Warren Neill, who came in to assist John Gregory at the end of last season, will remain with the club as a coach.
Joe Gallen, who has worked at the club since October 1998 and was Head of Youth, has left the club with immediate effect. From the way the story on the official site is worded, it appears to have been Gregory's call or at least a difference Gallen had with what Gregoy wanted. It says "After being called to a meeting with Manager John Gregory at the Club's Harlington Training complex this morning, Head of Youth Joe Gallen has left the Club with immediate effect."
Some news on players leaving Championship rivals for the Premiership... Latest Darren Bent from Charlton to Spurs (16.5 mil GBP) Robert Earnshaw from Norwich to Derby (3.5 mil GBP) Earlier this summer Gareth Bale from Southampton to Spurs (5 mil GBP) Carlo Nash from Preston to Wigan (300k GBP)
Big transfer news this weekend, starting with... The Rs have signed former Manchester United and Forest defender John Curtis to a two year deal. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1064155,00.html
The big rumour bouncing around Shepherds Bush involves Derby putting together an extensive bid for Lee Cook. It would involve a lot of money and Lee Camp coming to the Rs. Just rumour at this point, watch this space...
Thanks for the update. My wife and I are up in Alaska visiting her parents at the moment. This was my first chance to check in for a few days.
L*ton Town have signed my personal hero, Paul Furlong, to a one year deal... http://www.luton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=71919 Two things upset me about this... 1) it's Luton 2) even though he put in 5 quality seasons with QPR, he's back to being considered a journeyman. I suppose it's good that he'll be getting some more football - and Luton won't be a drastic geographic change.
Kevin Gallen spurned Olly's offer at Plymouth and signed with MK Dons, kind of odd that he's making a move two divisions down... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/6272976.stm
Former Chelsea keeper Ed de Goey has joined the Rs coaching staff - and not just as goalkeeping coach... http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08072007/58/championship-de-goey-joins-qpr.html
Story on the Yeovil site here, including photos of Birch holding up the green hoops and a YTFC scarf: http://www.ytfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10673~1070370,00.html
It's all gone quiet in the rumor mill - no updates on Lee Cook... Lee Camp... Scott Sinclair from Chelsea (loan possibility). Exactly one month till the season begins in Bristol - still plenty of time for players to come and go. Here's some news of players leaving the division... David Nugent (Preston) has finally made his move to the Premiership (Pompey). Jason Koumas (West Brom) completed his deal with Wigan. Michael Chopra (Cardiff) looks set to move to Sunderland for 5 mil GBP. And 15 year old Harry Forrester is leaving Watford for Villa.
Good news and, as expected, bad news... First the bad -- The BBC reports that Fulham are close to signing Lee Cook for "an initial fee of around £1.5m with further payments linked to appearances and Fulham's success." The good -- The BBC also reports that QPR are "close to signing" Lee Camp from Derby County. The story does not report what fee we'd pay to Derby and does not report how we overcame the "major stumbling block" that was caused from the "pay rise Camp secured under the terms of his contract when Derby won promotion to the Premiership in May." It just says "after weeks of discussions, Rangers are now on the verge of sealing a deal . . . ."
Hmm - I don't really like the looks of the Cook deal. 1.5 mil is half of the asking price. Even with a sell-on or apperance addition, that's still going to fall short. And I don't trust anything contigent on Fulham's "success".
GP has spoken and the BBC story has changed. I'll quote it here because it may change again by the time you click the link!
Rumors over on the LSA board have a deal to send Lee Cook to Fulham happening soon in the amount of £2.2m-£2.5m with possible conditional money on top. Nothing on BBC or Sky yet. ------ Sky does report that QPR have invited Dutch keeper Beau Molenaar in for a trial. The 22-year-old is out of contract with AZ Alkmaar after spending the last two seasons out on loan at FC Omniworld (that's really the name of a club?). The story says Molenaar has featured for the Dutch Olympic team.
Man...its going to get pretty hard to hang onto him, particularly with the financial situation at the club. You could put all of that transfer money into the debt and still be in a huge hole though so perhaps GP and JG will percieve the benefit of having him around to push for promotion. Unlikely as it is, that's the only sure way out of the financial morass at the moment. Tough call.