QPR Official Site - May 2001
15 PLAYERS RELEASEDFollowing discussions with players and their representatives, the management and directors of QPR have decided to release the following out of contract players;
# Ian Baraclough
# Paul Bruce
# Alvin Bubb
# Lee Harper
# Chris Kiwomya
# Danny Maddix
# Terry McFlynn
# Ludek Miklosko
# Steve Morrow
# Michel Ngonge
# Karl Ready
# Matthew Rose
# Keith Rowland
# Tony Scully
Loftus Road chief executive David Davies said: "We've had to make a lot of hard choices and the simple fact is we had to cut the wage bill substantially. It's disappointing for staff and fans alike to see some of our favourite players leave, but it's about time we started dealing with reality. We're in Division Two, we can't afford to carry on with the number of players we had.
"In all honesty we have needed a clearout for a while. It's a very painful process to go through but a very necessary one if we are to build for the future of this club and put it on a sound footing. We have to lay the right foundations on which to build in future seasons.
"However, should the club find new owners before the start of the season, a number of players have been told that we would like to renegotiate with them at the earliest possible stage."
BBC
Friday, 25 May, 2001,
QPR release 16 players
Troubled QPR have released 16 out-of-contract players in order to cut the wage bill following the club's relegation to Division Two.
Chris Kiwomya, Danny Maddix, Ludek Miklosko and Steve Morrow lead the names of those who are not being offered new terms by the Loftus Road club.
And Michel Ngonge, Lee Harper, Ian Baraclough, Karl Ready, Matthew Rose, Keith Rowland, Bertie Brayley, Paul Bruce, Alvin Bubb, Alex Higgins, Terry McFlynn and Tony Scully have also been released.
Rangers are in administration with debts of around �11m, and chief executive David Davies explained that a reduced playing staff was necessary following relegation.
We can't afford to carry on with the number of players we had
Chief executive David Davies
"We've had to make a lot of hard choices and the simple fact is we had to cut the wage bill substantially," said Davies.
"It's disappointing for staff and fans alike to see some of our favourite players leave, but it's about time we started dealing with reality.
"We're in Division Two, we can't afford to carry on with the number of players we had.
"However, should the club find new owners in the summer, a number of players have been told the club would like to renegotiate with them at the earliest possible stage."
Midfielder George Kulscar recently had his contract with the club terminated by mutual consent.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/1351445.stmRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=13796&page=1#261666#ixzz2U6NjX4wUSTRIKER SIGNS
QPR have today completed the signing of Leroy Griffiths from Hampton and Richmond Borough.Pacey striker Griffiths, 24, boasts an impressive goalscoring record at non-league level having scored 22 goals in 58 appearances for the Ryman League Premier club.
Before joining Hampton and Richmond, he scored 23 goals in 49 games for Ryman Division 3 outfit Corinthian Casuals. He joins QPR for an undisclosed fee.
OLLY ON FIRST SUMMER SIGNINGIan Holloway is delighted with the signing of Leroy Griffiths,24, from Ryman League Hampton and Richmond Borough for an undisclosed fee. The R's boss has a fine track record for unearthing players from the non-League level.
When Holloway was in charge at Bristol Rovers, he signed Barry Hayles from Stevenage Borough, Nathan Ellington from Walton and Hersham and Dwayne Plummer from Chesham United. He also plucked former Hayes striker Jason Roberts from Wolves reserves.
All of those players prospered under Holloway's tutelage. And the boss seems confident that he has found another gem in Griffiths.
Holloway said:" I am very excited about this signing. Leroy is someone that our scouting department have been tracking for quite a while. I sent my director of football Gerry Francis down to Hampton to see a game and Gerry felt that this was a very exciting player.
"We invited Leroy over for a trail and he did exceptionally well. He is hungry, very strong and very quick. He's an entertainer. The QPR fans do appreciate someone with a bit of flair and a bit of skill. Leroy started off as a young player with Charlton before drifting into the non-League game, so he wants to make a name for himself.
"With full-time training everyday, I am sure that Leroy can hopefully improve on what he has got already and excite our supporters.
"I like to do my homework and scout around the non-League levels. I've never been scared to take a gamble. It is not where you have come from, but where you want to go.
"There are an awful lot of talented players out there who haven't been given the opportunity to play at the professional level. Or maybe they had the chance before and wasted it. I always find that the desire they've got within them makes them a successful player at the end of the day."
Griffiths scored 22 goals in 58 appearances for Hampton and Richmond Borough. He previously played for Corinthian Casuals, where he hit the net 23 times in 49 games.