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- VIDEO: From October 1994: QPR Beating Liverpool. (Gerry Francis' Last Home game in charge before resigning over the Rodney Marsh Appointment and moving to Spurs)
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Gallen looks forward to Rangers reunion
JOE Gallen admits he is relishing the opportunity to return to Loftus Road next season after winning promotion to the Championship with Millwall.
The Lions' assistant manager has not been back to Rangers in a working capacity since his surprise sacking three years ago after leading the club's under-18 side to a league title.
But that will change at some stage next season after Millwall, managed by former Rs number two Kenny Jackett, beat Swindon 1-0 at Wembley in Saturday's League One play-off final.
"Even on the pitch, some of our players were saying to me straight away: 'I bet you can't wait for the QPR game!'" Gallen told the Times.
"I don't talk about QPR that much - for me it's all about the club I work for at the moment - but they know where I live, my background and the family connection.
"Of course they're right because personally, that's the fixture I'll be looking out for, QPR away. And when it comes around, I hope we absolutely tear them apart - on the pitch, that is!"
Millwall's victory, a year after they had lost out 3-2 to Sc*n*horpe in the final, helped complete a clean sweep of play-off success for the Rangers coaching staff of yesteryear.
Former manager Ian Holloway had led Blackpool to the Premier League a week earlier, while Tony Roberts, who was the Rs' goalkeeping coach under Holloway and Jackett, played in the Dagenham & Redbridge side that beat Rotherham 3-2 to reach League One on Sunday.
"I speak to Robbo all the time - anyone who saw his TV interview will know he's still mad, but it's amazing to be 41 and playing so well," said Gallen.
"I'm really pleased for him and also for Ian Holloway - his achievement at Blackpool is immense. It gives hope to every other team in the Championship.
"It shows you don't have to be the biggest club and have the most money - an unfashionable team can get into the Premier League. Next year looks absolutely wide open - there's no superpower in there and any one of the 24 teams in the league will feel that, if they get it right, they can be in the top six.
"Our aim is to consolidate in the Championship and build from there. Our fans are extremely loud and passionate - they will add to the atmosphere of a London derby and I think that'll be good for the division.
"The Millwall fans have been a massive part of our success in the last two years - the noise, especially at home, has been deafening, and we'll need more of the same from them next season."
Gallen's brother Steve - who managed the current Rangers under-18 side to the Youth Alliance League Cup last month, was among the spectators at Wembley as Paul Robinson's first-half strike took Millwall back to the second tier after a four-year absence. Kilburn Times
Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - Derry ready for QPR switch
NEIL Warnock will inflict a further blow on former club Crystal Palace by luring their captain Shaun Derry to Loftus Road.
Palace staved off fears of liquidation when a takeover agreement was announced on Monday - but they are powerless to prevent QPR raiding their squad for Derry.
The experienced midfielder is available on a free transfer and will join top scorer Darren Ambrose and left-back Clint Hill in moving to Rangers during the coming weeks.
Palace have accepted Warnock's £750,000 offer for Ambrose, who netted 20 goals from midfield last season, and the deal will be completed once the QPR boss returns from holiday next week.
Warnock told the Times: "Things are on hold at the moment. We thought we'd have got Ambrose tied up by now, but I'm hopeful something will happen in the next week or two.
"We've made enquiries about a number of players, including Shaun Derry - we have spoken to him but we want to concentrate first and foremost on the ones that we're definitely going to sign.
"Newcastle had Nicky Butt on the bench last year and I want to build a squad that's good enough - we'll need people like Derry to be part of it."
Derry, 32, began his career with Notts County and then played under Warnock at Sheffield United before moving on to Portsmouth, Palace and Leeds.
Warnock brought the midfielder back to Selhurst Park in 2008, soon after taking over as Eagles boss, and handed him the captain's armband last season.
His imminent arrival at Loftus Road will raise further questions about the future of Gavin Mahon, who fills a similar role on the field and is out of contract this summer.
Meanwhile, Warnock will step up his efforts to sign another of his former players - Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who missed the majority of last season after failing a drugs test.
It is understood that the keeper is keen to link up with Warnock again and a deal could be completed as early as next week. Kilburn Times
- Early 2010/2011 Championship Odds "Nottingham Forest...are 15/2 favourites to win the league. Middlesbrough, Burnley and QPR (all 9/1) are just behind.
- Maybe No Bednar to QPR?
- Tracking Championship Transfers Club-by-Club
- Kiyan Prince's Father Trying to Help
- Flashback I: Kenny Jackett, Gary Waddock, Steve Palmer and Chris Day Join Relegated QPR
- Flashback II: QPR Change Their Youth Structure
- Football Gamesmanship (or worse)
- Ex-QPR Simon Royce Possibly to be player-coach at Gillingham
- Another Dean Parrett Goal as England U-19 Qualify
Fulham Chronicle - Paul Warburton - Heidar Helguson handed QPR lifeline
- QPR boss Neil Warnock wants Heidar Helguson to seize a second and last chance to stay in west London.
- The Hoops boss is keeping his fingers crossed the Icelandic hitman will show him what he is capable of pre-season and negate a search for a third new striker.
- The smart money was on Helguson making permanent his loan deal with Watford – but Warnock believes the Hornets are not the only ones capable of getting the best out of a player whose form since he joined Rangers in November 2008 has been patchy at best.
- Warnock said: "I don’t see any rush in selling Heidar.
- "I would like him to come back to us in July and give it a go. If it works – great, if not, then we’ll try and work something out that suits everyone."
- Helguson hit the ground running when he initially joined Rs on loan from Bolton by hitting five in 10 games. But after the deal was made permanent for a knockdown £250k fee in January 2009, the 32-year-old lost form and was also beset with injury.
- The former Fulham striker was then loaned back to the club where it all started for him in English football at the beginning of last season, and then stayed at Vicarage Road until the end of the campaign" Fulham Chronicle
Watford Observer/Frank Smith - Watford legend Heidar Helguson expects to remain at QPR
- Watford legend Heidar Helguson expects to stay at Queens Park Rangers next season.
The striker was on loan at Vicarage Road for most of this season and stated he would be keen on a permanent move to the Hornets if possible.
But Watford’s financial position means that is very unlikely to happen and Helguson has been told he has a future under Neil Warnock at QPR.
Helguson told an Icelandic website: "I go back to QPR, it is quite clear, and I have received a message that I'm completely in the picture for next season."
Helguson scored 11 goals in 29 appearances for Watford last season, taking his total for the club to 75. Watford Observer
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SEASON TICKET SALES UP 146%
Posted on: Wed 02 Jun 2010
QPR Season Tickets are proving to be very popular ahead of the 2010/11 campaign, with 6,420 sold by the close of play yesterday (Tuesday).
In comparison to this time last year, when the figure stood at 2,605, this represents a staggering 146 per-cent rise on Season Ticket sales recorded.
Chairman Ishan Saksena set Rangers fans the target of reaching 9,000 Season Ticket sales by the time of our first League fixture in August, and has offered a five per cent discount to every supporter who contributes towards the figure.
It seems R's fans are well on course to exceed that amount by the time the season kicks off in two months' time.
"We are delighted with the number of fans who have purchased their Season Ticket already," Saksena told www.qpr.co.uk.
"It shows great commitment from supporters and we thank them for that. We are very excited about next season and the fans can make a massive difference."
When the 2009/10 campaign kicked off against Blackpool ten months ago, QPR had sold a total of 6,568 Season Tickets. Incredibly, that figure has almost been reached already ahead of Neil Warnock's maiden season in W12.
To keep a regular eye on Season Ticket sales over the coming weeks, log on to www.yourqpr.co.uk where the most recent figure appears in the top left corner of the screen.... QPR
MIRROR QPR offer Sheffield United ace a mega-bucks deal to move to London By Football Spy
QPR have offered to almost double Paddy Kenny's wages in a bid to lure him from Sheffield United to Loftus Road.
Manager Neil Warnock has put the goalkeeper at the top of his summer wish list and is confident of signing the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper in a £750,000 deal from his former club.
The London club have activated a clause in the player's contract which allows them to talk to him provided they meet his valuation.
But Kenny is facing a huge dilemma over whether or not to leave the Blades, who stood by him last season when he served a nine month ban for failing a drugs test.
He feels obliged to repay the faith the Blades have shown in him and knows he faces a serious backlash from fans if he leaves.
But he is a huge admirer of Warnock and knows he can double his wages to £20,000-a-week if he joins QPR.
Mail/Sami Mokbel - Darren Ambrose switch to QPR on the rocks after last-gasp stadium deal saves Crystal Palace from closure
Darren Ambrose's protracted £750,000 move to Queens Park Rangers was in doubt last night after Crystal Palace were saved from the brink of closure.
Consortium CPFC 2010 are now close to completing their proposed takeover of the cash-strapped Eagles after agreeing a deal, understood to be about £4million, with Bank of Scotland to buy the Selhurst Park freehold.
Palace faced liquidation if a deal for the stadium wasn’t concluded by 3pm yesterday.
CPFC 2010, a group fronted by Palace fans Martin Long and Steve Parish, have identified Ambrose and goalkeeper Julian Speroni as the two players they want to keep.
However, Ambrose has already undergone a medical and agreed personal terms with Rangers.
But Sportsmail has learned the west London club will not improve their initial £750,000 bid for Ambrose and the midfielder could stay at Selhurst Park next season if CPFC 2010 refuse to sell. Mail
Birmingham Official Site - BENT RETURNS FROM RANGERS
Blues striker Marcus Bent has returned from his loan spell at Queens Park Rangers.
Bent's loan period at Loftus Road officially ended yesterday, having joined the Championship side back in January.
During his time with the West London outfit, 32-year-old Bent made just three appearances.
These all came in February in the Championship games against Peterborough, Ipswich and Middlesbrough.
Neil Warnock's R's ended the season in 13th place in the table." Birmingham
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