QPR deny Man Utd ticket stories as Lee Camp prepares for exit Ã¢â‚¬“ news round up
Monday, 13th Oct 2008 20:55

QPR have denied rejecting Man Utd’s offer of cheaper tickets for the Carling Cup tie, meanwhile Gianni Paladini has admitted Lee Camp’s time at QPR could be coming to an end and several R’s have been in international action.

QPR have moved quickly to deny stories published last week stating that they had rejected Man Utd’s offer of discounted tickets for the Carling Cup tie between the two sides on November 11.

Stories had circulated in the national press after the Aston Villa game that Rangers had insisted on charging £15 for tickets at Villa Park when the home side wanted to admit supporters for £10. In the Carling Cup gate receipts are split more evenly and clubs negotiate over the price of tickets.

It seemed that a similar deal had been done with United when an e-mail from their commercial department to the QPR supporter’s trust stated: “For any Carling Cup match we put to the away club that cheaper ticket prices are set. You are right in saying that we put the cheaper price to the board at QPR but they declined.”

QPR have today denied this though in a statement on the club’s official website.

A spokesman for QPR said: “In response to a number of queries the club has received over the last few days, as well as a misleading report in one national newspaper, we would like to place on the record that the club did not refuse cheaper tickets for our Carling Cup fourth round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

“Manchester United Football Club's pricing policy states that seats in the East Stand Upper Tier of the ground are priced at £40 on matchdays. The Board of Manchester United took the decision solely to offer tickets at normal non-members prices for the tie.

“At no stage did any consultation take place with the Board of QPR. Both QPR and Manchester United are happy to set the record straight on this matter.”

On the playing side of things Sporting Director Gianni Paladini has confirmed that goalkeeper Lee Camp can leave the club if the right offer comes in. Camp has lost his place this season to Radek Cerny and remained on the sidelines despite some erratic form from the Czech. As reported earlier on this website Camp would be keen to complete a loan move to play first team football and Paladini has said the club will not stand in his way.

Paladini told the BBC: “I understand his position and we won't stand in his way. Lee's a good, young keeper but isn't in the team at the moment and he wants to play. If he goes we will want to sign another keeper.”

The club is yet to receive an offer for the keeper’s services, contrary to reports in some quarters that said Ipswich Town had shown an interest. Seizing on talk of another goalkeeper coming in the newspapers have immediately linked Rangers with Peterborough’s England international stopper Joe Lewis but Posh Director of Football Barry Fry has denied the story.

Fry said: “Joe is part of the side and we don't want to let any of our players leave the club. The board have backed the manager all the way and have proven, by rejecting big offers for both Mackail-Smith and Aaron McLean, that they have the backbone to keep our stars here.”

Today’s Mirror reports that QPR assistant manager Tim Flowers was at Peterborough’s game with Walsall at the weekend and a £2m bid is being readied. That would represent easily the biggest outlay on a player by QPR since the Flavio Briatore takeover but Peterborough are well off themselves and have lofty ambitions – they have fended off previous interest in Lewis and strikers Aaron McLean and Craig MacKail-Smith so Rangers may be hard pushed to prise the former Norwich junior away from London Road.

While England were toying with Borat’s barmy army at the weekend four QPR players were in international action. Damion Stewart came on as a 75th minute substitute for Jamaica as they beat Sven Goran Ericsson’s Mexico side 1-0. Stewart hit the headlines in his homeland last week for a training ground fight with Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller – Stewart intervened in a fight between fuller and Stewart’s brother Demar and ended up involved himself.

Kaspars Gorkss was part of the Latvia team that lost 2-1 to Switzerland while Akos Buzsaky was a second half sub for Hungary as they beat Albania 2-0 at home in World Cup qualifying. Martin Rowlands was a second half substitute for Ireland last week as they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0, Rowlands will be hoping for a similar result this weekend. Sadly for Rowley he did not do enough to be added to the Ireland squad for their match with Cyprus on Wednesday night. Damien Delaney remains part of the squad and may feature.

Two QPR players have had trials elsewhere this week – 18 year old Josh Ford at Championship rivals Swansea and former youth team captain Danny Maguire with league One outfit Stockport. Maguire told LFW in the summer that a loan move may further his development this summer and Jim Gannon’s team are interested in taking the central midfielder on a temporary basis.

Rangers face bottom of the table Nottingham Forest at Loftus Road on Saturday followed by a gruelling Tuesday night trip to Swansea City. LoftforWords will be previewing and reporting from both games as ever, coverage starts on Thursday afternoon.