June 30th
from the Hammersmith Times

BRISTOL’S BROWN IS TARGET
By Dave McIntyre

QPR are chasing the signing of Bristol City midfielder Aaron Brown.

The skilful 24-year-old is out-of-contract and will join Rangers on a Bosman free transfer if personal terms can be agreed.

Brown, who can operate on the left wing or in the centre of midfield, has rejected a new deal at City although an improved offer is about to be made.

His future has been in doubt since City failed to win promotion from the Second Division, having been edged out of the top two by Rangers and then beaten by Brighton in the play-off final.

Brown has been a key player for the Robins. He was outstanding during their long winning run last season and they faded without him when his campaign was ended by injury in March.

R’s boss Ian Holloway has long been an admirer of the player but faces competition for his signature, with Stoke and Preston among the other clubs hoping to sign him.

Holloway is still on course to capture Lee Cook, whose signing looked a formality weeks ago but has been held up by Watford’s determination to keep him.

Cook is keen to return to Rangers, where he impressed during a three-month loan spell the season before last.

But at 21, he is too young to move under the Bosman ruling and Watford have made him an improved contract offer in an attempt to retain him, while telling Rangers they want £250,000 should he leave.

Rangers were last night in talks with Watford chairman Graham Simpson in an attempt to reach an agreement and avoid having to go to a tribunal should they see through their bid to bring Cook back to Loftus Road.

Meanwhile, released QPR striker Richard Pacquette has been handed a chance to secure a move to Scotland. Pacquette has been handed a trial by Partick Thistle, where he will link-up with former Rangers forward Andy Thomson.

And Steve Palmer, who was also released, has agreed a move to Milton Keynes Dons - formerly Wimbledon FC. Palmer was set to join the club a year ago but ended up staying put for another year after they went into administration.

“I wish him all the best,” said Holloway. “He has been fantastic for this football club and deserves success. He’s been one of the best signings I’ve ever made.

“He came to us at a time when we were in administration and didn’t have a team. He did more than most to help turn things around.”

REJECTED AGAIN
New regime spurn Haleem's latest bid
By Dave McIntyre

The new QPR regime have rejected another bid to buy a stake in the club from Haleem Kherallah.

The Marylebone-based businessman tried several times to get control prior to chairman Nick Blackburn and chief executive David Davies standing down.

Kherallah was quick to table a new offer in the wake of last week's boardroom shake-up in the hope of gaining a controlling interest.

But newly-installed chairman Bill Power said: "The offer was nowhere near what we're looking for. It was rejected straightaway.

"We want other people to come in and inject money but we're not going to sell stakes in this club for less than they're worth. We're not handing out pieces of QPR on the cheap."

Kherallah publicly criticised Davies and Blackburn for snubbing his takeover bids and made his disgust clear at being left in limbo while other offers were considered.

But he was not left waiting for a response this time.

"I got a letter telling me that my offer has been rejected," he revealed.

"We'll see what happens. I am still in the picture and I'm glad there have been changes. I like Bill and we will keep talking."

POWER SURGE
New man aims for return to glory days
By Dave McIntyre

New QPR chairman Bill Power has targeted a return to the Premiership within three years.

Power completed a remarkable journey from the White City Estate to the chairman’s suite at Loftus Road when he was installed following Nick Blackburn’s acrimonious departure last week.

And he has set his sights high, aiming eventually for promotion back to the top flight but also warning that this season is likely to be a difficult one.

Power said: “The aim is to challenge for the Premiership within three years and I honestly believe this club is capable of that.

“I think we can push for promotion in time, although I have to say I also think this season is going to be pretty tough.

“We’re going into a difficult division and are going to have to dig in. Then, by the following year, I’m hopeful that we’ll have more money coming in and will be able to push on from there.

“But the Premiership is definitely the aim. I believe we can do it. To achieve that we’re going to have to get hold of things off the pitch and keep improving on it. That’s not going to happen overnight.

“This season is going to be difficult but the aim is to end it feeling that we’ve improved and are a club on the up.”

Power, (pictured right), played a key role in signings that exceeded manager Ian Holloway’s original budget last season. Rangers brought in the likes of Jamie Cureton and Marcus Bignot as they chased promotion. But now the R’s are up, Power insists that budgets will be stuck to and excesses are a thing of the past.

“It was vital we got promoted and now it’s vital that we’re sensible and keep building properly,” he explained. “We will be keeping within a budget and are going to be very careful. I think that’s important.

“What we could really do with is a good cup run, which would bring in money we’re not budgeting for and would be a big bonus. “Everyone’s ambitious. I certainly am. But I think everyone understands the need to get the finances sorted out first and foremost.”

Power, who became a director after buying shares in Rangers last year, is still taking in the fact he is chairman of the club he has supported since he was a small child.

“It’s difficult to believe because it’s happened so quickly,” he admitted. “Someone said to me last week that I was part of QPR history now and I laughed, but I suppose it’s true. I don’t know what to make of it really. “It doesn’t seem real to think I’m in the same job Jim Gregory was when I was watching us play in the old Third Division.

“If you’d said to me in the days I used to look at the ground from my bedroom window on the estate that I’d be chairman one day, I wouldn’t have believed you. “It’s a big responsibly though and one I take very seriously. I want to do what’s right by QPR.”