Lee Cook's much publicised move to Fulham has finally gone ahead.
Well, after all the rumours on the message boards and paper talk, the move is complete and this sadly follows the trend of the Player of the Year going on to leave the Club in the close season.
Lee had two very successful spells at QPR, initially on loan during the 2002/03 season and the signing permanantly from Watford for £150,000 in 2004. He went on to make a total of 140 appearances in all competitions, scoring 11 goals.
Cook is another Rangers player who lived his boyhood dream of playing for the club he supports and on leaving Loftus Road, Cook told the Official QPR website;
As well as being a very exciting day for Lee Cook, it is also a very sad one. I have had three great years at QPR and have met many great people. Being a QPR fan, it is very difficult to leave this all behind, but I hope everyone understands that this is something I have to do. I move across West London to a team which is becoming a real force and is really looking forward to push on. It seems a really friendly Club and the Chairman is really supporting the Manager to make Fulham one of the top Premier League Club's and to be asked to be part of that means everything to me as a footballer. It is an exciting time for me and Fulham and I can't wait to get started and test myself against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. "It is hard to explain the feeling you get when you wear the shirt of a football team that you have supported all your life. My first game - a full house against Brentford - was such a special and proud day for me and my family, and it has only got better since. I hope I have excited and entertained the fans over the last three years, and it has been an absolute honour to play in front of everyone at Loftus Road. I will miss the fans, they have been great to me. Thank you so much for your support and voting for me as last season's Player of the Year - that really was a dream come true. I would also like to thank the Management staff and especially John Gregory. He is a great man and Manager, and I am so glad to have played under him and hopefully, will do so again in the future. Thank you once again for your outstanding support - I will miss you all and cannot wait to see you again on my birthday, Friday 3rd August." On losing one of his key players, Gaffer John Gregory also told the Official site; Both the Chairman and I had long discussions over the financial offer that Fulham made to us. The offer was increased three times before we decided to accept the transfer fee and allow Lee to go and sign a four-year deal with our neighbours, which will secure his own personal financial future. It just remains for me to thank him for the massive contribution he has made to QPR, and to wish him every success for the future. On a brighter note, Cook's transfer fee is likely to fund some more players coming into Loftus Road, with Michael Mancienne coming in on a season long loan - by all accounts, he is already training with the squad. The cash will also enable Rangers to make an improved offer to Derby for keeper, Lee Camp. Camp is currently in Italy with Derby, but is believed to be returning this weekend to discuss terms with QPR.
However, one player that won't be returning to Loftus Road just yet, is Jimmy Smith. The Chelsea midfielder, who scored 6 goals in 29 appearances for the R's last season, has joined Norwich City on a 6 month loan deal.
All that remains is for me, on the behalf of all of us here at LFW, to thank Lee Cook for everything and wish him all the best for his future in The Premiership!