Ray Jones: Baido urged Him to Stay (as did Chelsea's Mancienne & Smith)

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Baidoo urged Ray to stay
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Time -10 January 2007
SHABAZZ Baidoo has revealed he persuaded team-mate Ray Jones to follow in his footsteps by committing his future to QPR.
Jones finally put pen to paper on a three and a half year deal with Rangers last Friday after his agent had previously turned down numerous contract offers.
That decision was welcomed by management and players alike, including Baidoo - who also rejected initial offers of a professional contract before signing last summer.
"We had quite a few conversations about it, because obviously I was in a similar situation last year," said Baidoo.
"I just said to him 'I can't tell you what to do, you have to do whatever you feel's best for your future. QPR have helped you out for the last couple of years, so stay loyal and maybe if you have to move on later, that's the way it is.
"That's the way I saw it as well when I signed and of course I'm happy that Ray's staying - we get on well, we've known each other for a couple of years and played well together in the youth team.
"It means we've got good competition for places and, if you have better players around you, that's going to make you a better player as well."
QPR turned down a £50,000 offer from Fulham for Jones last month, but it looked inevitable that the 18-year-old striker would be leaving during the transfer window.
Boss John Gregory admitted only last week that he was resigned to losing Jones, who has netted six goals this season.
But the manager said after Saturday's FA Cup tie against Luton: "It made everybody here feel great that Ray wanted to commit himself to the club for three and a half years.
"There's a long way to go, but we believe he's got more opportunity playing for QPR in the Championship than being sat on someone else's bench at a bigger club.
"He could have gone elsewhere for more money, there's no doubt about that. I think he just wanted to make sure he wasn't selling himself short financially."
Jones is thought to have agreed a deal that will earn him approximately £100,000 a year with Rangers through to 2010.
Meanwhile, Baidoo believes the Rs are capable of earning a place in the next round of the FA Cup when they travel to Luton for next Tuesday's third round replay.
The striker appeared to handle the ball when he scored Rangers' equaliser last Saturday, an incident that sparked angry protests from the Luton contingent just three minutes after he came on as substitute.
Baidoo recalled: "Basically I just saw the keeper push the ball up, so I went in to try and get it with my head and the next thing it was in the net. The rest is history!
"Luton's not an easy place to go and play - you know that their crowd and the conditions at their stadium will make it difficult. But we've got a good enough team to go there, win and get in the next round. Kilburn Times

BBC - Chelsea duo helped QPR ace decide
Ray Jones has revealed that Chelsea youngsters Jimmy Smith and Michael Mancienne helped to convince him to sign a new contract at QPR.
Smith and Mancienne have impressed since moving to Loftus Road on loan.
Jones said: "I spoke to them and they've loved playing in the first team at QPR rather than Chelsea's reserves.
"It shows that at my age, it's better to get the experience and play as often as possible rather than be on the bench somewhere else."
Rangers manager John Gregory was resigned to losing Jones, 18, when his contract was due to expire this summer.
Several Premiership clubs have watched the striker and Fulham had a speculative bid for him rejected.
Jones added: "John Gregory was a big factor in me re-signing as well.
"It means a lot when the manager has faith in you and wants to keep you.
"It was always my intention to stay though. Even when the club made their first offer, which wasn't great, I hoped it would all be resolved and I'd stay here.
"I'm glad it's all sorted and I just want to focus on my career at QPR."
Gregory is relieved Jones opted to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal having rejected several previous offers.
He insists the player made the right decision.
Gregory said: "He could have gone elsewhere and got more money. We didn't want that to happen and neither did he.
"He's very aware of what's happened to Smith and Mancienne here, and has spoken to them.
"They love being in the first team and have just played in the FA Cup rather than been sat watching Chelsea or playing for the reserves at Aldershot in front of one man and his dog.
"Ray will get more of an opportunity here at QPR in the Championship than if he'd made that move and been sat on someone's bench." BBC

Gareth Ainsworth/Kilburn Times
"...It's also been a real boost for everyone that Ray Jones has signed a contract. Ray's a quiet, laid-back lad and not a big-time boy at all, so it's been hard for him to hear people having a pop just because he's got ambition.
But the chairman and the gaffer have done a great job in securing his signature and the fact is that, if he's good enough, someone will come in and buy him anyway.
Kilburn Times