town: Scott Ward, Ben Judge, Ian Simpemba, David Woozley, Neil Jenkins, Lee Blackburn, Paul Armstrong, Danny Brown, Sacha Opinel, Omari Coleman, Steve Burton.Unused subs: Phil Smith, Chris Giles, Leonard Mendy.Crawley Town Man of the Match: Lee Blackburn.
07 MARCH 2006
CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS CUTS TO THE FANSMore than 200 Crawley fans packed into the Redz bar at Broadfield Stadium on Monday to hear chairman Chas Majeed explain the club's recent salary cutbacks.
Mr Majeed said reducing the wage bill had been necessary to meet the Conference salary cap, and that a restructured budget could enable new players to come in to boost the club's fight against relegation.
He said that before last week's announcement that wages had been cut by 50 per cent, that the club's wage bill had been the second highest in the division.
“We wanted to restructure the club to enable us to move forward and to get out of this position.” Mr Majeed said the moves had been made after an investor had pulled out due to the team's poor position in the table.
“We will complete our fixtures this season, there is no doubt about that. The changes we have made will enable the club to operate without that extra investment, but we are also hoping to bring in more. The club will still be here next season – we want to go up, not down. We will not go into administration. What we are doing now is to stop that happening.”
The chairman said he took some responsibility for the situation, claiming that he would never again hand players big money two-year contracts, which he said had led to some complacency.
“We have learned the hard way that is not the way to do things. I should have been there when the contracts were being negotiated and signed – that's my fault, I admit that. But we left it to other people and it has not worked.
“We know now that what we should have done is put them all on one-year deals in order that they maintain their drive and don't slip into a comfort zone.
“We knew the club was losing money when we took it on – that's not the problem. But the long-term contracts had created a big problem for next season and we had to take action.
“From now on we are keen to get a set pay structure in place with a maximum that we won't exceed and put players only on one-year deals.
Mr Majeed was quick to assure fans that top scorer Daryl Clare was not one of the players he expected to leave in the near future.
“We want him to stay. He is one of the guys who plays with passion and he might even still be here if we didn't pay him at all!”
“If we had 11 players who tried as hard as they did on Saturday all season we wouldn't be in the mess we are in.”
Assistant general manager Ben Taylor added that the players had responded brilliantly in the last week's events.
“The cuts were announced to the squad before they played Gravesend and the players, Danny Brown for example, have been fantastic in the last two games, showing more spirit and pride than they had done before.”
Mr Taylor also said the club staff were determined to make the club a success despite having their own wages cut as well. “We are all in this together. We are Crawley Town Football Club and we will get through it all together,” he said.
Mr Majeed accepted that communication with fans could be better, but that this meeting, and similar events in the future could improve the relationship. One fan pointed out that when the club held a meeting soon after their takeover, only around ten supporters had turned up.
The chairman added that although the swift transition from part-time to full-time this season had not been ideal, it had been a necessary move.
“We were criticised but if you saw our games at the start of the season the players looked tired in the second half – they couldn't even play for 90 minutes. You have to be full-time to compete in this league.”
The chairman also threw his support behind manager John Hollins. “We are sure John Hollins is the right man for the job. He has still not had a full chance to take control and work with the team he wants.”
Assurances over the future existence and promotion of the club's youth set-up were given before Mr Majeed appealed to the fans to come through the gates for the rest of the season and help to strengthen the club's financial position.
“You guys are the bread and butter of this club. We need to do this together but the gates have been dropping.”
Commercial manager Victor Marley had a similar message, saying: “The passion for Crawley Town among the fans here is obvious and there is no doubt the chairman has sunk a lot of his money into the club. What we need is for the next game, that everyone tries to bring someone else and we'll be on the right track.
Club consultant Alan Mullery's involvement was questioned and Mr Majeed said that while he still advised the club on procedural matters and how other professional clubs operate, he no longer had any say in player recruitment, which is now down to John Hollins.
Mr Taylor pointed out that the only player signed on Mr Mullery's recommendation had been defender Leonard Mendy, who was the fans' player of the month for February.
Mr Majeed explained that Tony Scully had been signed by him and then caretaker-boss Simon Wormull.
Supporters Club chairman Kevin Giles, who hosted the meeting, appealed for there to be no repeat of the scenes before last Saturday's game against Accrington, when a handful of fans entered the field of play shortly before kick-off.
“The people who went on the pitch should know better. We are all emotional about the club but the consequences of their actions could have made the situation worse.”
However, Mr Majeed said no action would be taken against the protestors. “Everyone is passionate about this club. But they are our supporters and we won't throw them out.”
The meeting was held in a positive spirit throughout, with fans breaking into a spontaneous chorus of “We are the Reds” at the end.
http://www.crawley-town-fc.co.uk/php/070306.php#3
Jamie Cureton scored again for Swindon
BBC-
Swindon 1-2 Tranmere
Goals from Chris Greenacre and Sam Aiston eased the pressure on Tranmere against relegation-threatened Swindon.
Greenacre swept home his 15th goal of the season after 21 minutes as Tranmere dominated the first half.
Aiston added a second in the 33rd minute, exchanging passes with Calvin Zola before seeing his shot deflect over goalkeeper Rhys Evans.
Swindon pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when Jamie Cureton scored with a right-foot shot from 15 yards.
Swindon: Evans, Jack Smith (Shakes 45), Nicholas, O'Hanlon, Gurney, Pook, Miglioranzi (Jarrett 64), Brown, Benjamin, Peacock, Cureton.Subs Not Used: Bulman, Jenkins, Whalley.
Goals: Cureton 69.
Tranmere: Seremet, Raven, Roberts, Jackson, Sharps, Aiston (Harrison 75), McAteer, O'Leary, Tremarco (Goodison 75), Zola (Facey 80), Greenacre.Subs Not Used: Wilson, Jennings.
Goals: Greenacre 21, Aiston 33.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/4750096.stm
Bull & Griffiths for Aldershot
BBC -Aldershot 1-4 Accrington Stanley
Ian Craney scored Accrington's openerGary Roberts scored twice as leaders Accrington continued their march to the Football League with a convincing win.
John Coleman's side took the lead soon after the restart when Ian Craney slammed a shot into the top corner.
Stanley doubled their advantage on the hour mark, with Roberts firing home from 12 yards.
Andrew Mangan made it three on 67 minutes before Leroy Griffiths pulled a goal back for Aldershot only for Roberts to complete the rout.
Aldershot: Bull, Hamilton, Heald, Jinadu, Barnard, Crittenden, Watson, Holloway, Williams (Griffiths 51), Dixon, Scott.Subs Not Used: Weait, Sulaiman, Hudson, Elphick.
Booked: Watson.
Goals: Griffiths 71.
Accrington Stanley: Elliot, Edwards, Ventre, Welch, Richardson, Todd (Jagielka 78), Boco, Craney, Roberts, Brown (Mangan 63), Mullin.Subs Not Used: Alcock, Cook, Boyd.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773610.stm
Denis Oli at Grays
BBC -Cambridge Utd 1-1 Grays Athletic
Play-off hopefuls Grays could only manage a point as Cambridge dominated proceedings at the Abbey Stadium.
The hosts took a 13th minute lead when Craig Westcarr fired home and he could have added a second but shot straight at Nicky Eyre when well placed.
Grays levelled when Jamie Slabber tapped in Stuart Thurgood's cross.
Dan Gleeson and Mbiyeye Medine spurned good chances for the Us before Grays almost snatched victory through Glenn Poole's well-struck drive.
Cambridge Utd: Howie, Gleeson, Bloomer, Duncan, Jaszczun, Brady, Coldicott (Porter 70), Wolleaston, Pitt, Onibuje (Medine 55), Westcarr.Subs Not Used: Morrison, Davies, Bunce.
Booked: Medine, Jaszczun.
Goals: Westcarr 13.
Grays Athletic: Eyre, Mawer, Stuart, Hanson, Nutter, Kightly (Hooper 71), Thurgood, Martin, Poole, Oli (Williamson 83), Slabber.Subs Not Used: Bayes, Battersby, Sambrook.
Goals: Slabber 38.
Att: 1,821 http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773614.stm
Tony Roberts at Dagenham
BBC - Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 York
Strike pair Clayton Donaldson and Andy Bishop kept York's play-off push on track with two late strikes.
Donaldson steered home a cross from his forward partner with four minutes left and when Donaldson returned the favour in injury-time the points were secure.
The visitors had the better of a cagey first half, with Donaldson spurning a couple of half-chances.
Craig Mackail-Smith's angled drive after 36 minutes and Chris Porter's were the best of the Daggers' chances.
Dag & Red: Roberts, Uddin, Cole, Blackett, Foster , Saunders, Lettejallon (Vickers 89), Southam, Griffiths, Akurang (Moore 69), Mackail-Smith.Subs Not Used: Hogan, Johnson, Kenny Clark.
Booked: Saunders.
York: Porter, Thomas, Hotte, McGurk, Peat, Convery, Panther, Neil Bishop, Dunning, Andy Bishop, Donaldson.Subs Not Used: Reid, O'Neill, Merris, Stewart, Webster.
Booked: Porter, Donaldson.
Goals: Donaldson 86, Andy Bishop 90.
Att: 973
Ref: G Scott (Devon).
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773618.stm
John Hollins Crawley at QPR
Crawley OFFICIAL SITE
STRONG RESERVE SIDE BEATS QPR
A strong Reds reserves side produced an excellent performance to defeat Championship side Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday afternoon. Goals from Steve Burton and Omari Coleman sealed the win for Town, while Rangers' only response was a late strike from former Aston Villa forward Stefan Moore.
The win moves Crawley up to fifth place in the league. Woking are the visitors to the Broadfield Stadium this Tuesday in the next Combination game.
Crawley opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Paul Armstrong broke from midfield and sent a perfect cross into the box for Burton to slide home. Rangers rarely troubled Scott Ward in the Town goal despite having a strong side out, including ex Premiership stars Moore, Georges Santos and keeper Simon Royce. Moore had the best chance for QPR during the first half, as a back pass was incepted and Moore's attempted chip was flicked away for a corner.
Playing in a strong wind and rain, neither side troubled their opposition goalkeepers too much in the second half until Crawley wrapped up the win with five minutes to play. A long kick by Ward caused all sorts of trouble for the Rangers defence and Coleman was left free to slide the ball under Royce to extend the Reds' lead.
There was a glimmer of hope for Rangers when Moore pulled a goal back two minutes later but the final chance of the game fell to the Reds. Good work by the impressive Lee Blackburn set Burton free on the right and he sent a ball right across the face of the goal, with Coleman's out stretched leg only narrowly failing to convert it.
Result: Tuesday 7th March 2006 (Pontins Holiday's Combination Central Division) QPR 1 Crawley Town 2Crawley Town: Scott Ward, Ben Judge, Ian Simpemba, David Woozley, Neil Jenkins, Lee Blackburn, Paul Armstrong, Danny Brown, Sacha Opinel, Omari Coleman, Steve Burton.Unused subs: Phil Smith, Chris Giles, Leonard Mendy.Crawley Town Man of the Match: Lee Blackburn.
07 MARCH 2006
CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS CUTS TO THE FANSMore than 200 Crawley fans packed into the Redz bar at Broadfield Stadium on Monday to hear chairman Chas Majeed explain the club's recent salary cutbacks.
Mr Majeed said reducing the wage bill had been necessary to meet the Conference salary cap, and that a restructured budget could enable new players to come in to boost the club's fight against relegation.
He said that before last week's announcement that wages had been cut by 50 per cent, that the club's wage bill had been the second highest in the division.
“We wanted to restructure the club to enable us to move forward and to get out of this position.” Mr Majeed said the moves had been made after an investor had pulled out due to the team's poor position in the table.
“We will complete our fixtures this season, there is no doubt about that. The changes we have made will enable the club to operate without that extra investment, but we are also hoping to bring in more. The club will still be here next season – we want to go up, not down. We will not go into administration. What we are doing now is to stop that happening.”
The chairman said he took some responsibility for the situation, claiming that he would never again hand players big money two-year contracts, which he said had led to some complacency.
“We have learned the hard way that is not the way to do things. I should have been there when the contracts were being negotiated and signed – that's my fault, I admit that. But we left it to other people and it has not worked.
“We know now that what we should have done is put them all on one-year deals in order that they maintain their drive and don't slip into a comfort zone.
“We knew the club was losing money when we took it on – that's not the problem. But the long-term contracts had created a big problem for next season and we had to take action.
“From now on we are keen to get a set pay structure in place with a maximum that we won't exceed and put players only on one-year deals.
Mr Majeed was quick to assure fans that top scorer Daryl Clare was not one of the players he expected to leave in the near future.
“We want him to stay. He is one of the guys who plays with passion and he might even still be here if we didn't pay him at all!”
“If we had 11 players who tried as hard as they did on Saturday all season we wouldn't be in the mess we are in.”
Assistant general manager Ben Taylor added that the players had responded brilliantly in the last week's events.
“The cuts were announced to the squad before they played Gravesend and the players, Danny Brown for example, have been fantastic in the last two games, showing more spirit and pride than they had done before.”
Mr Taylor also said the club staff were determined to make the club a success despite having their own wages cut as well. “We are all in this together. We are Crawley Town Football Club and we will get through it all together,” he said.
Mr Majeed accepted that communication with fans could be better, but that this meeting, and similar events in the future could improve the relationship. One fan pointed out that when the club held a meeting soon after their takeover, only around ten supporters had turned up.
The chairman added that although the swift transition from part-time to full-time this season had not been ideal, it had been a necessary move.
“We were criticised but if you saw our games at the start of the season the players looked tired in the second half – they couldn't even play for 90 minutes. You have to be full-time to compete in this league.”
The chairman also threw his support behind manager John Hollins. “We are sure John Hollins is the right man for the job. He has still not had a full chance to take control and work with the team he wants.”
Assurances over the future existence and promotion of the club's youth set-up were given before Mr Majeed appealed to the fans to come through the gates for the rest of the season and help to strengthen the club's financial position.
“You guys are the bread and butter of this club. We need to do this together but the gates have been dropping.”
Commercial manager Victor Marley had a similar message, saying: “The passion for Crawley Town among the fans here is obvious and there is no doubt the chairman has sunk a lot of his money into the club. What we need is for the next game, that everyone tries to bring someone else and we'll be on the right track.
Club consultant Alan Mullery's involvement was questioned and Mr Majeed said that while he still advised the club on procedural matters and how other professional clubs operate, he no longer had any say in player recruitment, which is now down to John Hollins.
Mr Taylor pointed out that the only player signed on Mr Mullery's recommendation had been defender Leonard Mendy, who was the fans' player of the month for February.
Mr Majeed explained that Tony Scully had been signed by him and then caretaker-boss Simon Wormull.
Supporters Club chairman Kevin Giles, who hosted the meeting, appealed for there to be no repeat of the scenes before last Saturday's game against Accrington, when a handful of fans entered the field of play shortly before kick-off.
“The people who went on the pitch should know better. We are all emotional about the club but the consequences of their actions could have made the situation worse.”
However, Mr Majeed said no action would be taken against the protestors. “Everyone is passionate about this club. But they are our supporters and we won't throw them out.”
The meeting was held in a positive spirit throughout, with fans breaking into a spontaneous chorus of “We are the Reds” at the end.
http://www.crawley-town-fc.co.uk/php/070306.php#3
Jamie Cureton scored again for Swindon
BBC-
Swindon 1-2 Tranmere
Goals from Chris Greenacre and Sam Aiston eased the pressure on Tranmere against relegation-threatened Swindon.
Greenacre swept home his 15th goal of the season after 21 minutes as Tranmere dominated the first half.
Aiston added a second in the 33rd minute, exchanging passes with Calvin Zola before seeing his shot deflect over goalkeeper Rhys Evans.
Swindon pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when Jamie Cureton scored with a right-foot shot from 15 yards.
Swindon: Evans, Jack Smith (Shakes 45), Nicholas, O'Hanlon, Gurney, Pook, Miglioranzi (Jarrett 64), Brown, Benjamin, Peacock, Cureton.Subs Not Used: Bulman, Jenkins, Whalley.
Goals: Cureton 69.
Tranmere: Seremet, Raven, Roberts, Jackson, Sharps, Aiston (Harrison 75), McAteer, O'Leary, Tremarco (Goodison 75), Zola (Facey 80), Greenacre.Subs Not Used: Wilson, Jennings.
Goals: Greenacre 21, Aiston 33.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_2/4750096.stm
Bull & Griffiths for Aldershot
BBC -Aldershot 1-4 Accrington Stanley
Ian Craney scored Accrington's openerGary Roberts scored twice as leaders Accrington continued their march to the Football League with a convincing win.
John Coleman's side took the lead soon after the restart when Ian Craney slammed a shot into the top corner.
Stanley doubled their advantage on the hour mark, with Roberts firing home from 12 yards.
Andrew Mangan made it three on 67 minutes before Leroy Griffiths pulled a goal back for Aldershot only for Roberts to complete the rout.
Aldershot: Bull, Hamilton, Heald, Jinadu, Barnard, Crittenden, Watson, Holloway, Williams (Griffiths 51), Dixon, Scott.Subs Not Used: Weait, Sulaiman, Hudson, Elphick.
Booked: Watson.
Goals: Griffiths 71.
Accrington Stanley: Elliot, Edwards, Ventre, Welch, Richardson, Todd (Jagielka 78), Boco, Craney, Roberts, Brown (Mangan 63), Mullin.Subs Not Used: Alcock, Cook, Boyd.
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773610.stm
Denis Oli at Grays
BBC -Cambridge Utd 1-1 Grays Athletic
Play-off hopefuls Grays could only manage a point as Cambridge dominated proceedings at the Abbey Stadium.
The hosts took a 13th minute lead when Craig Westcarr fired home and he could have added a second but shot straight at Nicky Eyre when well placed.
Grays levelled when Jamie Slabber tapped in Stuart Thurgood's cross.
Dan Gleeson and Mbiyeye Medine spurned good chances for the Us before Grays almost snatched victory through Glenn Poole's well-struck drive.
Cambridge Utd: Howie, Gleeson, Bloomer, Duncan, Jaszczun, Brady, Coldicott (Porter 70), Wolleaston, Pitt, Onibuje (Medine 55), Westcarr.Subs Not Used: Morrison, Davies, Bunce.
Booked: Medine, Jaszczun.
Goals: Westcarr 13.
Grays Athletic: Eyre, Mawer, Stuart, Hanson, Nutter, Kightly (Hooper 71), Thurgood, Martin, Poole, Oli (Williamson 83), Slabber.Subs Not Used: Bayes, Battersby, Sambrook.
Goals: Slabber 38.
Att: 1,821 http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773614.stm
Tony Roberts at Dagenham
BBC - Dagenham & Redbridge 0-2 York
Strike pair Clayton Donaldson and Andy Bishop kept York's play-off push on track with two late strikes.
Donaldson steered home a cross from his forward partner with four minutes left and when Donaldson returned the favour in injury-time the points were secure.
The visitors had the better of a cagey first half, with Donaldson spurning a couple of half-chances.
Craig Mackail-Smith's angled drive after 36 minutes and Chris Porter's were the best of the Daggers' chances.
Dag & Red: Roberts, Uddin, Cole, Blackett, Foster , Saunders, Lettejallon (Vickers 89), Southam, Griffiths, Akurang (Moore 69), Mackail-Smith.Subs Not Used: Hogan, Johnson, Kenny Clark.
Booked: Saunders.
York: Porter, Thomas, Hotte, McGurk, Peat, Convery, Panther, Neil Bishop, Dunning, Andy Bishop, Donaldson.Subs Not Used: Reid, O'Neill, Merris, Stewart, Webster.
Booked: Porter, Donaldson.
Goals: Donaldson 86, Andy Bishop 90.
Att: 973
Ref: G Scott (Devon).
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/4773618.stm
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Paladini Issues Statement Refuting Evening Standard Article Re Finances
-
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT
Gianni Paladini has issued the following statement following recent inaccurate reporting.
Once again this club has been subjected to a barrage of pitifully inaccurate reporting in the London Evening Standard - and once again I am left with no option but to set the record straight in order that you, our true supporters, know exactly how QPR's finances stand.
The article in last Friday's edition should be seen in the light of the previous negative and misleading articles by the same author for which they had to print an apology and pay our solicitor's costs.
The total value of the debt in the 2005 accounts (ie the sum of the current liabilities and the long term liabilities) is £18m.The total value of the same debt in the 2004 accounts was £18m.In other words no change, but this is definitely not the impression conveyed by the headline.
As most fans know the biggest item in the total debt is the £10m loan from the ABC Corporation which was entered into in 2002 several years before the current regime took over. Current liabilities fell in 2005 as the debts to the Customs and Revenue were reduced and short-term loans to shareholders were repaid.
You should also be aware that £2.8m of the total "debts" is for income for the 2005/06 season that was banked before the 31st May 2005 and, in accordance with standard accounting practice, is included in current liabilities as deferred income.The bulk of this deferred income is for season ticket receipts, which is being released in the 2005/06 financial year. This means that the high value of the early bird season ticket sales for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons have increased the "debt" at the club's financial year end.So rather perversely the increase in deferred income is a positive sign and not an indication of "misery" as heralded by the Evening Standard.
The Standard did state that losses for the year were £2.5m but neglected to mention that was an improvement of £1.8m on the two previous years.
This improvement was all the more impressive as it was achieved despite losing the revenue from Fulham ground sharing deal. Running costs have been reduced and supply contracts have been renegotiated. I know these figures are wrong because I am so intimately involved in both the day-to-day running of the club, and its financial strategy and support. Along with my trusted friend and chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, we have dug into our own pockets to pay off the debts we inherited when we took over - debts that, quite frankly, would have forced the club into liquidation if they had not been paid.
I need to say a few more words about Antonio at this point because the Standard has also intimated there is something dark and mysterious about his presence at the club. Antonio is chairman of our holding company, and I am chairman of the football club. There is nothing murky or sinister about this two-man structure - it's exactly the same format that existed before we took over.
We have no hidden agendas - if we did, we wouldn't have stuck around for so long, working so hard to get QPR's finances back on the straight and narrow. The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years' results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs' net losses.
However the Evening Standard states that the projected losses for the current season "could be as much as £4m" and will not be revealed until March 2007. As the club has had no contact with the writer of this article we are left to ponder as to the both the source of his inaccurate statements and the motives behind them. The club is currently working on its projections for next season and the board of directors are looking for further revenue opportunities and further cost savings as the club works towards a break-even situation.A more detailed update will be given to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM and a summary will then published on the QPR website.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~798825,00.html
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT
Gianni Paladini has issued the following statement following recent inaccurate reporting.
Once again this club has been subjected to a barrage of pitifully inaccurate reporting in the London Evening Standard - and once again I am left with no option but to set the record straight in order that you, our true supporters, know exactly how QPR's finances stand.
The article in last Friday's edition should be seen in the light of the previous negative and misleading articles by the same author for which they had to print an apology and pay our solicitor's costs.
The total value of the debt in the 2005 accounts (ie the sum of the current liabilities and the long term liabilities) is £18m.The total value of the same debt in the 2004 accounts was £18m.In other words no change, but this is definitely not the impression conveyed by the headline.
As most fans know the biggest item in the total debt is the £10m loan from the ABC Corporation which was entered into in 2002 several years before the current regime took over. Current liabilities fell in 2005 as the debts to the Customs and Revenue were reduced and short-term loans to shareholders were repaid.
You should also be aware that £2.8m of the total "debts" is for income for the 2005/06 season that was banked before the 31st May 2005 and, in accordance with standard accounting practice, is included in current liabilities as deferred income.The bulk of this deferred income is for season ticket receipts, which is being released in the 2005/06 financial year. This means that the high value of the early bird season ticket sales for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons have increased the "debt" at the club's financial year end.So rather perversely the increase in deferred income is a positive sign and not an indication of "misery" as heralded by the Evening Standard.
The Standard did state that losses for the year were £2.5m but neglected to mention that was an improvement of £1.8m on the two previous years.
This improvement was all the more impressive as it was achieved despite losing the revenue from Fulham ground sharing deal. Running costs have been reduced and supply contracts have been renegotiated. I know these figures are wrong because I am so intimately involved in both the day-to-day running of the club, and its financial strategy and support. Along with my trusted friend and chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, we have dug into our own pockets to pay off the debts we inherited when we took over - debts that, quite frankly, would have forced the club into liquidation if they had not been paid.
I need to say a few more words about Antonio at this point because the Standard has also intimated there is something dark and mysterious about his presence at the club. Antonio is chairman of our holding company, and I am chairman of the football club. There is nothing murky or sinister about this two-man structure - it's exactly the same format that existed before we took over.
We have no hidden agendas - if we did, we wouldn't have stuck around for so long, working so hard to get QPR's finances back on the straight and narrow. The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years' results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs' net losses.
However the Evening Standard states that the projected losses for the current season "could be as much as £4m" and will not be revealed until March 2007. As the club has had no contact with the writer of this article we are left to ponder as to the both the source of his inaccurate statements and the motives behind them. The club is currently working on its projections for next season and the board of directors are looking for further revenue opportunities and further cost savings as the club works towards a break-even situation.A more detailed update will be given to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM and a summary will then published on the QPR website.
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~798825,00.html
McDonald Extends his Stay....- Royce on Getting Back his Place
-
BBC - McDonald stays alongside QPR boss
Alan McDonald is staying on as Gary Waddock's right-hand man at QPR.
McDonald, who spent 17 years as a player at Loftus Road, returned when Waddock was placed in charge after Ian Holloway was put on 'gardening leave.'
The former centre-back recently sold his Wiltshire home to move back to Northern Ireland and initially agreed to help Waddock on a short-term basis.
But McDonald will stay until at least the end of the season, when the futures of both men are likely to be resolved.
Waddock said: "It's good news. I'd like the job full-time and I definitely want to have him alongside me.
"Originally he agreed to help out until March, but we sat down and talked about it and he'll be staying longer."
The Rangers board want to install Waddock on a permanent basis but must first agree a pay-off with Holloway, who was axed after poor results and a series of behind-the-scenes problems.
"If I'm offered the job I certainly won't turn it down," Waddock admitted.
"But what happens in the longer term depends on the situation with Ian Holloway. He is still the manager of this football club.
"Until that changes, I'm working on a game-to-game basis and I'm pleased with the way things are going."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4776994.stm
TEAMTALK - Royce aims to roll over Jones
QPR goalkeeper Simon Royce is confident of winning back his first-team place despite Paul Jones' excellent form.Royce has missed Rangers' last five matches with hip and groin problems and caretaker-boss Gary Waddock has since brought in Wales international Jones, whose performances have been superb.But Royce - who is due to play for Rangers reserves against Crawley on Tuesday - believes he should regain his spot in the match at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday."I now have to fight to get my place back," Royce said. "I would like to think that after playing 33 games this year I've done enough to give Gary a massive headache and win back my place."But Paul Jones has done very well, so it won't be easy."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_1066598,00.html
BBC - McDonald stays alongside QPR boss
Alan McDonald is staying on as Gary Waddock's right-hand man at QPR.
McDonald, who spent 17 years as a player at Loftus Road, returned when Waddock was placed in charge after Ian Holloway was put on 'gardening leave.'
The former centre-back recently sold his Wiltshire home to move back to Northern Ireland and initially agreed to help Waddock on a short-term basis.
But McDonald will stay until at least the end of the season, when the futures of both men are likely to be resolved.
Waddock said: "It's good news. I'd like the job full-time and I definitely want to have him alongside me.
"Originally he agreed to help out until March, but we sat down and talked about it and he'll be staying longer."
The Rangers board want to install Waddock on a permanent basis but must first agree a pay-off with Holloway, who was axed after poor results and a series of behind-the-scenes problems.
"If I'm offered the job I certainly won't turn it down," Waddock admitted.
"But what happens in the longer term depends on the situation with Ian Holloway. He is still the manager of this football club.
"Until that changes, I'm working on a game-to-game basis and I'm pleased with the way things are going."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4776994.stm
TEAMTALK - Royce aims to roll over Jones
QPR goalkeeper Simon Royce is confident of winning back his first-team place despite Paul Jones' excellent form.Royce has missed Rangers' last five matches with hip and groin problems and caretaker-boss Gary Waddock has since brought in Wales international Jones, whose performances have been superb.But Royce - who is due to play for Rangers reserves against Crawley on Tuesday - believes he should regain his spot in the match at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday."I now have to fight to get my place back," Royce said. "I would like to think that after playing 33 games this year I've done enough to give Gary a massive headache and win back my place."But Paul Jones has done very well, so it won't be easy."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_1066598,00.html
Monday, March 06, 2006
Additional Match Reports - QPR 0 Wolves 0
-
Guardian Hoddle searches for clinical boots
Robert Pryce at Loftus RoadMonday March 6, 2006The Guardian
Wolves dominated another game and again they couldn't win. They played with three strikers, but could not get a goal. They extended their unbeaten run - and fell another place in the table.
Their frustrations accumulated on Saturday, and most of them were all too familiar: the possession without penetration, the lack of a cutting edge and, as a further reproach to Glenn Hoddle, a defiant performance from Paul Jones, the goalkeeper he let go last month.
Hoddle has been in charge for 15 months and Wolves are as far from the Premiership as ever. His team has its charm but the veteran midfield looks in need of a more dynamic component, there is no quickness anywhere in the side and still no reliable finisher.
This season they have scored fewer goals than Crewe. This year they have been shut out by Coventry, Millwall, Leicester and now an understrength QPR team under caretaker management. Carl Cort is their top scorer with 10 goals - but he has added only one since September.
On Saturday he collaborated with Jérémie Aliadière to miss Wolves' best chance. A Paul Ince dummy left the strikers with a yawning goal and no immediate opponent, but Jones somehow blocked Aliadière's shot and diverted Cort's follow-up against the post. "Obviously," Hoddle said, "if we could have put our clinical boots on we'd have been sitting here with three points."
Cort is not a Hoddle signing and he does not look like one. What is the point of a robust 6ft 4in centre-forward if you insist that the ball should be played to feet?
In fact, neither team provided much for their target men. Rangers couldn't and Wolves wouldn't. But Gary Waddock, with a CV that must prostrate itself before Hoddle's, may have dared to imply some criticism of the former England manager when he talked about the change in Rangers' approach since Ian Holloway was turfed out. "You can't be predictable," he said. "You have to mix the ball up."
Hoddle sticks with what he knows. Aliadière, the latest striker to be measured for the clinical boots, will be given every opportunity to show he can fill them, starting with home games this week against Stoke and Cardiff. "We're a side that has to win away from home," Hoddle said, "so we're playing with three strikers and we're being very bold."
This is not a sport that favours boldness; this is not a league that respects pure football. Expect more frustration before the week is out.
Man of the match Paul Jones (Wolves)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1724051,00.html
TELEGRAPH
Old boy Jones keeps Wolves from the doorBy Tom Cary (Filed: 06/03/2006)Match details
Your view: Football fans' forum
Queens Park Rangers (0) 0 Wolves (0) 0
While the rest of Britain froze, the sun did its best to fool those of us assembled at Loftus Road on Saturday into believing that winter was a distant and unpleasant memory. Unfortunately, the players did not take the bait.
In fact, the only participant who could be said to have emerged from this clash with a spring in his step was Rangers' decidedly veteran goalkeeper Paul Jones.
The Wales international, 38, was deemed surplus to requirements by Wolves in January, but turned in a match-winning performance here to deny his former club a fourth successive victory and a play-off place.
QPR caretaker manager Gary Waddock is smitten: "He saved the penalty up at Sheffield United, he was outstanding for his country midweek, and he has put on a performance today, just to round it off, with a double save at the end, which was world class."
That pivotal moment arrived on 83 minutes when Jones blocked Jeremie Aliadiere's close-range effort and then turned Carl Cort's follow-up onto the post to start the away fans heckling.
"That didn't bother me at all," Jones said afterwards. "Typical away fans. I clapped them at the end. I'm a professional."
QPR's toothless display left Glenn Hoddle to once again rue his team's lack of precision in front of goal and talk up their play-off hopes.
"It's been a decent day for us," he argued. "Palace lost, we gained a point. We play Cardiff next week so we're still in the driving seat."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=OW2WQSYER1Z5JQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/sport/2006/03/06/sfgqpr06.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/03/06/ixfooty.html
Guardian Hoddle searches for clinical boots
Robert Pryce at Loftus RoadMonday March 6, 2006The Guardian
Wolves dominated another game and again they couldn't win. They played with three strikers, but could not get a goal. They extended their unbeaten run - and fell another place in the table.
Their frustrations accumulated on Saturday, and most of them were all too familiar: the possession without penetration, the lack of a cutting edge and, as a further reproach to Glenn Hoddle, a defiant performance from Paul Jones, the goalkeeper he let go last month.
Hoddle has been in charge for 15 months and Wolves are as far from the Premiership as ever. His team has its charm but the veteran midfield looks in need of a more dynamic component, there is no quickness anywhere in the side and still no reliable finisher.
This season they have scored fewer goals than Crewe. This year they have been shut out by Coventry, Millwall, Leicester and now an understrength QPR team under caretaker management. Carl Cort is their top scorer with 10 goals - but he has added only one since September.
On Saturday he collaborated with Jérémie Aliadière to miss Wolves' best chance. A Paul Ince dummy left the strikers with a yawning goal and no immediate opponent, but Jones somehow blocked Aliadière's shot and diverted Cort's follow-up against the post. "Obviously," Hoddle said, "if we could have put our clinical boots on we'd have been sitting here with three points."
Cort is not a Hoddle signing and he does not look like one. What is the point of a robust 6ft 4in centre-forward if you insist that the ball should be played to feet?
In fact, neither team provided much for their target men. Rangers couldn't and Wolves wouldn't. But Gary Waddock, with a CV that must prostrate itself before Hoddle's, may have dared to imply some criticism of the former England manager when he talked about the change in Rangers' approach since Ian Holloway was turfed out. "You can't be predictable," he said. "You have to mix the ball up."
Hoddle sticks with what he knows. Aliadière, the latest striker to be measured for the clinical boots, will be given every opportunity to show he can fill them, starting with home games this week against Stoke and Cardiff. "We're a side that has to win away from home," Hoddle said, "so we're playing with three strikers and we're being very bold."
This is not a sport that favours boldness; this is not a league that respects pure football. Expect more frustration before the week is out.
Man of the match Paul Jones (Wolves)
http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1724051,00.html
TELEGRAPH
Old boy Jones keeps Wolves from the doorBy Tom Cary (Filed: 06/03/2006)Match details
Your view: Football fans' forum
Queens Park Rangers (0) 0 Wolves (0) 0
While the rest of Britain froze, the sun did its best to fool those of us assembled at Loftus Road on Saturday into believing that winter was a distant and unpleasant memory. Unfortunately, the players did not take the bait.
In fact, the only participant who could be said to have emerged from this clash with a spring in his step was Rangers' decidedly veteran goalkeeper Paul Jones.
The Wales international, 38, was deemed surplus to requirements by Wolves in January, but turned in a match-winning performance here to deny his former club a fourth successive victory and a play-off place.
QPR caretaker manager Gary Waddock is smitten: "He saved the penalty up at Sheffield United, he was outstanding for his country midweek, and he has put on a performance today, just to round it off, with a double save at the end, which was world class."
That pivotal moment arrived on 83 minutes when Jones blocked Jeremie Aliadiere's close-range effort and then turned Carl Cort's follow-up onto the post to start the away fans heckling.
"That didn't bother me at all," Jones said afterwards. "Typical away fans. I clapped them at the end. I'm a professional."
QPR's toothless display left Glenn Hoddle to once again rue his team's lack of precision in front of goal and talk up their play-off hopes.
"It's been a decent day for us," he argued. "Palace lost, we gained a point. We play Cardiff next week so we're still in the driving seat."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=OW2WQSYER1Z5JQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/sport/2006/03/06/sfgqpr06.xml&sSheet=/sport/2006/03/06/ixfooty.html
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Ex-QPR's Ray Wilkins on his Return to Millwall
-
Ray Wilkins set to return to The Den Mar 3 2006
By Toby Porter - South London.Co.uk
ENGLAND legend Ray Wilkins is to return to The Den on the coaching side.
The former Millwall assistant manager answered the call from the club to help lift the squad as they battle against the threat of relegation.
He is expecting to be involved for the next two months, while continuing to meet his part-time coaching commitments to the England U21 squad.
Wilkins also hopes to boost the Lions' attempts to sign new players on loan - a job which has proved very hard, after more than 50 failed bids for players.
He said another of the most crucial tasks will be to try and put a smile back on the faces of Tuttle's team, who have not won in 10 games.
"We are in a difficult situation but it is not impossible," said Wilkins.
"The most important thing is to try and get the players to relax and to get them smiling again.
"Escaping this predicament is in our own hands. Every team below us and everyone just above us has the same tough 10 games to face. If we work hard at it, we can do it.
"Millwall have always been up for a battle and I cannot think of a better mentality to dig ourselves out of this current predicament.
"We will have to scrap for every morsel we get. But if we put in everything we've got, I really believe we can do it."
Wilkins, in 18 months at The Den under manager Dennis Wise, guided the Lions to the 2004 FA Cup Final and within a whisker of the play-offs, before leaving last May.
"Yes, it was a dilemma whether I should return to the club," he added.
"But Tutts is a friend of mine and I can remember when Dennis and I were in charge he was an enormous help. He did all our reports on players and gave us a lot of guidance.
"We were highly indebted to him at the time and so I have readily agreed to help out."
Lions boss David Tuttle added: "Ray has agreed to help us out in all football matters. I'm happy I will be able to call on his vast experience.
"The players are also pleased to see him back. And I am sure he will be able to help lift the spirits around the place."
In addition to helping Tuttle and his assistant Tony Burns, Wilkins is also likely to provide the board with the benefit of his football knowledge and insight. ..
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0500millwall/0100news/tm_objectid=16766154&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=ray-wilkins-set-to-return-to-the-den-name_page.html
Ray Wilkins set to return to The Den Mar 3 2006
By Toby Porter - South London.Co.uk
ENGLAND legend Ray Wilkins is to return to The Den on the coaching side.
The former Millwall assistant manager answered the call from the club to help lift the squad as they battle against the threat of relegation.
He is expecting to be involved for the next two months, while continuing to meet his part-time coaching commitments to the England U21 squad.
Wilkins also hopes to boost the Lions' attempts to sign new players on loan - a job which has proved very hard, after more than 50 failed bids for players.
He said another of the most crucial tasks will be to try and put a smile back on the faces of Tuttle's team, who have not won in 10 games.
"We are in a difficult situation but it is not impossible," said Wilkins.
"The most important thing is to try and get the players to relax and to get them smiling again.
"Escaping this predicament is in our own hands. Every team below us and everyone just above us has the same tough 10 games to face. If we work hard at it, we can do it.
"Millwall have always been up for a battle and I cannot think of a better mentality to dig ourselves out of this current predicament.
"We will have to scrap for every morsel we get. But if we put in everything we've got, I really believe we can do it."
Wilkins, in 18 months at The Den under manager Dennis Wise, guided the Lions to the 2004 FA Cup Final and within a whisker of the play-offs, before leaving last May.
"Yes, it was a dilemma whether I should return to the club," he added.
"But Tutts is a friend of mine and I can remember when Dennis and I were in charge he was an enormous help. He did all our reports on players and gave us a lot of guidance.
"We were highly indebted to him at the time and so I have readily agreed to help out."
Lions boss David Tuttle added: "Ray has agreed to help us out in all football matters. I'm happy I will be able to call on his vast experience.
"The players are also pleased to see him back. And I am sure he will be able to help lift the spirits around the place."
In addition to helping Tuttle and his assistant Tony Burns, Wilkins is also likely to provide the board with the benefit of his football knowledge and insight. ..
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0500millwall/0100news/tm_objectid=16766154&method=full&siteid=50100&headline=ray-wilkins-set-to-return-to-the-den-name_page.html
Linfield's Peter Thompson Signs....for Linfield!
-
BBC - Thompson signs full-time contract
Linfield turned down two offers for striker Peter ThompsonLinfield striker Peter Thompson has signed a three and a half year full-time contract with the club.
The deal secures Thompson's future until the end of the 2009 season.
"I am absolutely delighted with this new deal which means that I can concentrate on nothing else but playing football from now on," said Thompson.
"The club have always looked after my interests and I am happy with the way they have dealt with approaches from other clubs," said the Blues marksman.
Linfield turned down bids for the striker from Gretna and QPR.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4775054.stm
BBC - Thompson signs full-time contract
Linfield turned down two offers for striker Peter ThompsonLinfield striker Peter Thompson has signed a three and a half year full-time contract with the club.
The deal secures Thompson's future until the end of the 2009 season.
"I am absolutely delighted with this new deal which means that I can concentrate on nothing else but playing football from now on," said Thompson.
"The club have always looked after my interests and I am happy with the way they have dealt with approaches from other clubs," said the Blues marksman.
Linfield turned down bids for the striker from Gretna and QPR.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/4775054.stm
Tommy Doherty Injured Playing for Yeovil
-
QPR's Tommy Doherty, who just this week joined Yeovil on a month loan, went off injured after 10 minutes, in his debut game.
Yeovil Official Site
Two Yeovil Town players were injured in the 3-0 victory over Chesterfield, with Anthony Barry unfortunately dislocating his knee. He is currently receiving hospital treatment.
Tommy Doherty has picked up a knock to his fibula, and medical investigations are underway to ascertain whether it is a reoccurence of an injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Everyone at Yeovil Town wishes the two lads all the best in their recovery.
http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10673~797745,00.html
QPR's Tommy Doherty, who just this week joined Yeovil on a month loan, went off injured after 10 minutes, in his debut game.
Yeovil Official Site
Two Yeovil Town players were injured in the 3-0 victory over Chesterfield, with Anthony Barry unfortunately dislocating his knee. He is currently receiving hospital treatment.
Tommy Doherty has picked up a knock to his fibula, and medical investigations are underway to ascertain whether it is a reoccurence of an injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Everyone at Yeovil Town wishes the two lads all the best in their recovery.
http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10673~797745,00.html
Holloway Speaks (His SkySports comments as reported by TeamTalk)
-
Holloway Speaks - TEAMTALK
Former QPR manager Ian Holloway has spoken for the first time of his life on 'gardening leave'. Holloway was removed from his position as QPR boss last month after speculation over the possibility of him taking over at Championship rivals Leicester. His contract still has over two years to run.
He told Sky Sports: "If I'd have known this was going to happen I'd have bought a bigger garden." You get mixed emotions. I've been doing it for 10 years now and all of sudden nothing. I'm not allowed to go in, talk to players or anything. Just cheerio. But I don't want to cause any trouble with them. I'm delighted for the club and what has happened over the past five years."So it feels like a mini bereavement. Football management's like being bitten by a vampire - it's in your blood. You just want to manage."I'm waiting at home, watching the phone... And watching... And watching. 'Is that the phone ringing?' No, I've imagined it... Again."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_1060621,00.html
Holloway Speaks - TEAMTALK
Former QPR manager Ian Holloway has spoken for the first time of his life on 'gardening leave'. Holloway was removed from his position as QPR boss last month after speculation over the possibility of him taking over at Championship rivals Leicester. His contract still has over two years to run.
He told Sky Sports: "If I'd have known this was going to happen I'd have bought a bigger garden." You get mixed emotions. I've been doing it for 10 years now and all of sudden nothing. I'm not allowed to go in, talk to players or anything. Just cheerio. But I don't want to cause any trouble with them. I'm delighted for the club and what has happened over the past five years."So it feels like a mini bereavement. Football management's like being bitten by a vampire - it's in your blood. You just want to manage."I'm waiting at home, watching the phone... And watching... And watching. 'Is that the phone ringing?' No, I've imagined it... Again."
http://www.teamtalk.com/teamtalk/News/Story_Page/0,7760,1801_1060621,00.html
Further Match Reports
-
Sunday Times
QPR 0 Wolves 0: Jones foils toothless WolvesPaul Rowan at Loftus Road
PAUL JONES, released last month by Wolverhampton Wanderers, produced a stunning double save seven minutes from time to deny Glenn Hoddle’s side the chance to move into the playoff places, thus continuing the good run of form that Queens Park Rangers are enjoying under caretaker manager Gary Waddock.
The Loftus Road faithful were delighted to see the return of their stalwart captain Kevin Gallen, absent since October with a variety of injuries. His fellow warhorse Paul Ince also started, unexpectedly, having shrugged off a back injury. Ince was as combative and vocal as ever, but he struggles now to be first to the ball and the midfield pairing of Richard Langley and Stefan Bailey had the better of him and Darren Anderton for most of the first half.
The home side dominated much of the early exchanges as a result, but chances were few and far between. A typical piece of trickery from Langley set up Gareth Ainsworth, who had drifted in from the right wing to take up a good position in the box, but he failed to test Stefan Postma with a rising shot.
Ainsworth’s driving runs were a constant menace to Lee Naylor and Lee Cook was also a source of trickery. After half an hour, he was hauled down 30 yards out and got up to take a firm free kick that Postma gathered comfortably.
Anderton showed his class with one sweet ball through to Ince on the edge of the box, but his volleying skills were found wanting. The former Tottenham Hotspur player was again the creator when Wolves almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time, feeding Jeremie Aliadiere, who sent Kenny Miller in on goal against Jones. But the QPR goalkeeper narrowed the angle well and saved with his feet.
QPR’s greater intent remained apparent on the resumption with Gallen at the centre of everything creative that the home side had to offer before making way for Sammy Youssouf just after the hour mark. QPR had almost taken the lead five minutes before his departure, when Cook took a short corner to Marcus Bignot and his cross was met by Danny Shittu on the far post, but the giant central defender failed to find the power with his header to seriously trouble Postma.
The game spluttered into life on 68 minutes with a huge appeal for a penalty by the home side, Naylor having handled when Ainsworth prodded the ball towards goal, but the referee dismissed the claim.
Wolves then produced the move of the match on 83 minutes, but incredibly the game was still scoreless by the end of it. After another QPR attack broke down, Mark Kennedy, on for Anderton, fed Ince on the halfway line, who moved the ball on to Miller breaking down the left wing. Ince continued his run and might have shot when Miller returned the ball into the centre but he dummied instead to allow Aliadiere a shot on goal from 10 yards out.
Jones, repeating his outstanding form for Wales against Paraguay last Wednesday, produced a brilliant save. The rebound fell invitingly for Carl Cort, who appeared odds-on to score, but Jones completed a brilliant double save by diving again to his left and he deserved to have the luck of seeing the ball bounce to safety off the upright
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2070196,00.html
-
Independent
QPR 0 Wolves 0: Jones turns up heat to leave Wolves sweating on play-off place
By Nick Callow at Loftus Road
Published: 05 March 2006
Paul Jones was applauded off the pitch by supporters and players alike as he completed a remarkable week for club and country. Not bad for a goalkeeper who turns 39 next month and was ditched by the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Glenn Hoddle, a couple of weeks ago because he could not get a game at Molineux.
Jones has joined Queen's Park Rangers on a free until the end of the season. He saved a penalty to enable Rangers to win at second-placed Sheffield United last weekend, he kept a clean sheet for Wales against Paraguay on Wednesday and made a late "world-class double save" to deny Wolves the win that would have sent them into a Premiership play-off place.
Hoddle insisted his side can still make the play-offs and explained why he let Jones go. "I don't think it was revenge by Paul he just did his job," Hoddle said. "We had to let him go because we've got four good keepers at the club and he needs to play first-team football at his age to keep his international place. We're still very much in the play-off race, although it would have been nice to get the win our performance deserved and be in the top six now. I think there are enough games and points left for us."
Wolves were the better team and Jones was on top form. His first really good stop came on the stroke of half-time after Arsenal's loan striker Jérémie Aliadière and Darren Anderton set Kenny Miller clear on goal. Jones dived the wrong way, but saved superbly with his feet.
Then, in the 82nd minute, came the moment Wolves could live to regret. A fantastic step-over by Paul Ince presented Aliadière with an open goal only for Jones somehow to block. He reacted even quicker to turn Carl Cort's follow-up attempt on to a post and clear the danger.
The balance of play shifted dramatically in the second half as Rangers began to take a grip and Wolves faded badly. Rangers central defender Danny Shittu missed a hat-trick of chances and even Hoddle agreed they were denied a penalty when Lee Naylor handled in the 70th minute.
"I wish Glenn was the ref," said the caretaker Rangers manager, Gary Waddock, who insisted that he remains in the post on a game-to-game basis, but would love to replace Ian Holloway permanently.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article349294.ece
Sunday Times
QPR 0 Wolves 0: Jones foils toothless WolvesPaul Rowan at Loftus Road
PAUL JONES, released last month by Wolverhampton Wanderers, produced a stunning double save seven minutes from time to deny Glenn Hoddle’s side the chance to move into the playoff places, thus continuing the good run of form that Queens Park Rangers are enjoying under caretaker manager Gary Waddock.
The Loftus Road faithful were delighted to see the return of their stalwart captain Kevin Gallen, absent since October with a variety of injuries. His fellow warhorse Paul Ince also started, unexpectedly, having shrugged off a back injury. Ince was as combative and vocal as ever, but he struggles now to be first to the ball and the midfield pairing of Richard Langley and Stefan Bailey had the better of him and Darren Anderton for most of the first half.
The home side dominated much of the early exchanges as a result, but chances were few and far between. A typical piece of trickery from Langley set up Gareth Ainsworth, who had drifted in from the right wing to take up a good position in the box, but he failed to test Stefan Postma with a rising shot.
Ainsworth’s driving runs were a constant menace to Lee Naylor and Lee Cook was also a source of trickery. After half an hour, he was hauled down 30 yards out and got up to take a firm free kick that Postma gathered comfortably.
Anderton showed his class with one sweet ball through to Ince on the edge of the box, but his volleying skills were found wanting. The former Tottenham Hotspur player was again the creator when Wolves almost snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time, feeding Jeremie Aliadiere, who sent Kenny Miller in on goal against Jones. But the QPR goalkeeper narrowed the angle well and saved with his feet.
QPR’s greater intent remained apparent on the resumption with Gallen at the centre of everything creative that the home side had to offer before making way for Sammy Youssouf just after the hour mark. QPR had almost taken the lead five minutes before his departure, when Cook took a short corner to Marcus Bignot and his cross was met by Danny Shittu on the far post, but the giant central defender failed to find the power with his header to seriously trouble Postma.
The game spluttered into life on 68 minutes with a huge appeal for a penalty by the home side, Naylor having handled when Ainsworth prodded the ball towards goal, but the referee dismissed the claim.
Wolves then produced the move of the match on 83 minutes, but incredibly the game was still scoreless by the end of it. After another QPR attack broke down, Mark Kennedy, on for Anderton, fed Ince on the halfway line, who moved the ball on to Miller breaking down the left wing. Ince continued his run and might have shot when Miller returned the ball into the centre but he dummied instead to allow Aliadiere a shot on goal from 10 yards out.
Jones, repeating his outstanding form for Wales against Paraguay last Wednesday, produced a brilliant save. The rebound fell invitingly for Carl Cort, who appeared odds-on to score, but Jones completed a brilliant double save by diving again to his left and he deserved to have the luck of seeing the ball bounce to safety off the upright
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2093-2070196,00.html
-
Independent
QPR 0 Wolves 0: Jones turns up heat to leave Wolves sweating on play-off place
By Nick Callow at Loftus Road
Published: 05 March 2006
Paul Jones was applauded off the pitch by supporters and players alike as he completed a remarkable week for club and country. Not bad for a goalkeeper who turns 39 next month and was ditched by the Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, Glenn Hoddle, a couple of weeks ago because he could not get a game at Molineux.
Jones has joined Queen's Park Rangers on a free until the end of the season. He saved a penalty to enable Rangers to win at second-placed Sheffield United last weekend, he kept a clean sheet for Wales against Paraguay on Wednesday and made a late "world-class double save" to deny Wolves the win that would have sent them into a Premiership play-off place.
Hoddle insisted his side can still make the play-offs and explained why he let Jones go. "I don't think it was revenge by Paul he just did his job," Hoddle said. "We had to let him go because we've got four good keepers at the club and he needs to play first-team football at his age to keep his international place. We're still very much in the play-off race, although it would have been nice to get the win our performance deserved and be in the top six now. I think there are enough games and points left for us."
Wolves were the better team and Jones was on top form. His first really good stop came on the stroke of half-time after Arsenal's loan striker Jérémie Aliadière and Darren Anderton set Kenny Miller clear on goal. Jones dived the wrong way, but saved superbly with his feet.
Then, in the 82nd minute, came the moment Wolves could live to regret. A fantastic step-over by Paul Ince presented Aliadière with an open goal only for Jones somehow to block. He reacted even quicker to turn Carl Cort's follow-up attempt on to a post and clear the danger.
The balance of play shifted dramatically in the second half as Rangers began to take a grip and Wolves faded badly. Rangers central defender Danny Shittu missed a hat-trick of chances and even Hoddle agreed they were denied a penalty when Lee Naylor handled in the 70th minute.
"I wish Glenn was the ref," said the caretaker Rangers manager, Gary Waddock, who insisted that he remains in the post on a game-to-game basis, but would love to replace Ian Holloway permanently.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article349294.ece
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Waddock & Hoddle Comments on QPR 0 Wolves 0
-
Waddock's Comments -Official Site
"....Waddock said: "We had to make quite a few changes quite late in the day. Ian Evatt and Steve Lomas have both aggravated their hips and Marc Bircham went down late with illness.
"But Stefan Bailey came in and did superbly, especially when you consider he was up against the likes of Darren Anderton and Paul Ince.
"He only signed his pro forms this week and this was a bit of a baptism of fire."Then we had Paul Jones pulling off saves that were just out of this world. What a week he's had, after saving a penalty up at Sheffield he pulls off a great double save today - just unbelievable."
Despite all of the injuries, the one silver lining was the return of Kevin Gallen and Waddock was delighted to have his skipper back in action.
"It's great to have Kev back, we only had him play an hour again today as we don't want to rush his return, but he certainly performed well."
Waddock was also keen to set the record straight with regards to some incorrect reporting that he has agreed a two year deal as the club's new manager.
"I was as surprised to find that out in the newspapers as anyone! I'm still here on a game to game basis. I wouldn't turn the job down if it came my way of course, but nothing has even been spoken about yet." http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~797779,00.html
HODDLE EYES PLAY-OFF SPOT FOR WOLVES
Sporting Life
Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle insisted his side remain on course for the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs despite being held to a 0-0 draw at QPR.
The visitors were thwarted by an outstanding display from their former goalkeeper Paul Jones, who produced a brilliant late double save to deny Jeremie Aliadiere and Carl Cort.
Jones also saved from Darren Anderton and Kenny Miller as Wolves failed to take advantage of their possession.
But Hoddle said: "It's been a decent day. Crystal Palace lost and we play Cardiff next week, so we're still in the driving seat.
"The disappointing thing is that if we had won we'd have been in the top six and that would put Preston under pressure."
Hoddle admitted his team were fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against them when Lee Naylor appeared to handle the ball under pressure from Gareth Ainsworth.
"I thought it was a penalty," he said. "That was a bit of good fortune for us.
"But any manager will tell you that these kind of things even themselves out over the course of the season. It did hit his hand - whether it was intentional or not I'm not sure."
He added: "Paul Jones made possibly six saves. We certainly worked him harder than they worked our goalkeeper.
"We had chances to win the game and I feel we should have done so. I can't remember our keeper having to make a save.
"The possession we had was incredible, especially in the first 20 minutes, and we needed to score then."
QPR caretaker-manager Gary Waddock praised his injury-hit team and teenage midfielder Stefan Bailey in particular.
Waddock said: "I'm very pleased. The performance was good considering we had to make quite a few changes.
"I thought Stefan Bailey was outstanding especially as he was playing against Paul Ince and Darren Anderton and hasn't been involved with the first team much.
"Stefan has only been a professional for a week. He's a good lad, he competes, and it doesn't matter if he's up against Paul Ince, he will stand up for himself don't worry about that."
Waddock denied reports he had agreed a two-year contract to take over as manager on a permanent basis.
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder was recently placed in charge after Ian Holloway was put on "gardening leave" by the Loftus Road board.
Waddock explained: "I'm the caretaker-manager and I'm just doing it on a game to game basis. Ian Holloway remains the manager of this football club.
"If the opportunity comes to me and I am offered the job I am certainly not going to turn it down."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/03/04/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1
Waddock's Comments -Official Site
"....Waddock said: "We had to make quite a few changes quite late in the day. Ian Evatt and Steve Lomas have both aggravated their hips and Marc Bircham went down late with illness.
"But Stefan Bailey came in and did superbly, especially when you consider he was up against the likes of Darren Anderton and Paul Ince.
"He only signed his pro forms this week and this was a bit of a baptism of fire."Then we had Paul Jones pulling off saves that were just out of this world. What a week he's had, after saving a penalty up at Sheffield he pulls off a great double save today - just unbelievable."
Despite all of the injuries, the one silver lining was the return of Kevin Gallen and Waddock was delighted to have his skipper back in action.
"It's great to have Kev back, we only had him play an hour again today as we don't want to rush his return, but he certainly performed well."
Waddock was also keen to set the record straight with regards to some incorrect reporting that he has agreed a two year deal as the club's new manager.
"I was as surprised to find that out in the newspapers as anyone! I'm still here on a game to game basis. I wouldn't turn the job down if it came my way of course, but nothing has even been spoken about yet." http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Match/ManagersComments/0,,10373~797779,00.html
HODDLE EYES PLAY-OFF SPOT FOR WOLVES
Sporting Life
Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle insisted his side remain on course for the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs despite being held to a 0-0 draw at QPR.
The visitors were thwarted by an outstanding display from their former goalkeeper Paul Jones, who produced a brilliant late double save to deny Jeremie Aliadiere and Carl Cort.
Jones also saved from Darren Anderton and Kenny Miller as Wolves failed to take advantage of their possession.
But Hoddle said: "It's been a decent day. Crystal Palace lost and we play Cardiff next week, so we're still in the driving seat.
"The disappointing thing is that if we had won we'd have been in the top six and that would put Preston under pressure."
Hoddle admitted his team were fortunate not to have a penalty awarded against them when Lee Naylor appeared to handle the ball under pressure from Gareth Ainsworth.
"I thought it was a penalty," he said. "That was a bit of good fortune for us.
"But any manager will tell you that these kind of things even themselves out over the course of the season. It did hit his hand - whether it was intentional or not I'm not sure."
He added: "Paul Jones made possibly six saves. We certainly worked him harder than they worked our goalkeeper.
"We had chances to win the game and I feel we should have done so. I can't remember our keeper having to make a save.
"The possession we had was incredible, especially in the first 20 minutes, and we needed to score then."
QPR caretaker-manager Gary Waddock praised his injury-hit team and teenage midfielder Stefan Bailey in particular.
Waddock said: "I'm very pleased. The performance was good considering we had to make quite a few changes.
"I thought Stefan Bailey was outstanding especially as he was playing against Paul Ince and Darren Anderton and hasn't been involved with the first team much.
"Stefan has only been a professional for a week. He's a good lad, he competes, and it doesn't matter if he's up against Paul Ince, he will stand up for himself don't worry about that."
Waddock denied reports he had agreed a two-year contract to take over as manager on a permanent basis.
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder was recently placed in charge after Ian Holloway was put on "gardening leave" by the Loftus Road board.
Waddock explained: "I'm the caretaker-manager and I'm just doing it on a game to game basis. Ian Holloway remains the manager of this football club.
"If the opportunity comes to me and I am offered the job I am certainly not going to turn it down."
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc_championship/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/03/04/SOCCER_QPR_2nd_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=nationwide1
Mirror Report Waddock New Manager
-
Mirror - March 4, 2006
WADDOCK YES TO STAY ON AS RANGERS BOSS
GARY WADDOCK has accepted a two-year deal to become QPR's permanent manager.
The Rangers caretaker boss has proved a hit since taking over from Ian Holloway last month. He has led the side to two wins in three games, including a stunning 3-2 victory at Sheffield United last week.
QPR will announce the appointment as soon as they have agreed a settlement with Holloway, who earns a basic salary of £180,000-a-year.
But Waddock's appointment will prompt accusations that he has been brought in on the cheap.
Rangers revealed losses of £2.5m up to the end of last season, meaning they are now more than £18m in debt.
Waddock, 42, came through the ranks as a player at Loftus Road and played in the 1982 FA Cup final. Injury looked to have finished his career in 1987 but he made a comeback with Millwall two years later, and almost made Republic of Ireland's 1990 World Cup squad.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16772126%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=waddock%2dyes%2dto%2dstay%2don%2das%2drangers%2dboss%2d-name_page.html
Mirror - March 4, 2006
WADDOCK YES TO STAY ON AS RANGERS BOSS
GARY WADDOCK has accepted a two-year deal to become QPR's permanent manager.
The Rangers caretaker boss has proved a hit since taking over from Ian Holloway last month. He has led the side to two wins in three games, including a stunning 3-2 victory at Sheffield United last week.
QPR will announce the appointment as soon as they have agreed a settlement with Holloway, who earns a basic salary of £180,000-a-year.
But Waddock's appointment will prompt accusations that he has been brought in on the cheap.
Rangers revealed losses of £2.5m up to the end of last season, meaning they are now more than £18m in debt.
Waddock, 42, came through the ranks as a player at Loftus Road and played in the 1982 FA Cup final. Injury looked to have finished his career in 1987 but he made a comeback with Millwall two years later, and almost made Republic of Ireland's 1990 World Cup squad.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_objectid=16772126%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=waddock%2dyes%2dto%2dstay%2don%2das%2drangers%2dboss%2d-name_page.html
re Tommy Doherty Joining Yeovil on Loan -Waddock & Doherty's Comments
Rangers midfielder Tommy Doherty has joined League One Yeovil Town on a one month emergency loan deal.
The former Northern Ireland international is in line to make his debut for the Glovers against Chesterfield on Saturday.
Doherty's season has been plagued by injury, with the 26 year old making just 14 appearances for the Superhoops this term.The busy Easter period could see Doherty play a part in up to six games in a bid to up his fitness before returning to Loftus Road.Doherty began his career at Bristol City before joining Rangers for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2005."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~796564,00.html
[NB: The just announced accounts report that QPR signed him from Bristol City for 100,000 pounds]
Western Daily Press
YEOVIL SNAP UP DOHERTY ON LOAN
09:30 - 03 March 2006
Tommy Doherty is bracing himself for a sudden return to action tomorrow - in the familiar settings of League One with Yeovil Town. The Queens Park Rangers midfielder joins the Glovers' survival campaign on-loan for a month, knowing he faces one of the biggest and most challenging tests of his career and will return to Ashton Gate to take on his beloved Bristol City on April 1.Doherty was catapulted into the spotlight during City's 1998 promotion success but signed for Championship outfit QPR last summer after falling out of favour with previous Gate boss Brian Tinnion. The 26-year-old from Bedminster, Bristol, yesterday signed for Yeovil for 31 days with a view to building up his match fitness following a lengthy spell out with a broken leg.The 'Doc', as he is known to his friends and colleagues, has not played in first team football since sustaining the injury to his fibula in the November 19 clash at Plymouth.He faces a trip Chesterfield's Saltergate, a ground he knows well from his City days, as he bids to regain full match fitness.That game will be crucial to Yeovil boss Steve Thompson's team who are battling to beat the drop in League O n e.But the thought of a return to Ashton Gate will be weighing heavily on Doherty's mind.The Bristolian wasn't aware of the clash at the Gate when he signed for the Glovers and said: ""It didn't enter my head that I would be going back there until a mate text me on Wednesday night to say, 'Guess where you're going on April Fool's Day'!"I knew straight away what he was hinting at and it's perhaps not an ideal game for me for sentimental reasons. But I'm not going to think about it now; that era's gone."I never wanted to leave City in the first place and everyone knows it; that was Brian Tinnion's decision."That's not to say I won't be giving my best, though, because I will in that game and over the next month."I've already had a training session with Yeovil and they have some good players from what I can tell."
The main thing for me is to get playing football regularly again and start getting some sharpness back, something that is hard to do when you're playing reserve football."Central midfielder Doherty has made 14 starts and one appearance from the bench for QPR since Ian Holloway took him aboard in the last close season. The former Bristol Rovers manager was recently relieved of his duties at Loftus Road and Gary Waddock handed the caretaker boss reins.It's all meant for a troubled spell for the skilful, tough-tackling Doherty, who is desperate to rekindle the form that made him such a hit with City fans.
He admitted: "It's been disappointing to see what's happened with Ian because he was the one who took me on."I've got two years after this one on my contract at QPR and the new gaffer (Gary Waddock) has told me I'm in his plans; it's just a case of getting games behind me."I've been back for three or four weeks now from the injury but the manager needs results fast and he's said he can't wait on my fitness just now, which is fair enough."We only decided last week I could go out on loan somewhere and my agent called me just before last weekend to tell me of Yeovil's interest and it's gone from there."I'm really looking forward to getting involved again and it's a convenient place for me too as I've continued to live in Bristol!"
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145786&command=displayContent&sourceNode=200219&home=yes&sports=yes&contentPK=14122179
Clubcall - Q.P.R. - Waddock on loan exit EXCLUSIVE 03 Mar 2006
Queens Park Rangers caretaker-boss Gary Waddock believes Tommy Doherty's loan spell at Yeovil will give the chance to get back to full fitness after an injury hit few months.
The midfielder has been out since November with a severely bruised leg, which had been feared as a possible fracture.
However he has been back in action for the resreves but Waddock believes he needs to step up his return by playing more competitive football.
In an exclusive interview with clubcall, Waddock said: 'He needs to play some competitive games at first team level to get his fitness up to where he would want it to be, and where I want it to be.
'We sat down and had a chat, and reserve-team football is not the same and he is going to go down to Yeovil for the month. He should play seven or eight games in that period and we will review the situation after the month
'The idea is to step up his match fitness and he is happy to do it. It is better for him to play in the first-team, the games are more competitive and it should get his match fitness up.'
http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-236427-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html
The former Northern Ireland international is in line to make his debut for the Glovers against Chesterfield on Saturday.
Doherty's season has been plagued by injury, with the 26 year old making just 14 appearances for the Superhoops this term.The busy Easter period could see Doherty play a part in up to six games in a bid to up his fitness before returning to Loftus Road.Doherty began his career at Bristol City before joining Rangers for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2005."
http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~796564,00.html
[NB: The just announced accounts report that QPR signed him from Bristol City for 100,000 pounds]
Western Daily Press
YEOVIL SNAP UP DOHERTY ON LOAN
09:30 - 03 March 2006
Tommy Doherty is bracing himself for a sudden return to action tomorrow - in the familiar settings of League One with Yeovil Town. The Queens Park Rangers midfielder joins the Glovers' survival campaign on-loan for a month, knowing he faces one of the biggest and most challenging tests of his career and will return to Ashton Gate to take on his beloved Bristol City on April 1.Doherty was catapulted into the spotlight during City's 1998 promotion success but signed for Championship outfit QPR last summer after falling out of favour with previous Gate boss Brian Tinnion. The 26-year-old from Bedminster, Bristol, yesterday signed for Yeovil for 31 days with a view to building up his match fitness following a lengthy spell out with a broken leg.The 'Doc', as he is known to his friends and colleagues, has not played in first team football since sustaining the injury to his fibula in the November 19 clash at Plymouth.He faces a trip Chesterfield's Saltergate, a ground he knows well from his City days, as he bids to regain full match fitness.That game will be crucial to Yeovil boss Steve Thompson's team who are battling to beat the drop in League O n e.But the thought of a return to Ashton Gate will be weighing heavily on Doherty's mind.The Bristolian wasn't aware of the clash at the Gate when he signed for the Glovers and said: ""It didn't enter my head that I would be going back there until a mate text me on Wednesday night to say, 'Guess where you're going on April Fool's Day'!"I knew straight away what he was hinting at and it's perhaps not an ideal game for me for sentimental reasons. But I'm not going to think about it now; that era's gone."I never wanted to leave City in the first place and everyone knows it; that was Brian Tinnion's decision."That's not to say I won't be giving my best, though, because I will in that game and over the next month."I've already had a training session with Yeovil and they have some good players from what I can tell."
The main thing for me is to get playing football regularly again and start getting some sharpness back, something that is hard to do when you're playing reserve football."Central midfielder Doherty has made 14 starts and one appearance from the bench for QPR since Ian Holloway took him aboard in the last close season. The former Bristol Rovers manager was recently relieved of his duties at Loftus Road and Gary Waddock handed the caretaker boss reins.It's all meant for a troubled spell for the skilful, tough-tackling Doherty, who is desperate to rekindle the form that made him such a hit with City fans.
He admitted: "It's been disappointing to see what's happened with Ian because he was the one who took me on."I've got two years after this one on my contract at QPR and the new gaffer (Gary Waddock) has told me I'm in his plans; it's just a case of getting games behind me."I've been back for three or four weeks now from the injury but the manager needs results fast and he's said he can't wait on my fitness just now, which is fair enough."We only decided last week I could go out on loan somewhere and my agent called me just before last weekend to tell me of Yeovil's interest and it's gone from there."I'm really looking forward to getting involved again and it's a convenient place for me too as I've continued to live in Bristol!"
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145786&command=displayContent&sourceNode=200219&home=yes&sports=yes&contentPK=14122179
Clubcall - Q.P.R. - Waddock on loan exit EXCLUSIVE 03 Mar 2006
Queens Park Rangers caretaker-boss Gary Waddock believes Tommy Doherty's loan spell at Yeovil will give the chance to get back to full fitness after an injury hit few months.
The midfielder has been out since November with a severely bruised leg, which had been feared as a possible fracture.
However he has been back in action for the resreves but Waddock believes he needs to step up his return by playing more competitive football.
In an exclusive interview with clubcall, Waddock said: 'He needs to play some competitive games at first team level to get his fitness up to where he would want it to be, and where I want it to be.
'We sat down and had a chat, and reserve-team football is not the same and he is going to go down to Yeovil for the month. He should play seven or eight games in that period and we will review the situation after the month
'The idea is to step up his match fitness and he is happy to do it. It is better for him to play in the first-team, the games are more competitive and it should get his match fitness up.'
http://217.158.112.238/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,5034-169529-19728-36699-236427-13916-5024-layout104-186747-news-item,00.html
Jermaine Beckford could be Joining...Watford
-
[So even if QPR are still interested, there's a lot of competition...I guess you can't dither around if you find a non-league star...!]
Watford Observer
Watford to decide on non-league star
JERMAINE BECKFORD could be set to follow in the footsteps of Scott Fitzgerald, Omari Coleman and Jay DeMerit by signing for Watford from non-league football.
The 22-year-old Wealdstone striker has been training at London Colney this week with Watford and boss Adrian Boothroyd said: "He's one we've been tracking for a while and we'll make a decision about him soon."
Should Watford decide to bid for the Ryman Premier Division's leading scorer they are certain to face plenty of competition from other clubs wishing to procure the hottest property in non-league football.
Beckford has already had trials at the likes of Chelsea and Crystal Palace both clubs want him back for a second look. And is set to spend next week training with Charlton Athletic.
Beckford's club manager Gordon Bartlett admits he has never seen anything like it.
"It's unbelievable," said former Portsmouth player Bartlett. "It's gone absolutely crazy. I've never come across this situation before at this level. We've had interest from 20 league clubs but only one formal offer so far, from Yeovil Town, which we've accepted believed to be £50,000.
"We had the Sky television cameras down for our games and everything but Jermaine is taking it very well, he just wants to play football."
And Bartlett, who managed Les Ferdinand at Southall and Andy Impey at Yeading, knows what it takes for a non-league player to make that step up.
"He really could go a long, long way. To score 32 goals in a struggling side is incredible but he gets off the mark very quickly and has tremendous confidence in front of goal. He's been here since he was 17 and come through the youth system but has really matured the last couple of seasons and i think the penny has finally dropped with him."
Other clubs reported to have an interest in Beckford include Sunderland, Reading, QPR, Barnet, Brentford, Oldham, Wycombe and Northampton Town.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/display.var.699900.0.watford_to_decide_on_nonleague_star.php
[So even if QPR are still interested, there's a lot of competition...I guess you can't dither around if you find a non-league star...!]
Watford Observer
Watford to decide on non-league star
JERMAINE BECKFORD could be set to follow in the footsteps of Scott Fitzgerald, Omari Coleman and Jay DeMerit by signing for Watford from non-league football.
The 22-year-old Wealdstone striker has been training at London Colney this week with Watford and boss Adrian Boothroyd said: "He's one we've been tracking for a while and we'll make a decision about him soon."
Should Watford decide to bid for the Ryman Premier Division's leading scorer they are certain to face plenty of competition from other clubs wishing to procure the hottest property in non-league football.
Beckford has already had trials at the likes of Chelsea and Crystal Palace both clubs want him back for a second look. And is set to spend next week training with Charlton Athletic.
Beckford's club manager Gordon Bartlett admits he has never seen anything like it.
"It's unbelievable," said former Portsmouth player Bartlett. "It's gone absolutely crazy. I've never come across this situation before at this level. We've had interest from 20 league clubs but only one formal offer so far, from Yeovil Town, which we've accepted believed to be £50,000.
"We had the Sky television cameras down for our games and everything but Jermaine is taking it very well, he just wants to play football."
And Bartlett, who managed Les Ferdinand at Southall and Andy Impey at Yeading, knows what it takes for a non-league player to make that step up.
"He really could go a long, long way. To score 32 goals in a struggling side is incredible but he gets off the mark very quickly and has tremendous confidence in front of goal. He's been here since he was 17 and come through the youth system but has really matured the last couple of seasons and i think the penny has finally dropped with him."
Other clubs reported to have an interest in Beckford include Sunderland, Reading, QPR, Barnet, Brentford, Oldham, Wycombe and Northampton Town.
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/display.var.699900.0.watford_to_decide_on_nonleague_star.php
Profile/Interview with WBA's Neil Clement, son of Dave Clement & QPR
-
Independent
The Premiership Interview: Chelsea educated, but a Baggie through and through
Neil Clement grew up training alongside Gullit, Zola and Vialli, but when the champions visit The Hawthorns today his commitment to West Brom's cause will be total. He talked to Phil Shaw
Published: 04 March 2006
Athens, 1994. The England Under-16 squad stroll through the streets, enjoying the historic sights on a balmy evening. Their game with Greece in the Panionos Stadium the following night is the biggest of their fledgling careers.
London, 1996. Chelsea's first-year professionals report for training near Heathrow. They are about to pit themselves against Ruud Gullit's senior players, legends like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes and Dennis Wise.
One player was present on both occasions, although few observers would have identified him as a star of the future. Against the Greeks, he sat on the bench with Daryl Sopp and Anthony Ormerod as Matthew Wicks, John Curtis, Jason Crowe and Elliott Dickman filled the defensive roles. In Gullit's pecking order, he often seemed to be behind Mark Nicholls, Nick Crittenden, Jody Morris, Jon Harley and Rob Wolleaston.
A decade on, Wicks, the England Under-16 player who had the top clubs drooling, sells cars for a living. For him, as for Luke Staton, Paul Heritage and Andrew Wright, the life that appeared there for the taking never happened. The Chelsea boy most likely, Nicholls, is still playing, but for Uxbridge. The link between the squads - the only one from either now performing in the Premiership - is Neil Clement.
As more eye-catching individuals have fallen by the wayside, the 28-year-old utility player goes from strength to strength and will be involved at The Hawthorns this afternoon as Chelsea seek to honour the memory of Peter Osgood by tightening their grip on the Premiership title. These days, however, Clement is a West Bromwich Albion player. More importantly, given Albion's position just above the relegation zone, Clement is a survivor.
The wretched irony of such an epithet is that his father, the former Queen's Park Rangers and England defender Dave Clement, did not survive to see his son uphold the family honour. Depressed after a serious injury that he sustained as a fine career began fizzling out in the Fourth Division at Wimbledon, he took his life. Neil was three years old.
Too young to understand the enormity of what had happened, he and his brother Paul - who was then 10 and is now coaching Fulham's young players - grew up in the Midlands after his mother decided to move from London. "It wasn't particularly a football environment, so maybe it was in the blood," Clement recalls. "Like any kid, I loved the game. And there was always the incentive of following in my dad's footsteps."
In his mid-teens he was offered a scholarship at the FA's National School at Lilleshall in Shropshire. By the second year, his room-mate, Jody Morris, was already attached to Chelsea and told him the club wanted to sign him. "I'd always had a soft spot for QPR because of my dad, and it's an ambition of mine to play for them one day," he says. "But I went down to Stamford Bridge for a look around when I was 15, and of all the clubs that were interested, that was the one that really grabbed me."
Glenn Hoddle was his first manager and Graham Rix the youth coach. Clement liked their methods and the way they primed their teams to play. The progressive approach continued under Gullit, and a certain player provided all the inspiration a budding first-teamer needed. "Zola was the one I looked to in terms of preparation and training. His dedication was frightening. He was immaculate on the practice pitch. Every time he got the ball, it was as if it was the last time he would touch it."
Yet working with stellar talents from France, Italy and elsewhere was a double-edged sword. Clement started out "high on confidence and excited by the prospects", but he sensed over time that he was "trying too hard" during training. Nicholls, in particular, found greater favour with Gullit, while Morris came to be perceived as having the most potential.
Clement started just once in the Premiership for Chelsea, in a 3-1 win over West Ham in 1996. "Zola was unbelievable. He twisted Julian Dicks inside out. The game probably came too soon for me. With hindsight I could have done with my debut coming after I went on loan to Preston, Reading and Brentford. But it was a fantastic experience. I thought I had it in me to play more times, but it's good to be able to say I played for them."
It looks even better on the CV now that Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho have turned Chelsea into champions. Are they recognisable as the club he knew? "When I was there we had some top players. But even in the six years since I left they have moved on and up - the stadium, training ground, players. They could dominate for years."
The odd physio, kit man and coach is still at the Bridge from Clement's five-year stint, but a single player remains, and not the one he and others envisaged as the future of Chelsea. "Jody [Morris] was the outstanding talent as a teenager. He has been unlucky in the way things happened to him off the pitch. The way Chelsea developed as a club didn't help him either. I thought he would kick on when he finally left, but it hasn't really happened for him."
The contemporary who stayed was, of course, John Terry, an occasional golf partner of Clement's. "John was a couple of years younger, though we played in the youth team together. He always loved defending even as a kid. We would be messing about in training and he would throw his body in the way of anything. Totally fearless. But he has taken it on to a different level, the way he reads the game and leads the side."
Clement acknowledges but does not agree with the allegation, repeatedly levelled at foreign-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, that they do not give British players a chance. "If you're good enough, you'll get in, as John [Terry] and Ashley Cole have proved. But it is very difficult. Fans at those clubs demand instant success. To get it, they go and buy it."
Not for him the criticism often aired by Jermaine Pennant after his sojourn as the eternal understudy at Highbury. "I don't complain that I never got my chance. I had opportunities. More than anything, though, I got the best footballing education I could possibly have had."
Clement would draw heavily upon it after Gary Megson took him to Albion, initially on loan, during the spring of 2000. Then, as now, the club were embroiled in a fight against relegation - to the third tier of the English game - which they escaped only on the final day. Such late-season drama would become an annual event at The Hawthorns.
"The turnaround has been phenomenal. In my first full season we reached the play-offs. The following year we gained promotion - on the final day again - by beating Crystal Palace. That was probably a bit soon for the club, but you can't turn down the chance when it comes."
Albion went straight back down, then up again, but at the midway point of last season they were favourites for the drop once more. Bryan Robson had replaced Megson as manager, yet crushing defeats cast doubt on his credibility. Clement cites a fixture between Christmas and New Year, at Manchester City, as a collective and personal turning point.
"We didn't have a shot on target but Richard Dunne's own goal equalised for us late on. It started a feeling that maybe it wasn't a lost cause after all. Thomas Gaardsoe got injured that day and I moved to my preferred position at centre-back. I did well and have tended to stay there."
Albion achieved the so-called great escape on the final afternoon, forcing supporters and scribes to re-evaluate Robson's worth. "What he did was give us confidence," explains Clement. "He told us we were good enough to stay up, which perhaps we didn't believe any more.
"He also got us playing better football. We started passing the ball around and creating chances, which we weren't doing under the previous manager. Gary Megson instilled a great work ethic, and we used to try to out-run teams. But we never looked like outscoring them."
Robson's team currently occupy the place where they finished, immediately above the relegation places, but Clement makes sense when he asserts that they are "in a better position than last time". He adds: "We need to put down roots in the Premiership, like Bolton or Charlton. We have to be looking towards the top half rather than the bottom."
In these transient times, many players refer to their employers as "the club" or "they". With Clement, Albion's longest-serving player and often their captain, it is always "we". If he stays until the end of his contract he will have spent a decade there. "Last January I had six months left and I thought I might be leaving, but the manager and the club showed how much they wanted to keep me. I was chuffed to stay.
"I'm even on the club history DVD, Full Throstle. It's great to be part of the traditions, and to have played a part in helping Albion back to where we belong. People have come and gone, the stadium and training facilities have all changed, but I'm still here."
Versatility may be the key to his longevity. "I like central defence or left-back best, but I've also played in centre midfield - I scored at Blackburn in that role in our first-ever Premiership match - and at left wing-back. That's a very tough position to play at this level, especially when opponents play 4-4-2 against you. Their full-backs and wide midfielders double up on you. In the Championship you can play 3-5-2 and get away with it, but the teams we're up against now are too good. The full-backs are happy to bring the ball forward and go two-on-one against you.
"I even played on the right of midfield once, in a vital promotion match against Rotherham. Never again! Not one of my best games. But you will play anywhere to stay in the team. I just want to play as many games as I can. I'd like to play 500 for Albion. I'm already up around 270."
Several of his adolescent colleagues did not manage one, but Clement reflects no less warmly on them. "It doesn't mean that they failed. Some decided football wasn't for them. A lot are doing well in other areas. And people catch up. A kid who was little at 15 can grow taller than the one who was a giant. Others are as fast at 14 as they will ever be."
Growing pains are a problem in the Premiership, too. Albion's ability to get through them successfully may well depend upon the extent to which they can foster Clement's survival instinct.
Like father, like son A player in the image of his old man
"Strong and powerful, a good athlete and a very upright runner, like his dad," says Gerry Francis of Neil Clement. "You can see the resemblance, and not just in his looks. You can tell he's Dave Clement's son."
Francis played with the late Dave Clement for Queen's Park Rangers and England . Neil is left-footed whereas Dave was an overlapping right-back, but intriguingly, given the West Bromwich player's liking for centre-back, his father switched from central defence only after joining QPR in 1965.
Neil knew Dave won five caps, two in World Cup qualifiers against Italy, and that his 405-game sojourn at Rangers included a runners-up spot behind Liverpool in 1976. He had the word of Francis and others that Dave was an outstanding player, but he was too young to have seen him play.
"Dave Sexton, his old manager at QPR, asked John Motson if he could put something together from old video tapes," explains Neil. "I still watch it. But I also meet loads of people who remember him."
Francis, for one. "Dave was a bit older than me, but we both came through the youth team at QPR and played in the same side for 10 years or more. We roomed together, we went on international trips together. I knew his wife, Pat, well and, though I'd moved to Crystal Palace and he was at Wimbledon, they came down to a place I had in the South of France in the summer before his suicide. His death came as a major shock to all of us who were at QPR, and it's still hard to put into words how we felt. "
Francis is glad to see another Clement establish himself at the game's top level. In a strange way, says Neil Clement, he believes his father has, too. "I feel he is with me in spirit and sometimes think he is up there watching over me.
"What's happened has happened, and it's a shame he isn't around to see how me and my brother Paul [a coach at Fulham] have got on. But I'd like to think he would be proud of what I've achieved." http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/west_brom/article349113.ece
Independent
The Premiership Interview: Chelsea educated, but a Baggie through and through
Neil Clement grew up training alongside Gullit, Zola and Vialli, but when the champions visit The Hawthorns today his commitment to West Brom's cause will be total. He talked to Phil Shaw
Published: 04 March 2006
Athens, 1994. The England Under-16 squad stroll through the streets, enjoying the historic sights on a balmy evening. Their game with Greece in the Panionos Stadium the following night is the biggest of their fledgling careers.
London, 1996. Chelsea's first-year professionals report for training near Heathrow. They are about to pit themselves against Ruud Gullit's senior players, legends like Gianfranco Zola, Gianluca Vialli, Mark Hughes and Dennis Wise.
One player was present on both occasions, although few observers would have identified him as a star of the future. Against the Greeks, he sat on the bench with Daryl Sopp and Anthony Ormerod as Matthew Wicks, John Curtis, Jason Crowe and Elliott Dickman filled the defensive roles. In Gullit's pecking order, he often seemed to be behind Mark Nicholls, Nick Crittenden, Jody Morris, Jon Harley and Rob Wolleaston.
A decade on, Wicks, the England Under-16 player who had the top clubs drooling, sells cars for a living. For him, as for Luke Staton, Paul Heritage and Andrew Wright, the life that appeared there for the taking never happened. The Chelsea boy most likely, Nicholls, is still playing, but for Uxbridge. The link between the squads - the only one from either now performing in the Premiership - is Neil Clement.
As more eye-catching individuals have fallen by the wayside, the 28-year-old utility player goes from strength to strength and will be involved at The Hawthorns this afternoon as Chelsea seek to honour the memory of Peter Osgood by tightening their grip on the Premiership title. These days, however, Clement is a West Bromwich Albion player. More importantly, given Albion's position just above the relegation zone, Clement is a survivor.
The wretched irony of such an epithet is that his father, the former Queen's Park Rangers and England defender Dave Clement, did not survive to see his son uphold the family honour. Depressed after a serious injury that he sustained as a fine career began fizzling out in the Fourth Division at Wimbledon, he took his life. Neil was three years old.
Too young to understand the enormity of what had happened, he and his brother Paul - who was then 10 and is now coaching Fulham's young players - grew up in the Midlands after his mother decided to move from London. "It wasn't particularly a football environment, so maybe it was in the blood," Clement recalls. "Like any kid, I loved the game. And there was always the incentive of following in my dad's footsteps."
In his mid-teens he was offered a scholarship at the FA's National School at Lilleshall in Shropshire. By the second year, his room-mate, Jody Morris, was already attached to Chelsea and told him the club wanted to sign him. "I'd always had a soft spot for QPR because of my dad, and it's an ambition of mine to play for them one day," he says. "But I went down to Stamford Bridge for a look around when I was 15, and of all the clubs that were interested, that was the one that really grabbed me."
Glenn Hoddle was his first manager and Graham Rix the youth coach. Clement liked their methods and the way they primed their teams to play. The progressive approach continued under Gullit, and a certain player provided all the inspiration a budding first-teamer needed. "Zola was the one I looked to in terms of preparation and training. His dedication was frightening. He was immaculate on the practice pitch. Every time he got the ball, it was as if it was the last time he would touch it."
Yet working with stellar talents from France, Italy and elsewhere was a double-edged sword. Clement started out "high on confidence and excited by the prospects", but he sensed over time that he was "trying too hard" during training. Nicholls, in particular, found greater favour with Gullit, while Morris came to be perceived as having the most potential.
Clement started just once in the Premiership for Chelsea, in a 3-1 win over West Ham in 1996. "Zola was unbelievable. He twisted Julian Dicks inside out. The game probably came too soon for me. With hindsight I could have done with my debut coming after I went on loan to Preston, Reading and Brentford. But it was a fantastic experience. I thought I had it in me to play more times, but it's good to be able to say I played for them."
It looks even better on the CV now that Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho have turned Chelsea into champions. Are they recognisable as the club he knew? "When I was there we had some top players. But even in the six years since I left they have moved on and up - the stadium, training ground, players. They could dominate for years."
The odd physio, kit man and coach is still at the Bridge from Clement's five-year stint, but a single player remains, and not the one he and others envisaged as the future of Chelsea. "Jody [Morris] was the outstanding talent as a teenager. He has been unlucky in the way things happened to him off the pitch. The way Chelsea developed as a club didn't help him either. I thought he would kick on when he finally left, but it hasn't really happened for him."
The contemporary who stayed was, of course, John Terry, an occasional golf partner of Clement's. "John was a couple of years younger, though we played in the youth team together. He always loved defending even as a kid. We would be messing about in training and he would throw his body in the way of anything. Totally fearless. But he has taken it on to a different level, the way he reads the game and leads the side."
Clement acknowledges but does not agree with the allegation, repeatedly levelled at foreign-based teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, that they do not give British players a chance. "If you're good enough, you'll get in, as John [Terry] and Ashley Cole have proved. But it is very difficult. Fans at those clubs demand instant success. To get it, they go and buy it."
Not for him the criticism often aired by Jermaine Pennant after his sojourn as the eternal understudy at Highbury. "I don't complain that I never got my chance. I had opportunities. More than anything, though, I got the best footballing education I could possibly have had."
Clement would draw heavily upon it after Gary Megson took him to Albion, initially on loan, during the spring of 2000. Then, as now, the club were embroiled in a fight against relegation - to the third tier of the English game - which they escaped only on the final day. Such late-season drama would become an annual event at The Hawthorns.
"The turnaround has been phenomenal. In my first full season we reached the play-offs. The following year we gained promotion - on the final day again - by beating Crystal Palace. That was probably a bit soon for the club, but you can't turn down the chance when it comes."
Albion went straight back down, then up again, but at the midway point of last season they were favourites for the drop once more. Bryan Robson had replaced Megson as manager, yet crushing defeats cast doubt on his credibility. Clement cites a fixture between Christmas and New Year, at Manchester City, as a collective and personal turning point.
"We didn't have a shot on target but Richard Dunne's own goal equalised for us late on. It started a feeling that maybe it wasn't a lost cause after all. Thomas Gaardsoe got injured that day and I moved to my preferred position at centre-back. I did well and have tended to stay there."
Albion achieved the so-called great escape on the final afternoon, forcing supporters and scribes to re-evaluate Robson's worth. "What he did was give us confidence," explains Clement. "He told us we were good enough to stay up, which perhaps we didn't believe any more.
"He also got us playing better football. We started passing the ball around and creating chances, which we weren't doing under the previous manager. Gary Megson instilled a great work ethic, and we used to try to out-run teams. But we never looked like outscoring them."
Robson's team currently occupy the place where they finished, immediately above the relegation places, but Clement makes sense when he asserts that they are "in a better position than last time". He adds: "We need to put down roots in the Premiership, like Bolton or Charlton. We have to be looking towards the top half rather than the bottom."
In these transient times, many players refer to their employers as "the club" or "they". With Clement, Albion's longest-serving player and often their captain, it is always "we". If he stays until the end of his contract he will have spent a decade there. "Last January I had six months left and I thought I might be leaving, but the manager and the club showed how much they wanted to keep me. I was chuffed to stay.
"I'm even on the club history DVD, Full Throstle. It's great to be part of the traditions, and to have played a part in helping Albion back to where we belong. People have come and gone, the stadium and training facilities have all changed, but I'm still here."
Versatility may be the key to his longevity. "I like central defence or left-back best, but I've also played in centre midfield - I scored at Blackburn in that role in our first-ever Premiership match - and at left wing-back. That's a very tough position to play at this level, especially when opponents play 4-4-2 against you. Their full-backs and wide midfielders double up on you. In the Championship you can play 3-5-2 and get away with it, but the teams we're up against now are too good. The full-backs are happy to bring the ball forward and go two-on-one against you.
"I even played on the right of midfield once, in a vital promotion match against Rotherham. Never again! Not one of my best games. But you will play anywhere to stay in the team. I just want to play as many games as I can. I'd like to play 500 for Albion. I'm already up around 270."
Several of his adolescent colleagues did not manage one, but Clement reflects no less warmly on them. "It doesn't mean that they failed. Some decided football wasn't for them. A lot are doing well in other areas. And people catch up. A kid who was little at 15 can grow taller than the one who was a giant. Others are as fast at 14 as they will ever be."
Growing pains are a problem in the Premiership, too. Albion's ability to get through them successfully may well depend upon the extent to which they can foster Clement's survival instinct.
Like father, like son A player in the image of his old man
"Strong and powerful, a good athlete and a very upright runner, like his dad," says Gerry Francis of Neil Clement. "You can see the resemblance, and not just in his looks. You can tell he's Dave Clement's son."
Francis played with the late Dave Clement for Queen's Park Rangers and England . Neil is left-footed whereas Dave was an overlapping right-back, but intriguingly, given the West Bromwich player's liking for centre-back, his father switched from central defence only after joining QPR in 1965.
Neil knew Dave won five caps, two in World Cup qualifiers against Italy, and that his 405-game sojourn at Rangers included a runners-up spot behind Liverpool in 1976. He had the word of Francis and others that Dave was an outstanding player, but he was too young to have seen him play.
"Dave Sexton, his old manager at QPR, asked John Motson if he could put something together from old video tapes," explains Neil. "I still watch it. But I also meet loads of people who remember him."
Francis, for one. "Dave was a bit older than me, but we both came through the youth team at QPR and played in the same side for 10 years or more. We roomed together, we went on international trips together. I knew his wife, Pat, well and, though I'd moved to Crystal Palace and he was at Wimbledon, they came down to a place I had in the South of France in the summer before his suicide. His death came as a major shock to all of us who were at QPR, and it's still hard to put into words how we felt. "
Francis is glad to see another Clement establish himself at the game's top level. In a strange way, says Neil Clement, he believes his father has, too. "I feel he is with me in spirit and sometimes think he is up there watching over me.
"What's happened has happened, and it's a shame he isn't around to see how me and my brother Paul [a coach at Fulham] have got on. But I'd like to think he would be proud of what I've achieved." http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/west_brom/article349113.ece
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)