Neil Warnock has said today that the infamous Loftus Road boo-boys got the better of Mikele Leigertwood and he is likely to make his loan move to Reading permanent.
The story should be viewed with some suspicion as Warnock has a vested interest in selling the player for the best possible price to bring in funds for squad building and ridding the club of his substantial wage that was extended still further by a crazy contract extension handed down to him a year ago. Were he to point to Leigertwood’s lousy first touch and inconsistent performance he would be talking the price down and reducing the chances of Reading taking him permanently – Legs has only played twice for the Royals so far and will only make three more appearances for them at most before the transfer window opens and they have to make their decision.
Nevertheless Warnock told the Ealing Gazette today: “He has had moments at Loftus Road where fans are very quick to get on his back, which I think is sad really. But that's why I decided to let him go on loan. He always gives 100 per cent, whatever he does, and is an unsung hero, who goes about his job in the right way. If he can find a good club, he deserves it, because he doesn't deserve to be picked on every time he makes a mistake. I'm not forcing him out, he knows that. But it's very difficult when people are waiting on your first mistake and I start thinking 'do I only play him away from home?' I think it has affected his confidence. It hasn't been very nice at all. We had four Championship clubs wanting him and Reading's a fabulous club. I just feel that if things work out well, he'll probably end up there.”
Elsewhere Kyle Walker, linked with a move to West Ham in the scandal rags this week, has been tipped for the very top by fellow defender Clint Hill.
Hill told the Kilburn Times: “When you look at Kyle’s performances for us, you feel he could definitely make the step up and I’m sure he’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League. He’s an amazing talent and I could tell that the first time I played against him, when he was at Sheffield United and I was with Palace. He looked very strong and comfortable on the ball. The move has been good for him, giving him the platform to play games and show what he can do. He can go as far as he wants to and it’d be great if that happened to be with QPR. Kyle’s a real asset to the squad and the changing-room. But it’s not just him, we’ve got people like Bradley Orr and Fitz Hall on the bench as well.”
Walker’s loan runs up to the Bristol City home game on January 3 but Rangers are keen to extend that for the rest of the season.
Today’s Rowan Vine disaster is a calf injury. Vine is on loan with League One Brentford but is yet to make a single appearance in three weeks there thanks to the weather, and not being picked for the last two matches. At the weekend manager Andy Scott said he must work on his fitness if he is to be selected, and efforts to do that are now going to be hampered by a calf injury according to today’s Hounslow Chronicle.
In other news Antonio German has returned early from his loan spell with Southend United after four starts, three substitute appearances and one goal. No reason has been given for the early recall, although QPR are about to embark on a gruelling period of Christmas fixtures and possibly feel they need every man on deck.
As reported in the LFW diary earlier this week Josh Parker has returned from his spell with Wycombe with a stress fracture of his foot. Parker was due to stay with Gary Waddock’s side until the end of February but will now spend six weeks out for treatment and may return at the end of that time.
Ipswich have been quick to deny rumours that defender Damien Delaney had come to blows with beleaguered manager Roy Keane. Town are said to be close to sacking the former Man Utd manager after five straight league defeats plunged the Tractor Boys down the table and the last thing he needed was a training ground bust up to further undermine his position – so reports that a fight erupted between Keane and Delaney this week were not welcome.
Delaney erred badly in the East Anglia derby with Norwich when he conceded possession and then felled Grant Holt for a clear and obvious red card. Ipswich went on to lose 4-1. During his one game ban Town beat West Brom in the League Cup and the Irishman has not been recalled for either of the two subsequent league games.
Keane said: “Damien was suspended for the West Brom game when the team kept a clean sheet and I thought they played reasonably well. I didn’t think there was any reason to change it. Damo had a run out in the reserves in the week and he’ll have a chance of being involved on Saturday."
A spokesman for Ipswich said: “Ipswich Town Football Club refutes the malicious suggestion that an incident took place between the manager and Damien Delaney. We have no more to add to this statement."
And sources close to the player told the Irish Examiner: “Damien is aware of these rumours, the club chief executive has already been onto him about them. He utterly refutes any suggestion that a dispute with Keane escalated to the point that they had to be pulled apart. It’s a complete joke, there’s nothing to the story."
Delaney was, of course, well renowned at QPR for his forthright honesty resulting in an enlightening sponsor’s evening question and answer session, funnily enough, right at the end of his stay with the club where he ignored the party line and political answers and told it exactly how it was with Flavio Briatore at that time.
Elsewhere Crewe are once again tracking the progress of midfielder Danny Maguire. He captained the QPR youth team to a league title during his time at Loftus Road and did enough to earn a professional deal only to be released after one year. He missed the whole of last season with a serious injury but spent the summer training with Crewe before igning for Witton Albion. Dario Gradi told Crewe’s official website that he will be visiting Witton to check on the youngster’s progress ahead of a possible deal.
- Nottingham Forest are risking the wrath of another Championship club after Scunthorpe were forced to deny they have received a bid from Billy Davies for midfielder Martyn Woolford. Talks over extending the former York man’s contract at Glanford Park have stalled but manager Ian Baraclough has been quick to deny interest from Forest, who angered both Swansea and Cardiff during the summer by making public declarations of interest in Peter Whittingham and Darren Pratley. Baraclough said: “We've offered Martyn a new deal but he doesn't want to discuss his future at the moment. The speculation concerning him is unsettling for not only the player but all concerned."
- Derby defender Shaun Barker has signed a new contract keeping him at Pride Park until 2014. The defender was named the club’s Player of the Year last season after arriving from Blackpool.
- Burton Albion manager Paul Peschisolido has denied he is interested in joining his former club Sheffield United to replace Gary Speed who left to become Wales manager earlier this week. Peschisolido, who has consolidated Burton’s place in the league since taking over 18 months ago, said: “It's very flattering. I had a great time at Sheffield United. I had a good rapport with the fans and know the club but I haven't heard anything. I am just concentrating on playing Accrington on Saturday."
- Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson says he is happy to sign a contract extension at the Walkers Stadium. The Swede is contracted until the end of next season but said today: “I can sign tomorrow for three, four or five years if the owners want. But I am sure they want to see what is happening this season and next season - and that's fair. What the owner wants in that time is the Premier League." If you read between the two previous lines you may catch sight of the words “plenty of compensation if sacked.”