11 Yr Flashback-Chris Warren Looking to Premiershp

A few days earlier - June 2000

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BOURNEMOUTH STAR SIGNS

QPR announced today that they have completed the signing of wing-back Christer Warren from Bournemouth on a free transfer.

The news comes as a further boost to the club after the signings of Clarke Carlisle and Karl Connolly and at a time when season ticket sales are well up year on year.

Warren, 25, can play in either a wing-back or midfield role on the left-side and has signed a two-year deal.

Warren came to prominence playing for Cheltenham Town where he caught the eye of Southampton, who bought him for �,000 in March 1995.

Loan spells followed at Brighton and Fulham and Warren moved to Bournemouth for �,000 in October 1997.

Further details and an interview with Christer will follow later today.


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WARREN WINGS HIS WAY TO LOFTUS ROAD

UTILITY man Christer Warren became Gerry Francis' third signing of the summer joining from Bournemouth on a Bosman free transfer today.

Dorchester-born Christer, 25, started his career with Cheltenham Town and his impressive performances as a striker for the Whaddon Road club prompted Southampton to pay �,000 for his services in 1995.

However, with competition for places so great at The Dell Christer's first-team opportunities were limited to just one Premiership start and seven substitute appearances.

Short loan spells at Brighton and Fulham ensued but in October 1997 Southampton's neighbours Bournemouth swooped for Warren and clinched his signature for �,000 and he repaid them immediately by scoring the winning goal on his debut in a 1-0 win at Preston.

It was at Dean Court that his versatility was first recognised by Cherries boss Mel Machin who played him in both midfield and forward roles before converting him into a left-wing-back after Jamie Vincent was sold to Huddersfield in 1998.

He occupied this role all of last season and it was after monitoring Christer's progress in this position for some time that Gerry Francis made an approach to sign him.

In his two and a half years at Bournemouth, Christer made 110 appearances, scoring 14 goals. He will be talking exclusively to the QPR official site later today.


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CHRISTER DELIGHTED TO BECOME A RANGER

NEW signing Christer Warren has spoken of his pleasure at joining QPR after Gerry Francis swooped to sign the Bournemouth star earlier this week.

"It all happened really quickly," said Christer, speaking exclusively to the QPR Website.

"I found out from my agent that QPR were interested in me and I jumped at the chance to speak to Gerry Francis and luckily everything has turned out well."

Christer has played for Bournemouth as a left back for most of last season but started his career as a striker and also had spells playing in midfield.

He has been brought to the club to play as a left-wing-back, a position he admits he has not played in too often, but he believes the role will allow him to utilise his attacking instincts more than he could playing in a flat back four at Dean Court.

"I've played wing-back about 10 times for Bournemouth but most of my time there was as an out and out left-back. As I used to be a striker I am obviously much happier playing in that area as I am better in the final third of the field than I am defensively," he said.

Although Christer has experience of playing at a top club with Southampton, who he joined as a 19-year-old from Cheltenham Town, he admits that he is a much better player than when he was as a reserve team player struggling to make the break into the Saints' first team.

"I am much better player now than I was back at Southampton. Looking back now I wish I had stayed another year or two in non-league football as the step up from reserve team football to the first team there was massive.

"My two and a half years at Bournemouth were good for me but the opportunity to move up a level and play with better players was too good to turn down.

"Speaking with Gerry made me feel very comfortable with the club. He told me that they have great ambitions to go back to the Premier Division which obviously appealed to me.

"Last season the club had a great run-in finishing tenth and hopefully with myself, Karl Connolly and Clarke Carlisle added to the squad, we can improve what I think is already potentially a very good side."