 Thursday, 30th Jun 2011 19:53 by Clive Whittingham QPR were today forced to deny that manager Neil Warnock had walked out of the club following a flurry of internet speculation and tumbling betting prices. NewsAll is clearly not well at Loftus Road , where Rangers are operating without a chief executive since the departure of Ishan Saksena and Amit Bhatia and are yet to complete a single summer signing. Neil Warnock said last month that Flavio Briatore was once again in charge in W12 and that has been followed by stories of Warnock missing out on the likes of Danny Graham while being linked with move for ageing stars of Italian football such as Marco Matterazzi. Earlier this week Peterborough Director of Football Barry Fry said his striker Craig McKail Smith had turned down the chance to join QPR because he wasn't convinced Neil Warnock would be the manager by the start of the season. It all seems very familiar to QPR fans, who look back on Briatore's previous time in charge at Loftus Road and wince. When Iain Dowie was manager in the summer of 2008 targets he wanted at Rangers such as Mark Hudson and Clinton Morrison went elsewhere while Emmanuel Ledesma and Sam Di Carmine were among the incomers. Warnock has a clause in his contract granting him sole responsibility for the club's transfer activities, and he is entitled to walk away with his contract fully paid up if that clause is breached. The League Manager's Association is said to be "monitoring" the situation at Rangers. Things looked as if they were coming to a head this morning when betting was suspended on Warnock being the next Premiership manager to leave after a flurry of money saw his odds tumbling amid rumours of an argument with Flavio Briatore about wages offered to out of contract striker Jay Bothroyd. The Fulham Chronicle reports that Bothroyd asked Rangers for a £50,000 weekly wage. The club swiftly denied these stories, issuing a press release on the official website that had quotes from the manager but nothing from Briatore or Bernie Ecclestone. Warnock, apparently, said: "We've targeted a number of players during the last few weeks and although we've missed out on some, the board are continuing to work hard to assist me in bringing new additions to the football club. I'm confident that we'll have a few new players on board in the next couple of weeks. With regards to my own position, I'm really excited about the challenge that lies ahead next season and I can't wait for pre-season training next week." The pre-season campaign Warnock speaks about has had two high quality friendly games added to it this week. Following the botched Parma announcement, where the Italian club said they would take on Rangers at Loftus Road only for the R's to then deny it, it has now been confirmed that QPR will face Serie A sides Atalanta and Cesena in Italy during their summer tour. Rangers will face Cesena , and new signing Adrian Mutu, on Wednesday July 27 at 8.30pm then travel to play Atalanta on Saturday, July 30, at the same time. It adds much needed quality opposition to an otherwise sparse summer campaign which starts on July 15 at Harrow Borough. Given the lack of signings so far you may find it surprising that Rangers were willing to loan out striker Rob Hulse to Championship side Millwall this week, despite the striker's poor start to life at Loftus Road . Hulse rejected the move, according to agent Matt Buck, who told PA: "There was an inquiry to QPR and there was an inquiry to Rob to see what his thoughts were on it. Basically he wants to go back pre-season and try to prove himself to the coaching staff and people at QPR that he warrants a place in the Premier League 25-man squad and hopefully the Premier League matchday squad. "Rob is not even considering temporary moves at the moment. With Millwall if the situation changes we told them we would keep them in informed like anybody else. But his whole 100% focus is to get back, work hard in pre-season, work hard in the friendly games and prove he is worth that place." Still, in the happy clappy world of the QPR official website everybody is excited and raring to go. Including full back Bradley Orr who said: "I'm the kind of player who looks forward to knuckling down and getting back to work. I've kept myself pretty fit in the off season, so I don't actually mind it. I can imagine it will be a pretty tough slog over the coming weeks, but I'm prepared physically and mentally for what lies ahead. I'm really looking forward to it. "Yes, we will have to work hard - that is what is expected during pre-season. But the gaffer is a big believer in team-bonding, so I'm sure we'll welcome any new signings on board and build that togetherness we had last season." RumoursA signing may be on the horizon, with terms apparently agreed and a relegation release clause of £1.2m met for Blackpool 's DJ Campbell who played for QPR as a youth teamer. Talksport say Rangers are leading the chase for Campbell who scored 13 Premiership goals for Ian Holloway's men last term. West Ham are also said to have had an offer accepted. Reports in Italy also suggest Rangers are chasing Swiss defender Michel Morganella from Novara (where Alessandro Pellicori has spent time on loan). The right sided defender is at least only 22, rather than another 37 year old has been, and was an integral part of the Novara side that won promotion from Serie B last season. The Daily Star has again linked us with a loan move for Chelsea 's England Under 21 international full back Ryan Bertrand. But The Mirror says we have missed out on former Pompey midfielder Sulley Muntari who is joining Galatasaray instead from Inter. Former R'sJamie Cureton is back in London with Leyton Orient after rejecting the chance to join League Two new comers Bristol Rovers. Cureton, who scored 20 times for Exeter in League One last season despite turning 35, was widely expected to return to Rovers where he first made his name but has instead joined Orient on a one year deal with an option of a second. Manager Russell Slade said: "Jamie's an experienced player and his addition to the squad helps retain that kind of balance from last year. His goalscoring is phenomenal, and many of the goals he has scored have been in the Championship." Simon Walton is hoping to say injury free and kick start his career with Plymouth Argyle this season despite relegation and administration. Argyle are back in League Two this season and have debts of £17m while Walton saw his hopes of a move to Sheffield United dashed last summer when he ruptured knee ligaments in the first friendly appearance of his season long loan spell at Bramall Lane. Walton, you may recall, broke his leg in a pre-season friendly against Fulham at the start of his QPR career. Walton has a year left on his Home Park contract but has not been paid since December by the club which has £17m debts and is currently being run by the mythical figure of death Peter Ridsdale. Walton told the Plymouth Herald: "I’m really looking forward to coming back for pre-season training. Getting relegated was a downer for everyone but, personally, I was pleased with the way it went for me. My knee was fine – I just seemed to injure every other part of my body. I think playing in those games will stand me in good stead. Had I gone a full season without playing, I’m sure it would have taken me a bit longer to catch up. “I haven’t spoken to anyone at the club, so I can’t really comment on speculation about contracts. I have got a year left on mine, but I understand the situation. There are a few of us on wages which probably aren’t sustainable in League Two. But, at the end of the day, we were offered those contracts by the club. I’m just looking forward to coming back and getting a nice, settled pre-season under my belt and, hopefully, being a part of the team this year.” Michael Meaker has been appointed assistant manager at Southern League Division One South & West side Yate Town after finishing the season with them. Meaker, 40, scored four times in the second half of the last campaign and will continue to play in 2011/12 while assisting manager Rob Cousins. Meaker is part of the QPR Masters team that will attempt to retain its London Masters title at Wembley Arena next Saturday – LoftforWords is taking a full complement of staff to that event to provide reports, pictures and Tweets @loftforwords. Premiership Shorts- Sunderland are splashing the cash again, picking up Ipswich 's unproven 18 year old striker Connor Wickham for £8.1m which could eventually rise as high as £12m. South Korean Ji-Dong won for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £3m from Chunnam Dragons. They are also close to concluding a £6m for Birmingham midfielder Craig Gardner. The best part of another £20m spent, will any noticeable improvement be seen? - Birmingham have meanwhile rejected a £10m offer from Stoke for striker Cameron Jerome and defender Scott Dann. Stoke were rumoured to have offered as much as £16m for the pair but the true figure is closer to £10m and will not be increased leaving that deal somewhat dead in the water. - Swansea have tied highly rated Spanish full back Angel Rangel down to a three year deal. The 28-year-old's signature is a prized one, because although the Swans have signed Watford's Danny Graham for £3.5m this summer they have also lost goalkeeper Dorus de Vries to Wolves and midfielder Darren Pratley to Bolton . Chairman Huw Jenkins said: "There has been interest from Premier League clubs in Ange but he is very pleased to have achieved his dream of reaching the Premier League with the club he left his native Spain for." - The quest to sign Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez from Udinese has proved too rich even for Man City's blood with manager Roberto Mancini stating the club will not be pursuing their interest in him further. Udinese want £45m for the player, who is also wanted by Barcelona . The Catalan giants have apparently upped their bid for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to £35m. This could be part of a mini exodus from the Emirates because City are apparently willing to spend £20m on Samir Nasri and £7m on Gael Clichy. - In backroom news Roberto De Matteo is the new assistant manager at Chelsea where he was a popular player, and Sammy Lee has left Liverpool with Steve Clarke promoted to assist Kenny Dalglish. Look, I’ll be honest, I bloody hate Twitter. But if you follow @loftforwords it will at least feel less lonely. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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