Ian Holloway says he is relishing bringing his new Blackpool side to Loftus Road for the opening day of the 2009/10 season. Meanwhile Jim Magilton says the club’s youngsters can look forward to plenty of first team action this campaign.

Fixture lists and cup draws often throw up little quirks and QPR’s certainly did that today with the news that Ian Holloway will take charge of Blackpool for the first time in a competitive match at Loftus Road on August 8. The former QPR boss is understandably bullish about his side’s chances in W12 despite a dreadful recent record here that includes a 5-0 opening day thrashing in 2003/04 when Holloway was in charge of Rangers and Blackpool turned up to play in 100 degrees of heat in an all black kit.

Holloway told Blackpool’s official website: “I knew I was going to play some of my ex teams at certain times of the season, but it will be a great time to play them before they spend their mega, mega bucks that they have got. Obviously they have a sparkling interior of the ground now and a new manager but like I said I just can't wait to take the Tangerine army there and give it a right good go.

“I won't get stick, I have been back there a few times now and I have always had a very good reception from them. I will probably get stick from Leicester and Plymouth and obviously Bristol City but if we ever drew Bristol Rovers, I would get a good reception. It was quite emotional last time I took a team to QPR, they were all singing there is only one Ian Holloway and when I left there the supporters were singing my name, but I can't wait to get there and show them what we are all about, it won't be about Ian Holloway and QPR it will be about Blackpool and getting off to a good start.

“I remember it (the 2003 fixture) well, Steve McMahon was manager of us then and I remember they had signed a couple of academy players from Blackburn and having watched Blackpool pre-season and in some of the games the season before we knew that Blackpool had a tendency to overplay in midfield and we worked hard in midfield on winning the ball and breaking at pace and three of the five goals came from that, hopefully the score line won't be anything like that for them and who knows it might be a scoreline like that for us. No matter what the weather I will telling our kit man to make sure the Tangerine kit is packed, it is such a unique kit it won't clash with their blue and white.”

Meanwhile new QPR manager Jim Magilton told the club’s official website: “There's never any easy games in this division, but I'm pleased with our opening fixtures. I wanted a home fixture first up and we've got that. The fact it's Ian Holloway's side adds a bit of spice to the occasion too, which is great. Both Manager's will be really looking forward to it for obvious reasons - it will be a really special day. The timing of the Plymouth away fixture, so soon after our trip to Exeter in the Cup, could have been kinder, but it's just one of those things that the fixture lists always seem to throw up. It's a tough start, but I'm pleased with it all the same.”

Away from the fixtures Jim Magilton and John Gorman have been chatting to the media about their thoughts ahead of the new season, and expressed a keenness to bring QPR’s promising younger players through into the first team. Magilton told the BBC: “I believe in bringing young players through. We tried to do it at Ipswich and I'll do the same here whenever possible. In terms of young players, all I can say is that if any youngster is good enough he will definitely get a chance while I'm manager. That's for sure.

“Ultimately, managers are judged by results on the pitch. But I'll look at every aspect of the club; scouting, youth development - all of it. As for the players already in the squad, I already know they're good players. I've a group of lads here that I believe are more than capable. I'm confident about that.”

Despite being loaned out to Brentford last season while Ipswich persevered with what they had young Town striker Jordan Rhodes has backed up Magilton’s ideal with praise for the former Portman Road gaffer. Rhodes told the Ealing Gazette: “I think Rangers have made a great appointment and Jim Magilton proved when he was given money to spend that he can identify very good players. He knows how to play football in the right way and I think he'll get QPR playing attractive football and will get the fans going again. There should be goals and some 3-2s or 4-3s because he's the type of manager who likes attacking football and likes players to express themselves. He's not one for hanging on for a 1-0 victory with 20 minutes to go.

“The thing that impresses me most is that Jim takes you to one side with little observations about your game. It might be about your first touch or your passing - things you might not have noticed yourself - but it's small details like that which add up to a good team.”

With Rangers still to make a summer signing John Gorman has stressed the importance of working first and foremost with the players the club already has rather than leaping straight into the transfer market. Gorman told the Kilburn Times: “Everyone rushes around at this time of year and I just look at the squad we have and think 'why panic? Our first priority is to work with the players that are already here - and there are some really good players. Then, when the dust settles, perhaps we can have a better look at things and add one or two. You've got quality players coming back from injury. Things are going well for Rowlands and Buzsaky, plus you've got Heidar Helguson too. It's going to be like having new signings when those players are fully fit. It'll be a real boost for us. “

Midfielder Akos Buzsaky is rated as a key figure by Magilton and he is continuing his recovery from injury ahead of the start of pre-season training at the end of the month. Buzsaky told the London Informer: “I don't want to talk about the new man. I have no idea what he's like as a man or a coach - although I know when I've played against his teams they always pass the ball well. I don't want to talk about the last two managers either. The past is the past, but it's easier to sack a manager than 15 players - that's football. There were times last season when we underperformed - and should have done better. I'm not old, and as long as we are focused we can get into the play-offs. Should you have a bet on us? Absolutely.”

The rumour mill has cranked up a notch today with stories regarding four potential departures from Loftus Road. Matt Connolly, linked with Wolves earlier in the week, is now said to be interesting West Brom while Fitz Hall, Damien Delaney and Dexter Blackstock are allegedly the target of a £6m raid by Newcastle. Quite apart from the price being completely over the top for those three players neither West Brom nor Newcastle currently have a manager in place, and The Magpies are a club up for sale and trying to frantically trim their excessive wage bill, so the idea that either will be coming to Loftus Road and lashing out bundles of cash any time soon sounds far fetched to me. LFW does understand that Peter Ramage would be keen on a return to St James’ Park this summer were the opportunity to present itself though.

In former QPR news our one time loan winger Scott Sinclair could be lining up against us next season after Bristol City were linked with a £1.5m move for the Chelsea starlet by Clubcall. Rangers face City on Boxing Day at Loftus Road and Gary Johnson has expressed displeasure that his side must travel on the first and last days of the season as well as at Christmas. Johnson said: “It is a little disappointing to find out we're away on the opening day, Boxing Day and the final day. We've got to make long journeys at the start and end of the season. We've got to make sure we give our supporters - who travel in big numbers - something to cheer about.”

Elsewhere in the Championship today one or two bits of non-fixture-related news. Sheffield United say they are yet to receive an offer from Everton for England Under 21 full back Kyle Naughton despite reported interest, Gus Poyet has stated his desire to take over at Swansea as former boss Roberto Martinez promises not to raid the Swans and take his former charges to Wigan with him, and Peterborough have completed the signing of Hereford midfielder Toumani Diagouraga for £200k.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Recent Stories