Simpson Signs, Djibril Departs

QUEENS Park Rangers announced the signing of defender Danny Simpson on Thursday. The full-back has agreed a three year deal at Loftus Road following the conclusion of his existing deal at Newcastle United.

Simpson becomes Harry Redknapp`s first signing of the summer and hailed the influence of his new manager after joining the club: ”I want to play week in week out,’ the 26-year-old said.

‘Harry wants me playing and he wants me involved. He’s a top manager, and as soon as I spoke to him I knew this was the right move for me. Simpson added: ‘I’ve always admired him. He is a great man in the game and I have a lot of respect for him.’

With QPR`s reckless transfer window activity last summer raising a few eyebrows, QPR fans will be slightly happier with an acquisition that appears to have been part of a planned and well thought out process. The right-back brings with him a wealth of experience, having appeared for Manchester United, Royal Antwerp, Sunderland, Ipswich, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in both the Championship and Premier League. He will be expected to slot straight into the team as Redknapp looks to rebuild a flailing QPR team.

Redknapp told www.qpr.co.uk: “He`s the type we want at the club. He`s a good professional, a good character and a good player who knows his job in the side. He`ll be a really fine acquisition for us. It`s a fantastic piece of business for the club on a free transfer.“

The club also announced the departure of Djibril Cisse today, as he has left QPR by mutual consent. The Frenchman burst onto the scene with a goal on his debut against Aston Villa and was instrumental in keeping Rangers in the Premier League last season, despite his penchant for picking up red cards.

The striker, however, failed to build on an impressive start and with reported off the field problems earlier this season, the 31-year-old will depart and become a free agent from July 1st. He made 29 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals at Loftus Road. The striker was loved by the majority of QPR fans as his eye for goal was something the Rs faithful had missed in recent seasons. Cisse`s attitude, however, was rather questionable on numerous occasions, and it is for this reason and not his flamboyance, that not many will be too devastated at the Frenchman`s departure.

In other news?

QPR youngster Tom Hitchcock has signed a new one-year deal at Loftus Road. The 20-year-old striker, who spent most of last season on loan at League Two side Bristol Rovers, has penned a new deal until the summer of 2014.

QPR will feature twice on Sky Sports in the opening month of the new Championship season as Rangers’ fixtures against Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United have both been selected for live TV coverage.

Finally?

The Loftus Road pitch was seeded with ‘specially treated grass seed to ensure quicker germination` in Update 87 of the new pitch today. ‘Everything is on schedule`. Phew.