After last summer’s proposed friendly between the sides was cancelled because of a wedding Oxford United and QPR will try again this July in preparation for the 2009/10 season.

The teams infamously met in the 1986 League Cup final when Rangers, having beaten mighty Liverpool in the semi final, lost 3-0. When QPR were relegated from the Premiership in 1996 Oxford were the first visitors to Loftus Road in a game won with goals from Danny Dichio and Kevin Gallen. Since then though Oxford have fallen on hard times and finished seventh in the Blue Square National (Conference to you and me) this season, four points away from the play off places following a deduction for fielding an ineligable player.

Rangers were due to visit Oxford’s new out of town stadium for the first time last summer but the U’s, currently managed by Chris Wilder, had to cancel the game because a wedding had been booked at the Kassam Stadium for the same day and could not be rearranged. The teams will try again on Friday, July 24, at 7.45pm. Rangers now have two friendlies announced having already confirmed a Saturday date at Aldershot on July 11.

The club’s decision to extend the early bird reneweal deadlines for season ticket holders continues to draw comment, or rather the laughable claim that this decison was taken due to a backlog of applications does. Supporters Trust QPR 1st today issued a statement on the group’s website stating: “Whilst the trust welcomes any extension to the early bird cut off date we are confused as to how this decision is related to a ‘backlog of applications’. Our understanding is that the number of renewals so far this season is significantly down on last season, on that basis alone it makes sense to extend the deadline to encourage more renewals. With a much lower than anticipated take up we are however suprised that a ‘backlog of applications’ has built up and we will be asking the club to help us to understand why such a backlog is related to the decision to extend the renewal deadline.”

Many fans are waiting to see who the new manager will be before renewing and the latest name to be linked with the post is Gianluca Vialli. Vialli last managed in the Championship the best part of a decade ago, a poor year with watford following his time with Chelsea. Vialli was assisted at Vicarage Road by former QPR man Ray Wilkins, be afraid, and repoortedly, by several message board posters, told fellow passengers on a flight from Italy this week that he was coming for an interview at Loftus Road. Vialli is the latest in a long list of names linked with the role and with no sign of an appointment just yet expect more rumours to flow over the coming days and possibly weeks.

In former QPR news Vinnie Jones was today acquitted of assaulting a man in a row over a pool table in a South Dakota bar last December. Jones was accused of hitting a man who asked if he was “that guy from X-men” three times in the head but successfully argued that he was acting in self defence. Meanwhile Liam Miller, who I count as a former QPR player even if the club doesn’t considering he is now training with Cork City, has been called up to the next Republic of Ireland squad for a game against Nigeria at Craven Cottage on May 29. Damien Delaney has not been included for this game – a repeat of the fixture a year ago that saw him make his full international debut. Michael Mancienne is said to be attracting interest from Spurs, Wolves, Everton and Villa with Chelsea apparently keen to get the young defender a season of Premiership experience out on loan next year.

Elsewhere in the Championship today Blackpool confirmed that Tony Parkes will not be their manager next season. The former Blackburn man has been the caretaker at Bloomfield Road since Simon Grayson left for Leeds at Christmas but will not be kept on, former R Iain Dowie has been linked with the job. Sheffield United have been dealt a blow ahead of Monday’s play off final against Burnley with the news that strikers Jamie Ward and darius Henderson are both likely to miss out through injury. Across the city Marcus Tudgay has signed a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday. And after yesterday’s denial that Richie Wellens is about to join Leicester today Doncaster have been fending off reported interest from Wolves in Brian Stock.

Finally a reminder that tonight at 10pm on Sky Sports 1 Dave Thomas, Gerry Francis and Stan Bowles will be Jeff Stelling’s guests on the popular Time of Our Lives programme.

Photo: Action Images

Middlesbrough Polls