Kieron Dyer handed one-year contract extension at QPR

 

Jim van Wijk
Monday 21 May 2012 10:29 EDT
Comments
(GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Queens Park Rangers have handed Kieron Dyer a one-year contact extension despite the midfielder missing all of last season through injury.

The 33-year-old former England international broke his foot during the first few minutes of Rangers' opening day defeat by Bolton at Loftus Road in August 2011, and did not play again.

However, new manager Mark Hughes has decided to give the ex-Ipswich, Newcastle and West Ham man another chance as he builds for another campaign in the Barclays Premier League.

QPR also confirmed defender Clint Hill, midfielder Akos Buzsaky and goalkeeper Radek Cerny have all been offered new contracts at Loftus Road following the side's successful battle to stay up.

However, the likes of Wales centre-back Danny Gabbidon, Danny Shittu, Fitz Hall, Gary Borrowdale, Peter Ramage, Lee Cook, Rowan Vine and Patrick Agyemang are all set to leave the club when their deals expire at the end of June as the Hoops look to slash a sizeable wage bill.

Rangers beat the drop despite losing in dramatic fashion at Etihad Stadium as Manchester City were crowned champions on the final day of what had been a rollercoaster first Premier League campaign since 1996.

Chairman Tony Fernandes, who replaced Neil Warnock with Hughes in January, has his sights firmly set on a prolonged stay back among England's elite clubs.

He said on www.London24.com: "I feel confident that Mark is potentially the man who could take QPR into another era, a stable era, where we become an established Premier League club.

"Mark is immensely impressive. He has got a great personality, is very ambitious, down to earth, has his ego in check and he knows his stuff.

"He was a player in the Premier League for a long time so he has competed at the highest levels. Every club he has been to he has excelled at.

"I want to be a club like Arsenal or Manchester United, who have had the same manager for a long time, and West Ham as well, when John Lyall and Ron Greenwood were there."

Air Asia and Caterham F1 Team boss Fernandes added: "Stability is important. You can't build anything without that. You can't do things if you don't have time.

"I am not saying we want to be champions tomorrow, Europe or whatever, but I think the next stage is for us to be a club which will remain in the Premier League for a long time."

Rangers have plans for a state-of-the-art training facility and are keen to explore stadium options, with Loftus Road a restrictive capacity of just over 18,000.

Fernandes said: "People might ask how we would fill a 40,000-seater stadium, but I built an airline from a few hundred thousand passengers and now we have 32 million.

"Build it right, market it right, and people will come. We are in the best city in the world, and in the best part of London."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in