Bircham Returns to Loftus Road...Ainsworth Not to Port Vale?....Eckersley Coming....Faurlin Costs...Borrowdale Cost?

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UPDATE: - QPR Official Site - BIRCH CHAMPING AT THE BIT
- Marc Bircham is relishing the opportunity to get his teeth stuck into his new role as Youth Development Assistant Manager.
- Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk, the former Rangers midfielder expressed his delight at returning to the Club he grew up supporting as a boy.
- "I've always wanted to be involved in the coaching side of things and what better place to start," he said.
- "This is a great opportunity for me to learn my trade at a Club that means so much to me."
- Bircham will assist new Youth Development Manager, Steve Gallen, working closely with the Clubs Under-18 and Under-16 squads on a daily basis.
- And the former R's stalwart - famed for his crazy blue and white hair - has been impressed by what he's seen so far from the latest crop of talented teenagers to come off the production line in W12.
- "They've really impressed me," he said.
- "The attitude of the lads is great and the team spirit within the camp is very positive.
- "They're a great bunch and there's one or two gems that I'm sure will come to fruition in the future."
- Bircham, who is currently working towards the completion of his UEFA A license, added: "It will help that I know Steve so well.
-"We go back years. He played in the same Youth team as my cousin, so that understanding has been there from day one.
- "He's done a great job bringing through players in the past and long may that continue." QPR


QPR Official Site - BACKROOM RESHUFFLE
- Jim Magilton's fine-tuning of his backroom team has continued with the appointment of Keith Ryan as the Club's new Reserve Manager.
- Ryan, who previously oversaw the Centre of Excellence, has been promoted to assist Magilton and co. at First Team level.
- As a result of the re-shuffle, Steve Gallen has been appointed Youth Development Manager, with former R's cult hero Marc Bircham returning to his boyhood Club as Youth Development Assistant Manager.
- Speaking of Ryan's appointment, Magilton told www.qpr.co.uk: "Keith is a top coach and his enthusiasm and ambition is excellent.
- "John (Gorman) knows him really well from their time at Wycombe and he's really impressed me with his knowledge and understanding of the game."
- Magilton added: "Having him involved with the First Team set-up is great.
- "He's an infectious character and has a great rapport with the players, and that's exactly what I'm looking for with all my staff."
- As well as running the R's second string, Ryan will also play an active role on First Team matchdays, assisting Magilton, John Gorman and fellow coach David Rouse.
- "He'll play a key role for us," added the R's gaffer.
- "As well as being in charge of the Reserves, he'll play an integral role in my backroom team on a daily basis."
- On the changes at Youth team level, Magilton added: "We've had a long, hard look at it, and I'm delighted with how we're set up now.
- "Steve (Gallen) has a great attitude and approach to the game and he knows the young lads very well having been here for such a long time.
- "He's already played a key role in bringing a number of young lads up to First Team level and long may that continue."
- Magilton concluded: "Bringing Birch back to the Club is a very positive step.
- "QPR runs through his blood. He grew up supporting Rangers; he's skippered the Club; and he knows what it means to play for the R's." QPR


Mirror BY ECK, UNITED KID FOR HOOPS
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to send young defender Richard Eckersley out on loan to QPR for the whole of next season.
The highly-rated prospect (above) made his Premier League debut last season and is seen as a future first-teamer at United.
Despite interest from several Premier League clubs, Fergie will let Eckersley, 20, go out to the Championship for experience and is in favour of the Hoops, where he will be guaranteed a regular game. Mirror


London Informer - QPR sign Alejandro Faurlin
IT NEEDED a £500,000 compensation fee to Inter Milan to make sure Alejandro Faurlin joined QPR on Tuesday for a record £3.5million.
The Serie A side has a pre-contract arrangement with the 22-year-old playmaker, (right), a star in his country's U17 World Cup team of 2003.
The Italians first recognised they had a potential gem on their hands after spotting the name Faurlin when he racked up six goals against six different Primera Division teams for his club, Instituto AC Cordoba.
Inter stepped aside when they admitted they couldn't guarantee Faurlin first-team football - but wanted the pay-off to allow him to join Rangers instead.
Boss Jim Magilton has been running the rule over Faurlin in training before taking the plunge because he desperately wanted someone to supply Rangers' wingers and forwards with inch-perfect passes.
"I had opportunities to play in Spain, Italy and Greece, but QPR was my choice and I'm delighted to be here," Faurlin said.
"I was really impressed with the set-up and the ambition of the club and can't wait to make my debut."
Magilton added: "We've had a good look at him and I believe he will be a valuable addition to the squad.
"He's a likeable young lad who plays with a smile on his face, so we'll have no problems."
Rangers agreed a three-year deal for their new signing, whose fee eclipses the previous best, £2.7m shelled out for striker Mike Sheron in 1997 - a fee that netted Rs only 13 goals from the Stoke City striker in two seasons. London Informer


COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH CLAIM - QPR 'spent £500k on Gary Borrowdale'
WEALTHY Championship outfit QPR splashed £500,000 on Coventry City FC's unwanted full-back Gary Borrowdale, it has been claimed.
- Squarefootball.net reports that the Loftus Road club spent the hefty fee on left-back to make his move from the Sky Blues permanent in January.
- Such a fee sounds highly unlikely - especially considering Borrowdale was promptly shipped to on loan to Brighton for the rest of the season.
- The 23-year-old made 21 appeareances for Coventry City between 2007 and 2009 Coventry Evening Telegraph


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