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Damien Delaney reportedly not in the Republic of Ireland's starting lineup against Georgia...Shabbaz Baidoo is set to link up with Danny Cullip at Lewes..Jake Cole Injury


No Delaney: BBC: "Hunt and Whelan in Republic team WORLD CUP ...GEORGIA V REP OF IRELAND - Venue: Bruchweg Stadium, Mainz Date: Saturday, 6" The Republic of Ireland's reported team: Given, Finnan, O'Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady, S Reid, Whelan, Hunt, Keane, Doyle. BBC


London Informer - Led's red costs a week's wages
Emmanuel Ledesma has paid the price for a rush of blood to the head that saw the young QPR winger sent off at Bristol City.
The exciting new find on loan from Genoa has been fined a week's wages - around £4,000 - as well as the one-match ban ruling him out of the home tie against Southampton on September 14.
Rangers held out for 40 minutes with 10 men for a deserved 1-1 draw at City. But it needed a one-handed wonder save from keeper Radek Cerny in the dying seconds to preserve a point.
Ledesma saw his second yellow card of the match after a rash challenge on Jamie McAllister, after he had earlier been booked for throwing the ball away.
Boss Iain Dowie was unhappy with the first booking, but admitted the decisive second had been deserved.
He said: "Their player deliberately jumped out of the way of the ball to make it look worse than it was.
"After that, Emmanuel showed his inexperience with a silly tackle to get himself sent off."
The 20-year-old now has as many bookings as goals since he arrived in the summer. He's hit the back of the net four times, including a hat-trick, and been booked four times as well. London Informer


The Argus/Howard Griggs - Rooks poised to sign new striker
Lewes expect to have a new striker in their line-up at home to Barrow tomorrow.
The Rooks are trying to complete the signing of former Queens Park Rangers and Dagenham frontman Shabazz Baidoo.
Baidoo played in the final pre-season friendly against Havant and Waterlooville but budget constraints meant he was not offered terms.
However, manager Kevin Keehan has returned to the 21-year-old who scored three goals in 28 League appearances for QPR before being released last January.
Baidoo, a free agent, could play up front alongside Scott Taylor if Keehan decided to switch to a 4-4-2 formation or at right-midfield if he retained the 4-5-1 line-up he fielded at Woking on Tuesday.
Stefan Cox came into the side for that game on the left-hand side of midfield and his pace gave Lewes an extra dimension going forward.
Keehan is hoping Baidoo can make a similar impact to a Rooks side who are without a win after seven games....
Lewes will again be without skipper Danny Cullip (hamstring) and Chris Breach (shoulder) while Danny Davis is also ruled out with a back injury..."
. The Argus


Oxford Mail/Jon Murray - Hinchliffe's big chance
Young keeper Ben Hinchliffe has been given a big vote of confidence by Oxford United boss Darren Patterson.
The 20-year-old, who at the start of this week signed a new one-year deal with the club, has been thrown in at the deep end because of the injuries to Billy Turley and Jake Cole.
Cole could be out for up to six weeks after the results of his scan showed two small tears in his groin....
"Cole is being treated at QPR rather than travel to Oxford each day. He might have played his last game for United, with his short-term deal set to end after three months, though Patterson doesn't feel that will be the case.
"Jake's response after the first match has been magnificent, he's got a great attitude, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him back with us.
"His injury has thrown us a bit because it means Ben's going to get the experience earlier than we thought. But he played well at Northwich and has come back very strong after Barrow." Oxford Mail


Tony Thorpe Released by Woking: "...Ex-Luton and QPR forward Tony Thorpe, meanwhile, has been released after just one match having failed to impress against Lewes." The Press Woking Official Site "...Also confirmed is the departure of Tony Thorpe after one match by mutual consent. The Club wishes both players the very best of luck." Woking

Akos Buzsaky admits he has no right to walk straight back into the QPR team but is ready to fight for his place once he is fully fit.The Hungarian international, a huge favourite at Loftus Road, is back in full training and building up his fitness following a summer ankle operation.

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As noted earlier, QPR Chairman Flavio Briatore spoke about QPR last night on Radio London.

BBC - Briatore will control QPR funds
Briatore is also the owner of the Renault Formula One team (Getty)
QPR owner Flavio Briatore has told BBC London that he will decide where the club's money is spent.
"I don't trust anyone with my money. Sometimes I will ask the manager of the bank but not the coach," he said.
"This is our money which we want to spend in our direction. We will use the knowledge of the coach but I believe everybody needs to do their own job.
"I want everyone to take the responsibility for one sector. I don't want a one-man band."
Briatore's consortium took over at Loftus Road in September 2007.
Since then he has changed managers twice and spent money on improving the ground and strengthening the squad.
"We have a vision. We want to motivate people for the project. It is not only a question of money but its a question of complicity between management and players," he said. BBC


Also: Goal.com/Mark Hinton - Briatore Will Decide Where QPR Spend Money

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Marking one year since the takeover, QPR Chairman Flavio Briatore was the guest last night on BBC Radio London. It was an interesting interview in which Briatore came across very "grounded" and that QPR wouldn't be repeating some of the financial mistakes it made in years past; but certainly not one in which QPR sounded like it was "The Richest Club in the World" or would be spending big any time soon. Presumably the interview can be heard (soon) on the Radio London/QPR portion soon.


One Year Ago...The Telegraph reported the club's confirmation of Assistant Manager Richard Hill for his role in "The China Brawl" (Where is Hill now?)
"..QPR have also confirmed the departure of former assistant manager Richard Hill following his part in the brawl that erupted during a friendly match against the Chinese Olympic team earlier this year.
Rangers dismissed Hill during the summer but have only just stated it publicly, a club spokesman saying: "Richard Hill's contract was terminated in mid-July." Hill was found guilty of violent conduct by the FA, who banned him from football for three months. He has appealed against the verdict.
QPR were fined £40,000 for their involvement in the incident, £20,000 of which has suspended until May 31, 2008.
The China team were seven days into a two-week visit to England when the brawl, which was alleged to have erupted when China's striker Gao Lin aimed a punch at defender Patrick Kanyuka, took place at QPR's training ground in West Drayton.
Both the police and the London ambulance service had to be called to the scene. Defender Zheng Tao suffered a broken jaw in the melée which involved about 30 players, including QPR first-team regulars. Telegraph


Flashback Four Years ago today:... - "QPR line up Argentinian Manager" - Ramon Diaz-
The Guardian/Jon Brodkin - September 4, 2004 "QPR line up Argentinian manager"
Queens Park Rangers are ready to make an extraordinary managerial appointment, replacing Ian Holloway with Ramón Díaz, a former Argentina striker who has coached River Plate to several trophies in his homeland.
The struggling Football League Championship club are preparing to dismiss Holloway and turn to Díaz, who played with Diego Maradona, Ossie Ardiles and others in the 1982 World Cup, scoring during the team's defeat by Brazil.
Holloway could be sacked as early as next week, although QPR - 20th in the table - may wait for another defeat or two before removing their popular manager.
Díaz has connections with a Monaco-based consortium, Barnaby Holdings, which recently acquired a stake in QPR. The consortium, headed by the former Brazil captain Dunga, has bought 10% of the club's shares and plans to purchase another 19.9% in the near future.
Díaz has an impressive CV as both player and coach. He turned out for Napoli, Internazionale, Fiorentina and Monaco among other teams before moving into coaching. The 45-year-old has had more than one spell in charge of River Plate, winning the Libertadores Cup in 1996 and several domestic championships.
He has not worked for two years after falling out with River over his salary and, after spending time with his family, has been looking for work outside Argentina. Having failed to secure employment in France, Spain or Italy he has happily accepted the overtures of QPR.
He watched the team two weeks ago at Loftus Road against Derby County and is understood to have spoken to Gino Padula, the club's left-back who was born in Argentina and played under him at River in the mid-90s.
QPR said last night that "at no stage have negotiations taken place between the club and Mr Díaz regarding managerial or coaching positions at QPR".
They stated that the club "wants nothing more than success for both Ian and the team". However, time seems to be running out for Holloway, who led QPR to promotion last season. Guardian


Twelve Years ago today, the departure of QPR manager Ray Wilkins was announced. QPR never looked back! Ray Wilkins Talking to QPRnet about his time at QPR, including re his departure
Wilkins talking to QPRnet: "....Things behind the scenes were extremely difficult, we’d started the season strongly,.... If I’m honest I think we would have bounced straight back up, Kevin of course had injured his knee at Portsmouth and we would have missed him immensely but we had enough players to get ourselves back in there. I’ve got to say that when that day came about I was absolutely devastated.
QPRnet.com: Do you think it was just down to the new owner wanting his own man in?
Wilkins "I don’t think it was entirely down to Chris, I think there were people behind him who probably wanted someone different in."

Then QPR Director and subsequent Chairman Nigel Blackburn had a different perspective - AKUTRs/Dave Thomas Interview
"... It’s a complete myth that he was sacked. He resigned. What happened was, we asked Ray to come to the board meeting. We were nearly all new directors, and we asked him to set out how he worked, how many scouts he had, was he watching games, did he prefer playing, how could he play and keep himself fit and watch players, all this kind of thing. It was fine.
At the end of the meeting, when Ray had gone, Clive Berlin said, “I don’t think Ray will make a manager”. We all said, “Look, come on, let’s give him a chance.” Next morning, Ray rang up and resigned. He’d booked a flight that day to go and see a midfield player in Scotland called Dave Bowman, who played for Dundee United. But Ray cancelled the flight and resigned. We think one of the directors rang him up and told him about those comments. I know for certain it wasn’t one of the new directors. We were new to it. We didn’t really know the inside of football that well and however much you think you know about it, nothing really prepares you for it. When Ray resigned, he then went out and told people he had been sacked. Frank Sibley said he would go with him, Billy Bonds went too because they all believed that he had been sacked and they all said they wanted to remain loyal to him.
"Why would he say that he had been sacked?
Blackburn: "I don’t know. I’ve never known that. I’ve seen Ray since and we have not discussed it. But he was not sacked." AKUTRs/Dave Thomas Interview

So Wilkins left and instead appointed Stuart Houston and Bruce Rioch (instead of Venables, George Graham or Alan Curbishly who were three names that were strongly touted.) And over the next year, Houston spent lavishly )approaching 8 million pounds + high wages) on John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Steve Morrow, Lee Harper, Matt Rose, and finally....Mike Sheron. After Houston came Harford followed by Francis followed by Holloway...Waddock...Gregory...Di Canio...and Iain Dowie.

The Independent/Mark Burton - September 9, 1996 - Rangers searching for their Mr Right
It would be harsh to be too critical of this young QPR side, but much of their running was more in hoops than expectation.
What they desperately needed was an experienced mentor in their midst, perhaps a former international who has honed his game over years of playing at the highest level, who knows how and when to change the pace and angle of approach, and when to put his foot on the ball.
Where was Ray Wilkins? Gone west to Wycombe, gone from Ranger to Wanderer, but how Wilkins the stroller was missed in this tetchy battle at Loftus Road. Chris Wright, the club's new owner, and his board do not like to see their manager on the field, so, apparently, faced with confining himself to the part of his job he liked least, Wilkins went.
Rangers have lost a lot, and injuries have deprived them of Gallen, Bardsley, Impey and Barker. Consequently, their midfield on Saturday included an 18-year-old, two 20-year-olds and a 23-year-old (the club's prized possession, Trevor Sinclair). He bore the brunt of creating opportunities for a strike force who number only 41 years between them. Once Paul Peschisolido had cut through the more established ranks of QPR's defence with alarming ease after only nine minutes, a second successive home defeat was almost inevitable.
Not to belittle the ability of Wilkins' temporary replacement, Frank Sibley, but a clever tactician like Alan Buckley was just the man to exploit the situation, especially after his side had been stung by Colchester in the Coca-Cola Cup. Having said in the match programme there was no rush to appoint a new manager, after the defeat Mr Wright was explaining the need to find Mr Right quickly.
There is no shortage of possibilities - Steve Coppell, Alan Curbishley, Bruce Rioch, Joe Kinnear, Ray Harford, Terry Venables etc - but the etc does not, according to Wright, include George Graham or Chris Waddle. Goals: Peschisolido (9) 0-1; Taylor (88) 0-2. Queen's Park Rangers (4-4-2): Sommer; Jackson, McDonald (Maddix, 68), Yates, Brevett; Sinclair, Quashie, Murray (Charles, 68), Challis; Slade, Dichio. Substitute not used: Roberts (gk). West Bromwich Albion (3-5-2): Spink; Mardon, Burgess (Smith, 59), Raven; Holmes, Hamilton, Sneekes, Groves, Nicholson; Peschisolido (Taylor, 80), Hunt. Substitute not used: Donovan. Referee: S Baines (Chesterfield). Bookings: Queen's Park Rangers: Brevett, Challis, Quashie, Dichio; West Bromwich Albion: Raven, Mardon. Man of the match: Raven. Attendance: 12,886. Independent


Flashback "Venables rules out a return to QPR
"Queen's Park Rangers must continue their search for a new manager, after Terry Venables pledged his future to Ports- mouth to end speculation that he could make a dramatic return to Loftus Road.
Venables had been touted as a possible successor to Ray Wilkins, but admitted he is happy with his new post as director of football at Fratton Park. The former England coach, who took QPR to an FA Cup final in 1982 and the Second Division title the following season, said: "You won't be seeing me turn up at Loftus Road in the next couple of days. As far as I am concerned, it is business as normal - and business as usual for me is Portsmouth Football Club.
Venables in the frame at QPR "I am happy doing what I am doing with them. It's a nice club, a nice area and there are a lot of nice people." Portsmouth's chairman, Martin Gregory, who asked Venables to take on an advisory role to assist the Portsmouth manager, Terry Fenwick, last month, is the son of the former QPR chairman Jim Gregory - who appointed Venables as manager at Loftus Road in 1980. Venables' decision leaves the QPR owner, Chris Wright, still searching for the right man to try and take the London club back into the Premiership at the first time of asking. Wright said: "We have seen one or two people, but the current managerial merry-go-round has changed the picture. Someone we thought might be available isn't and someone we thought wasn't available is. I'd like to have someone in place before the weekend, but I don't think we'll get there. We are working as swiftly as we possibly can, but we've got to make sure we get the right person." With Venables counting himself out of the running and Ray Harford continuing to fight for his job at Blackburn, the QPR spotlight has fallen on Charlton's manager, Alan Curbishley. However, QPR's London First Division rivals warned that it will prove expensive if they try to recruit Curbishley. Charlton's executive director Jonathan Fuller said yesterday: "We have had no approach from QPR and would not welcome one. Alan has three years left on his contract with us and we also have him still registered as a player. So if he went, we would demand a considerable fee as compensation." But Fuller admitted: "We wouldn't stand in his way if he made it clear he wanted to go, but that has not happened and, hopefully, it won't." Charlton's vice-chairman and managing director, Richard Murray, who has held the financial power at The Valley since Roger Alwen stepped down as chairman, said: "I have heard the speculation that Alan is on QPR's short-list, but if they approached us for him I would strenuously resist it." Murray refused to put a price on Curbishley's services but the figure could be as much as pounds 1m and he confirmed: "If QPR want him and he wants to go it will cost a considerable amount." Curbishley, the former West Ham and Birmingham midfielder, is not commenting on the possibility of a move to Loftus Road. After taking Charlton off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 win at home to Southend on Tuesday night, he said: "It is not a fair question to put to me, although I have been flattered to be linked in the newspapers with the vacancies at both QPR and Manchester City." Meanwhile, coaches Frank Sibley and John Hollins, the former Chelsea manager, remained in caretaker-charge of Rangers for last night's game at Norwich. "

Dexter Blackstock is desperate to reach the Premier League to repay the QPR faithful for their support through the lean times at the club.Blackstock, who played in the top flight four years ago with Southampton, was part of the Rangers side which struggled against relegation for two seasons before the investment of Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone propelled them to promotion favourites this term.