On a quiet day for QPR news two players released by the R’s aat the end of last season are moving on with their careers – Reece Crowther Down Under, Zesh Rehman in this country.
Twenty year old goalkeeper Crowther, born in America, brought up in Australia and brought through the ranks by QPR, was released at the end of last season without making a first team appearance for the R’s. He has since travelled back to Aus to seek a new contract in the A-League and he hasn’t had to wait long for an offer – Wellington Pheonix have signed him up on a one year deal.
Wellington CEO Tony Pignata said: “Reece has played at a high level in England and we're rapt to be able to bring him to Wellington. He's a young, talented player who has fitted into the squad very well and he's got the hunger and desire to perform. We see him as more than capable of pushing for the starting spot - he hasn't been signed as a `second keeper', he's here to challenge Mark and fuel competition for places in the first team.”
A player yet to earn a deal following release from Loftus Road is Zesh Rehman who spent the back end of last season on loan at Bradford City. Rehamn told Setanta: “I thoroughly enjoyed my three months at Bradford, playing 17 games in four positions and also making positive inroads with the local Asian community in terms of improving integration and cohesion. The number of Asian fans increased largely due to the groundwork of visiting the local schools and speaking to the kids first hand. Everyone from the chairman, manager, fans and local community made me feel at home.
“I have spoken to a few clubs but did not get the same feeling for them as I did for Bradford, and to be fair they are not probably bigger clubs than Bradford even though they are in a higher league. Luckily, I have had a few offers from clubs to choose from. However these are uncertain and anxious times for lots of players up and down the country who are looking for a club. Some clubs will have two or three targets for each position so the competition is fierce.”
Elsewhere in the Championship today one manager leaving the division has distanced himself from the vacant job at Celtic while another arriving from above is now said to be the favourite. Owen Coyle says he intends to stay at Burnley for their first tilt at the Premiership next season while West Brom have told the Bhoys it will cost them £1m if they want to tempt Tony Mowbray north of the border to replace Gordon Strachan. Sheffield Wednesday are getting their summer transfer business done early – signing Tommy Miller from Ipswich but pulling out of a deal for Southampton striker Gregorz Rasiak who spent last season on loan at Watford. Across the city Nick Montgomery has signed a new deal with Sheff Utd but Kevin Blackwell’s future at Bramall Lane is less certain. Just up the M1 Simon Davey is set to keep his job as Barnsley manager.