QPR Chairman Paladini on Gregory Staying On and re The Three New Board Members

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Ben Kosky/Kiburn Times - February 28, 2007
Gregory set for new deal
Gianni Paladini will offer John Gregory a two-year contract

JOHN Gregory will be asked to stay on as QPR manager next season - even if the club plunge into League One.

Rangers slid back into the bottom three on Monday following Barnsley's victory at Stoke but, as chairman Gianni Paladini stressed last week, the manager's position is not under threat.

Gregory's initial contract runs out at the end of the season, but Paladini told the Times: "A new contract is already agreed and drawn up for the next two years.

"Whether we stay up or go down, we want John to be the manager here. I've know John for a long time, I have total confidence in him and it's up to him which players he wants to bring in."

Gregory is currently trying to secure the loan signing of a left-back, but is unlikely to make many changes to the starting line-up for Rangers' game at Ipswich on Saturday.

Striker Dexter Blackstock is serving a one-match suspension and the QPR boss confirmed that he will choose between Paul Furlong, Ray Jones and Marc Nygaard to step in at Portman Road.

"We'll leave the door open for somebody at Ipswich and it's entirely up to three candidates to stake a claim," said Gregory.

"My policy has always been to pick the best team to win a game and, if you're in possession of the shirt and doing well, you'll stay in the team - that's my philosophy.

"At one of my previous clubs the chairman criticised me for picking a player ahead of someone else who was earning four times his wages, but he was in the team because he was playing better.

"We were very resilient at Leeds last week and it's important we continue to pick up points on the road in the run-in and show we're not a soft touch."

Gregory has no plans to bring in a temporary member of coaching staff at this stage - even though his assistant Richard Hill and goalkeeping coach Tony Roberts are currently suspended.

Hill was arrested and bailed by police earlier this month following the infamous punch-up involving China's Olympic team at Harlington - and was also landed with an FA misconduct charge on Monday.

The FA have also hit Rangers with a similar charge relating to the same incident - which makes the addition of three legal experts to the Loftus Road boardroom especially welcome.

Nick De Marco, who has acted as the club's legal adviser for some time, joins the board as a non-executive director, along with solicitors Kevin James Steele and Jason Kallis from top law firm Mishcon de Reya.

Steele and Kallis were introduced to Paladini by former QPR director Andrew Ellis and the Rs' chairman said: "They're both season ticket holders in Ellerslie Road and they've offered to help the club.

"It's an honour for me and the board to be working with such a big firm as Mishcon de Reya and it can only benefit the club. I must also thank Andrew Ellis for introducing us.

"Nick has been working with the board for some time. He's an expert in football matters and he's helped us to save the club a lot of money. Kilburn Times