Neil Warnock says his job at QPR is safe despite speculation to the contrary and links to newly relegated West Ham. The QPR manager has met with the board to discuss targets for the summer transfer window.
Despite Amit Bhatia stating clearly on the BBC after the final game of the season against Leeds that Warnock would be the QPR manager as long as his family was involved at Loftus Road, the tabloids have continually linked Warnock with a departure this summer in favour of a more high profile name. None of the articles, including the one in this Sunday’s News of the World, ever quote a source named or unnamed in their copy it is worth noting.
On Saturday Warnock stated on the official website that he would be the club’s manager next season. Warnock said: “'Having read the article in last night's Evening Standard, which was meant to be a summary of our successful season, I'm very disappointed that the only subject matter mentioned revolved around my future and all the speculation regarding my position. - 'I want to reiterate to our supporters that, having spoken to the Board at QPR, Bernie Ecclestone, Flavio Briatore and Amit Bhatia in the last few days, they have assured me that my future is not in any doubt whatsoever and they're looking forward to helping me acquire the players to make next season just as successful as the one we've just enjoyed. - 'Hopefully all the speculation now will be put to bed once and for all and we can concentrate on what promises to be a memorable first season back in the Premier League for the club and our supporters.”
Akos Buzsaky meanwhile has been speaking to media in his homeland about the plans for QPR’s shopping in the summer transfer market. He told origo.hu: “The club has a good squad which won the Championship, it wouldn't be a smart decision to bring in lots of different new players and expect miracles from them. But this is not common in England. One or two, maybe a couple of signings can be expected, because someone can be outstanding in the Championship but it doesn't mean that he will be so good in the Premier League too.
"I'm confident that I'll be able to fight for a place in the starting line-up. There's only one thing that can have a negative effect on my career – injuries. But it's useless to think about it, now I'm happy that I can say my serious injury happened in the past this year and now I'm fully fit and healthy. I hope I won't have any injuries any more. At the moment I feel great, I don't feel pain at my treated knee and I'm looking forward to our pre-season preparations. With the promotion my dream came true so I'll try and enjoy every moment of playing in the Premier League as long as it's possible. One thing is for sure - with the promotion I reached the peak of my career."
The great thing about a transfer story from a newspaper point of view, is nobody can be hurt or offended by them. So you can just make them up. You’d have a hard job proving that a newspaper had libelled you by linking you to another football club (unless it was saying you were off to Stoke or Luton) so it sort of gives them carte blanche to make up whatever they like.
With that in mind *deep breath* Liverpool have been linked with a move for Adel Taarabt with England international Joe Cole used as bait in a part exchange deal by various outlets, Portsmouth’s recently released 34-year-old central midfielder Michael Brown is said to be interesting Neil Warnock who managed him at Sheffield United by Sky Sports and the nearly always rubbish Tribal Football website which also says the R’s are looking at Robbie Keane from Spurs and Craig Mackail Smith from Peterborough.
While the QPR players are heading off on their summer holidays Angelo Balanta remains in action for MK Dons. The Columbian youngster, on loan at the Dons for the whole season, scored the third goal in the first leg of the League One play off semi final as Karl Robinson’s men beat Peterborough 3-2. The second leg will be at London Road on Wednesday.
Les Ferdinand, star of the last QPR Premiership side, has expressed his delight at QPR’s return to the big time. Ferdinand has also lifted the lid on Adel Taarabt’s move from Spurs, where he coaches, to Loftus Road last summer.
Speaking to the official website Ferdinand said: “It's been a fantastic season. Neil was a fantastic appointment in the first place. He offered that stability that the club was crying out for. He's been there, seen it, done it - he's got teams promoted in the past and now he's got the R's back in the top-flight. I couldn't be more delighted for the club - I'm ecstatic.
"Each and every one of us at Spurs knew the talent that Adel possessed. Could we harness it in the First Team at White Hart Lane at the time? Probably not, no. In the Premier League, especially at his age, you need a little bit more stability and reassurance week in, week out. I think Adel was going through a phase when he'd do something absolutely fantastic and then you wouldn't see him again for 70 odd minutes. Tottenham, at the time, couldn't accommodate that. Now he's had a season and a half playing week in, week out, and he's proving what a good player he is. I'm not surprised at how well he's done here. We all know, and Harry certainly knows, how much quality he has. We just couldn't get him into our side at the time.”
Paulo Sousa will lead Hungarian side Videoton into the Champions League next season after being confirmed as the club’s new manager. The former Portuguese international and short term QPR manager will take over the club this summer after it won the Hungarian championship for the first time in its history this season.
- Swansea have made it through to the play off final at the end of the month after a home victory against Forest in the semi final second leg this evening. The Welsh side came through 89 minutes with ten men after an early sending off in Nottingham last Thursday and completed the job tonight. Stephen Dobbie and Leon Britton scored in five first half minutes before Darren Pratley finished the tie in injury time with a goal from the halfway line after Lee Camp had gone up for a late Forest corner. Rob Earnshaw had given the visitors hope by halving the deficit with ten to play.
- The farce at Barnsley has been settled after manager Mark Robins resigned. The club had placed their boss on a 12 month notice period at the end of last week but said they expected him to remain in charge for the new season. That was never going to happen and sure enough Robins has walked today saying: “I'm disappointed that I'll no longer have the opportunity to continue the club's progress.”
- Hull City are targeting seven new signings this summer as they attempt to return to the Premiership at the second attempt. Top of the shopping list will be a goalkeeper after Matt Duke was released at the end of his contract but Leeds Bradley Johnson and Forest’s Dele Adebola have also been linked. Manager Nigel Pearson said: “There's a lot of trading to be done. We've made lots of offers and enquiries and we will focus on those in the next two months. It's up to us to work within a good budget and we'd like to bring six or seven new players in and maybe move six or seven out. Some will excite supporters, some won't, but that's not what we are here for.”
- Any hopes Ipswich’s Jaime Peters had of a summer of rest was ended today when Canada called him up for the Concacaf Gold Cup which begins on June 7.
- For those wondering, the Championship Shorts section of the LFW Diary will be switching to the Premiership after the play off final has been played. Once that has happened, as Jim White would say, the main event is underway.