Defensive hunt begins

Rangers’ boss Ian Holloway has now begun searching the transfer market for players capable of filling the boots of Clarke Carlisle, Terrell Forbes and Steve Palmer.

At lunchtime yesterday (Monday 7^th June), the R’s were dealt a major blow with news coming from Carlisle’s representatives admitting the defender was favouring a move back north and Leeds United.

Clarke should today undergo a medical and if completed successfully, sign a contract with the Elland Road club.

After releasing Palmer and Forbes the previous week, Rangers are now in a worrying position of only having 5 fit defenders for pre-season training in July. With Danny Shittu likely to be out of action for next few months, Ollie is left with fixing a defence consisting of Gino Padula, Marcus Bignot, Arthur Gnohere, Richard Edghill and Matthew Rose (the last two are still negotiating new contracts at the club and could still leave).

The only other defensive cover Ollie possesses in his squad lies within the youth team. Players such as Marien Ifura (also out of contract), Wes Daly, Ryan Johnson and John Fletcher. It is extremely unlikely that Holloway will trust any of them on the opening day of the first division season.

Wes Daly has the best opportunity however as he can play right-back. If things stayed as they were, a likely back four would consist of- Padula, Gnohere, Rose, Edghill/ Bignot.

With two months until the start of the season it seems that Holloway will go into the transfer market. A question I asked myself is- Will he choose to sign a youngster from a big club looking for experience on loan, or, sign a proven experienced defender?

Tottenham’s new manager Jacques Santini will trim his squad down and ship in some European flair players. This may see youngsters such as Anthony Gardner (23) surplus to requirements. Gardener could be an outstanding signing whether on loan or permanently. The same goes to our former loan star Stephen Kelly (20).

Kelly this season was a key member of the Irish under-21 squad and made the subs bench regularly at White Hart Lane but with Santini’s arrival he will most probably be knocked back down the pecking order. This should hopefully trigger Holloway’s interest in a player who made a fantastic impression in a short spell at Loftus Road.

Charlton Athletic centre-back Jonathan Fortune (23) is another youngster who maybe offered a route out of the club to gain experience and could bring some quality to the back four.

Three players spring to mind though, three known performers out of contract this summer and available on Clarke Carlisle style free transfers. At Bristol City they have Matt Hill (23) and Danny Coles (22). Sheffield United recently released Robert Page (29).

Realistically Bristol will offer both players new deals and as they are both happy there it is unlikely they will want to move away. Unless Rangers come in with a half decent offer to tempt them away, playing a division higher in front of bigger crowds would surely entice them a little.

Page’s wage demands would probably exceed the maximum Rangers could offer (thought to be around £3k a week).

Any move for previous and current targets such as Ivar Ingimarsson (Reading, 25), Darren Ward (Millwall, 25), Fitz Hall (Southampton, 23) and Danny Cullip (Brighton, 28) all already look dead in the water for various reasons.

Money problems mean any move for Ingimarsson has to be ruled out. Millwall’s Ward also falls under the same category of money, despite a very successful loan spell at Loftus Road a couple of years ago. Ward also has the added chance of playing in the UEFA Cup 1^st round this season.

Fitz Hall looks certain to join ex-boss Iain Dowie at Crystal Palace next season after finding his chances limited at St Mary’s. Again money prevents any move for the Selhurst Park bound defender.

This leaves Danny Cullip. Cullip is a Brighton boy at heart and once again any move would surely be thwarted due to money problems and although Cullip would be the cheapest of the bunch there are other obstacles.

Brighton also gained promotion this season so therefore playing a division higher captaining the club he supports means he would be odds on to reject any approach. Saying that there are rumours he is to join up with ex-boss Mickey Adams at relegated Leicester City. Leicester would have a much greater financial package to lure him away from the Withdean Stadium.

Elsewhere newly promoted Premiership side Norwich City are eyeing up Martin Keown. The Cannaries boss Nigel Worthington sees him as the ideal man to build a team around to fight for survival in the top division. Some fans had mentioned Keown as a possible candidate for a move to West London, forgetting he may want a great deal more than the maximum wage at Loftus Road.

Rumours are also spreading fast of Wrexham’s Trinidad & Tobago international Carlos Edwards and a move away from the Racecourse Ground. Edwards’ agent has claimed that an unnamed first division side has made the Robins an offer, which has been turned down. Preston and Rangers were linked with the eccentric midfielder but as the R’s have no money to spend it surely counts us out of the running.

And finally Rangers target Barry Hayles has admitted he is leaving Fulham and considering offers from Premiership and 1^st division sides. He also hit out at Cottagers boss Chris Coleman.

"I was very upset with the way I was treated by the club and I don't feel I was shown enough respect considering the loyalty and service I gave them. That is what is most disappointing.

"I'm also not too happy that neither the manager Chris Coleman nor the director who was meant to be dealing with my contract spoke to me about things and I felt they were both just stringing me along.

"I'd been at the club a long time and I would have expected to be treated a lot better than I was.

"It's a real shame to leave the club in this way but unfortunately that's football these days."

For all the latest developments at Rangers about contract talks, transfer rumours and pre-season preparations log onto QPR MAD.

It promises to be a busy summer