Ex-QPR News Update

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Ex-QPR, Dougie Freedman - very much, "the one that got away" - signs a new contract with Crystal Palace. Meanwhile at Crystal Palace, Manager Peter Taylor is supposedly in talks with Chelsea - with rumours re Chelsea's Jimmy Smith (although elsewhere, Taylor said he wasn't interested in Smith)And ex-QPR's Aaron Brown has joined Gillingham after being released by Swindon.

BBC - Freedman agrees new Palace deal

Freedman scored three goals in 34 league appearances last season
Crystal Palace striker Dougie Freedman has agreed a new two-year contract which will tie him to Selhurst Park until the summer of 2009.
The 33-year-old Scotland international was out of contract this summer.
He has scored 72 goals in 245 league and cup appearances since returning to Palace for his second spell from Nottingham Forest in October 2000.
He scored 34 goals in 104 appearances in his first spell - and is Palace's joint fifth highest ever goalscorer. BBC

Palace eye Chelsea kids
This is Local London - By Stuart Pink

Peter Taylor is in talks with Chelsea regarding the possibility of signing one of their young starlets on a season-long loan.
The Eagles boss wants a winger to replace the now-departed Jobi McAnuff and has an eye on Blues youngsters Jimmy Smith and Scott Sinclair, who excelled while on loan in the Championship last season.
"I have spoken to assistant manager Steve Clarke about a few of their players," said Taylor.
"There is a possibility something could develop. Wingers are good to have up your sleeve, but I need someone with league experience.
"It will be hard to put a player who has not played much senior football in to the Championship."
Taylor hopes the Eagles' location can help beat competition from other Championship clubs.
He said: "I'm hopeful that being a London club will give us the edge on securing London-based players.
"Some clubs prefer it if their players are not too far away."
Twenty-year-old Smith enjoyed a successful year-long spell with QPR last season, making 31 appearances and scoring six goals, including a memorable strike against the Eagles.
Sinclair (pictured), 18, also scored against Palace while on a four-month loan deal with Plymouth Argyle.
He made 17 appearances, scoring four goals, and played twice for Chelsea when he returned towards the end of the season.
The Eagles left it late to take a Premiership youngster on loan last season, signing Iain Turner from Everton for one month.
But Taylor dismissed the suggestion he was not in favour of loan deals, insisting that an attacking player was worth the risk.
"I like long-term loans," he said.
"I want all my defenders in place before the start of the season, so they can become accustomed to each other.
"But attacking players bring something different."
Recruiting Smith or Sinclair would be a major coup for Taylor, but he insisted Palace fans should already be excited about next season.
"I think the fans will have a lot to look forward to, despite Jobi leaving and Gary Borrowdale and Darren Ward likely to go. I will have three very good replacements," he added. Report

BBC - Gillingham complete triple swoop

Brown, Cogan and Facey have all joined on free transfers
Gillingham have signed Rotherham striker Delroy Facey, Barnet midfielder Barry Cogan and Swindon midfielder Aaron Brown on free transfers.
Facey, 27, scored 11 goals last season as Rotherham were relegated.
Cogan, 22, was released by Barnet despite being a regular last season while 27-year-old Brown helped Swindon win promotion from League Two.
They have also confirmed the signing of Cheltenham defender Craig Armstrong, 32, which was recently reported..... BBC