MATCH REPORTS OF WADDOCK'S FIRST GAMETelegraph QPR usher in post-Holloway era
By Neil Martin Ian Holloway is gone, but far from forgotten, as QPR began a new era under Gary Waddock with a win.
There were rumours that Rangers' former manager, currently on gardening leave after expressing an interest in the vacant Leicester City job, would sneak into the stadium after his appearance on Football Focus in the BBC studios, just a long goalkick from Loftus Road.
Caretaker manager Waddock and Holloway's former players would have welcomed the chance to say a proper farewell to the popular Bristolian, but the terms of his departure mean that any communication is banned.
However, the fans refused to be silenced and they showed their appreciation for Holloway's five-year tenure by singing his name during the second half of this victory over relegation-threatened Millwall, the only goal coming from Marc Nygaard after 56 minutes.
QPR winger Gareth Ainsworth revealed: "We haven't spoken to Ollie [Holloway] since he was put on gardening leave because I don't think it is permitted.
"Maybe he got into the ground incognito, and if he did I don't think he will be bitter about this result. He is good friends with Gary Waddock and I'm sure he wants him to do well."
Waddock is in no doubt that Holloway deserved to be thanked for his achievements in turning previously struggling Rangers into a solid Championship outfit.
"I have not spoken to him and I won't until everything is sorted out between him and the club. But after that I will be the first one on the phone to congratulate him and wish him luck for whatever he does next," he said.
Chairman Gianni Paladini says Waddock will remain in charge until the end of the season in a caretaker role, but John Gregory has already been linked to the post and Dave Bassett and Ray Wilkins were both watching this encounter from the stands.
However, Ainsworth believes Waddock should be given the chance to put his new ideas into practice and stake his claim for the permanent job.
"He wants us to get the ball down and play, and when we have possession he is telling the attacking players, like myself and Lee Cook, to have a go at the opposition," the winger explained. "This is Gary Waddock's team now and we have all really responded to him," he added.
In stark contrast, Millwall remain in the bottom three and look doomed after failing to create a clear-cut chance for the second successive match.
Millwall goalkeeper Andy Marshall said: "It's disheartening and all the lads are down. The hardest thing is having the determination to go out there week after week when you are losing."
The only fight from Millwall came in the stands, after riot police rushed in to keep their fans separated from the Rangers supporters after Nygaard's goal.
sport.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/02/13/sfgqpr13.xmlThe TIMES - Waddock hits upon a winning formulaBy Ron Lewis
Queens Park Rangers 1 Millwall 0
AS POPULAR AS Ian Holloway still is with the fans of Queens Park Rangers, his removal as manager of a mid-table team last week caused more surprise away from Loftus Road than within. Yesterday’s win may have moved QPR into the top half of the table, but any upward momentum of recent seasons had been dramatically halted.
Gary Waddock, the caretaker manager, promised attractive football and was fortunate to face a team as obliging as Millwall, who let QPR pass the ball around at will. QPR won by one goal, but it could have been six, such was the regularity with which the home team carved open the Millwall defence. “I told the players I wanted to see a good performance,” Waddock said. “Then the result will take care of itself.”
Despite rumours linking John Gregory, who played alongside Waddock in QPR’s midfield in the 1982 FA Cup Final, with the manager’s job at Loftus Road, Waddock seems to have the role until at least the summer, although he plans to appoint his own director of football. “I want someone experienced who I can get on the other end of the phone when I need them,” he said. “We are speaking to one or two people. Whoever it is, it will be my choice.”
When told of the rumours that Don Howe, the former QPR manager and England coach, was expected to take up the role, Waddock blushed. “I can’t name any names,” he said.
The QPR win was secured by Marc Nygaard, the giant former Denmark striker, who finished off a flowing move by converting a cross by Gareth Ainsworth’s cross at the second attempt. Ainsworth, Paul Furlong, twice, Marcus Bignot and Shabazz Baidoo missed good chances.
Waddock’s ambitions of passing football have gone down well with the players. “When we’ve got the ball, we’ve got a licence to attack,” Ainsworth said. “I don’t think Olly will be bitter about what has happened and I’m sure he will have smiled when he saw the result.”
Millwall never threatened and looked doomed to go down. Things got worse when Alan Dunne, on a yellow card, was sent off for jumping in with his elbow raised in a challenge with Steve Lomas.
“We didn’t have a shot on goal, again,” David Tuttle, the Millwall manager, said. “When you are in the bottom three for as long as we have been, confidence is low. Maybe some of the players think they are being relegated.”
Let down by their team on the pitch, a group of Millwall supporters looked to cement their bad reputation further by attempting to attack home supporters in the next stand. It took police in riot gear to restore order.
But the day belonged to Waddock, who played for QPR at every level from schoolboy to first team and then coached at the club at schoolboy, youth and reserve level. “This club is in my heart. I can’t explain how much this means,” he said.
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,435-2037902,00.html
Guardian - Waddock takes caretaker contest
Mark Tallentire at Loftus RoadMonday February 13, 2006The Guardian
If this was a caretakers' convention then it was as good as it gets for the newest member, Gary Waddock, while the man with a two-month attendance record was left bemoaning the fact that the pitfalls in his arrangement at Millwall is leaving them short-handed with time running out.
Waddock took over at QPR last week, sent all of his suspended predecessor Ian Holloway's loan signings back to their clubs and promised an overnight change in style. The popular former Rangers midfielder made six alterations to the starting side and his team won with ease, although he will not find more compliant opposition if he keeps the job beyond the end of the season he has been promised. Already, the 43-year-old rookie is looking for a helping hand.
I'd like to get someone in with experience and knowledge who is on the end of a phone and I can ask for advice. I'm in no great rush but I'm speaking to a couple of people and it will be my choice," said Waddock, who has not spoken to his former team-mate John Gregory, admitted that a meeting with a former manager Jim Smith came to nothing and refused to rule out another Rangers old boy, Don Howe.
"My goal was always to be a manager and I've got a wonderful opportunity," Waddock purred. "I never thought it would come here. I've played at every level and coached at every level and for me to take charge of the club who have been a big part of my life and win in a derby against a club I used to play for, you try and explain that."
In this instance it is not difficult as Dave Tuttle, who began his turn as the Millwall caretaker with an undefeated five-game run, has been struggling since an arrangement with Colin Lee finished when the club's former manager quit as director of football last month.
The chairman Peter de Savary openly admits Millwall need a forward, a winger and a midfielder, but all he managed to bring to The Den last week was a decommissioned Routemaster London bus which will be decked out in club colours and used to ferry OAPs and the disabled to matches. Seven points adrift of safety already, that will probably be to see League One action as Millwall showed nothing to suggest they can pull away from trouble.
QPR's Paul Furlong put a first-half chance wide after the excellent Lee Crook found him in space and Gareth Ainsworth was also close before turning provider when he found Marc Nygaard eight yards out. The Dane's initial header was blocked but he lashed in the rebound.
Millwall's fans, who had questioned Tuttle's substitution policy when he removed the unwell Berry Powel after 49 minutes, were soon exchanging missiles with the home supporters and it was to get worse when Alan Dunne was sent off for two fouls in four minutes. "How can you win games when you don't have a shot on goal?" Tuttle said. "The lads think they may be getting relegated, they are in the bottom three and very low on confidence. I've been putting players' names forward to the board. This happens every week. We haven't had a shot and people ask me are you going to have a player in for next week? The answer is hopefully yes, but it ain't been happening."
Man of the match Lee Crook (QPR)
football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,1708307,00.html
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