Team: Lumley, Furlong (Downs), Monthe, Hunt-Laurent, Wise, Kpekawa, Young (Fitzpatrick), Mitchell, Skapetis, Carreiro, Petrasso

Subs Not Used: Smith, Comley, Beckles

The U18’s league campaign saw Rangers winning 16 of their 20 matches and finishing runners-up to Charlton Athletic. This sealed them a place in the semi-final play-off and the R’s played the winners of the equivalent Northern Section, Leeds United. Petros Skapetis scored a dramatic winner in added time at Thorp Arch whilst Huddersfield defeated Charlton in the other semi-final.

The previous time QPR had played a Huddersfield U18’s side was in December 2011. On that occasion Rangers won 2-1 in a FA Youth Cup 3rd Round tie at Loftus Road.

The visitors went close after 4 minutes when a free header was deflected out for another corner. At the other end, Ryan Young got into a good position, but his shot was aimed straight at Wilczynski. Rangers were playing some neat football in and around midfield, but had created limited opportunities to take the lead.

After 15 minutes Michael Petrasso did well to set-up Petros Skapetis who really should of found the back of the net. However, the ball came to Dylan Carreiro and he let fly from 25 yards which forced Wilczynski to tip the ball out for a corner. Two minutes later, the visitors went very close, but the shot was just wide of the post.

Then after 36 minutes, full-back Darnell Furlong, in a good position, belted the ball goalwards which Ed Wilczynski acrobatically tipped over the bar. Then Emmanuel Monthe managed to somehow thread the ball across the box, but it was cleared before an R’s player could pounce.

With a minute or so to go to half-time, QPR took a deserved lead via the penalty spot after Harly Wise had his shirt tugged in the box. Leading marksman and captain Petros Skapetis stepped up and his well taken penalty put Rangers in front.

One added minute was signalled and the R’s could of doubled their lead. After a good interception the ball was played too wide for Skapetis to properly finish and the keeper made a comfortable save. Half-time: 1-0.

Three minutes or so after the break, Huddersfield broke through, but thankfully the resulting shot was a tame one which didn’t trouble Joe Lumley. Darnell Furlong was forced to change his No. 2 shirt for a No.17, because, I assume, there must have been blood on it ?

The Huddersfield No.8, Duane Holmes had a shot go narrowly wide 15 minutes into the half and he really does look an exciting prospect. The visitors were certainly having the best of the opening 20 minutes or so, and enjoying the majority of the possession.

Darnell Furlong was replaced by Jake Downs after 72 minutes and a few minutes later Steve Gallen decided to bring on David Fitzpatrick for Ryan Young.

A good shot on target by I think by Michael Petrasso, was headed over en route to goal. After 88 minutes, Joe Lumley was the victim of what looked like a very harsh decision when he was penalised for time wasting. Mr Hatzidakis decided to award a free kick just inside the Rangers box which was safely negotiated. After a good period of play from the R’s, the ball was eventually knocked back towards Joe Lumley who had to come charging out and only just managed to clear in time.

Some of the R’s players had been suffering from cramp throughout the latter stages which seemingly accounted for most of the 5 added minutes. There was a wonderful moment which brought a smile to many faces when Emmanuel Monthe absolutely belted the ball upfield from well inside his own half. It beat the advanced Huddersfield keeper, but finished well wide of the post…if only !

At the final whistle the pitch celebrations immediately followed. My mind went back three years to when Rangers won silverware after beating Stockport County in the Youth Alliance National League Cup Final.

Well done, congratulations and thanks to Steve Gallen, his staff and all of his squad on such a magnificent achievement.

Steve Russell

‘England soccer captain Gerry Francis is “booked” by the law. The incident happened after the Queen’s Park Rangers’ star went to buy an airgun from a shop in Redhill, Surrey. He agreed to pose outside the shop with the shotgun for the benefit of photographers, but the police blew the whistle on the move before it had fully got underway. Squad cars sealed off the street and Gerry was questioned about the gun.

Police said later: “Mr Francis said he had no certificate and was told that the matter would be reported”. Recently bandits opened fire during a £6,000 pay snatch only 200 yards from the shop. Police are clearly taking every possible precaution against seeing an action replay.’

This misunderstanding was quickly resolved of course and Gerry travelled with the team to Stoke the following Saturday.

Steve Russell

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Park, Granero, Mackie

Attendance: 17,278

What more can you say about this most rotten of football seasons ? The home atmosphere was the most angry that I have witnessed in my two decades of following Rangers. I guessed the way the afternoon was going to progress when boos rang out for Bosingwa and Mbia (amongst others) before kick-off. It was such a strange occasion – the final home game of the season, nothing to celebrate, nothing to treasure.

The game itself was even stranger, and completely forgettable. Rangers were awarded a soft penalty after a run by Junior Hoilett. The penalty then conceded by Jose Bosingwa was even softer, and it felt like Lee Probert was trying to even things out.

The way Newcastle’s second goal was yielded was even more depressing. There has been some debate on Twitter as to whether it was Bosingwa to blame for the back pass or was Robert Green too slow coming out ? Seeing a replay has confirmed my initial view that Bosingwa was at fault for selling Robert Green short on the ball back to him.

Rangers were a little stronger in the second-half after Bosingwa and Stephane Mbia were substituted – raising the biggest cheer of the afternoon. Derry added a bit of steel to the midfield and Fabio took the place of the hapless Portuguese defender.

But this was not a day when the fare was likely to be memorable. Once again Townsend looked a cut above the rest. Hoilett was his usual ineffectual self. Remy looked like he might have made something happen, almost in anticipation that his future lies elsewhere.

Not even the sending off of Newcastle keeper Rob Elliot for a second yellow could improve Rangers’ ill fortune. At full-time, some QPR fans ran on to the pitch as if to fulfil some ancient ritual rather than in celebration.

The club had announced earlier in the day that there wouldn’t be a ‘lap of honour’ by the players. It seemed highly appropriate since for most fans there has been little honourable about the passage of the season.

With just one away game to come, the curtain is almost down on another year, and once again Loftus Road bids farewell to top flight football. Relegation is rarely a happy experience, but rarely has a club’s capitulation been so ignominious in contrast to its own pre-season hype !

We have to pray that, as Fernandes tells the media at length, the lessons of the past two seasons have been learnt. Redknapp has possibly the toughest job on of his managerial career. He has to take a divided, demoralised dressing room and turn it into a force which is capable of having an impact in the Championship next season.

I truly hope that we can get off to a good start on August 3 and beyond. Otherwise the whiff, or maybe the stench, of this season will linger on for some time to come.

Saycey

Before kick-off some presentations were made. These included Clint Hill who was voted the Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year was Michael Harriman. Malcolm Oakley, who hasn’t missed a home game since August 1962, was the Supporter of the Year. Later it was a pleasure to see a sizable contingent of former 1980’s players arrive on the pitch; Tony Currie, Peter Hucker, Clive Allen (who was also interviewed), Bobby Hazell, Gary Micklewhite, Warren Neill, Steve Wicks and Wayne Fereday. Well done to the club for organising this.

The R’s took the lead after 10 minutes when we witnessed Loic Remy converting a penalty. Rare as that was you somehow knew that it was going to be one of those days when we were penalised for a back-pass, which is also quite rare.

Mbia and Bosingwa were loudly booed by sections of the crowd and this intensified when Bosingwa gave away a penalty for a tug, soft as it may have appeared, and also later following a terrible mix up when he played the ball back to Rob Green. Harry Redknapp, not surprisingly, decided to replace them both at half-time with Derry and Fabio respectively.

Rob Elliot had been booked earlier for booting the ball away when the R’s were awarded a free kick and he then received his marching orders when he had clearly handled outside the box. He continued to protest his innocence all the way back to the tunnel !

This briefly livened up the R’s fans, but many had already headed for the exits well before the final whistle. A few still decided to run on to the pitch at full-time as the travelling fans loudly celebrated.

Steve Russell

Except this is QPR, where no crisis can ever be as bad as it seems, only worse, and any disaster must be followed by an immediate aftershock, perhaps even two or three.

Gaffe-prone Stephane Mbia, perhaps inspired by the example set by Jose Bosingwa in December, apparently decided on Monday that it was his turn to embarrass the club. He stands accused of sending a message via Twitter to midfielder Joey Barton, sent on loan to Marseille as part of Mbia penning a two-year deal with the R’s last summer.

Source: qpr.co.uk

Sent from his official account, the tweet asked Barton if he would “rechange your seat with me”, prompting a storm of anger from fans disgusted by his alleged treachery. Both Mbia and the club have strenuously and very publicly denied that the Frenchman was responsible for the message, but in reality it matters little whether he was or not.

The latest debacle only serves to highlight the urgent need for an immediate and drastic squad overhaul. For once, Rangers must be ruthless, precise and professional. Although they will have no problem in offloading saleable assets such as Loic Remy and Adel Taarabt, it is not the wheat but the chaff that is a problem.

However, which self-respecting outfit would take on Bosingwa, who twice this season has demonstrated utter contempt for the fans, his manager and the shirt he wears ?

What about Junior Hoilett ? A young, hungry, future star when he arrived, after a year spent flattering to deceive he is now as jaded and tainted as his fellow has-beens.

Unsurprisingly, rumours concerning goalkeeper Julio Cesar have surfaced already, with manager Harry Redknapp positively encouraging potential suitors to bid for him. In the style of the agents he claims to despise, Redknapp said: “Julio is a player for a top club, a top Italian team, a top Spanish team or a top Premier League team.”

Question marks remain over the boss himself. With no serious interest emerging from international footballing giants such as Austria, he appears to be staying put for now. Nevertheless, with it an all-but-accepted fact that Redknapp was brought in to manage the R’s in the Premier League, he will surely jump at the first offer that comes his way. Come mid-October, when QPR are struggling in mid-table, as they inevitably will be, the gaffer may well see his chance to escape and suffer limited reputation damage.

Uncertainty over the players and manager aside, it seems that owner Tony Fernandes is equally unhappy, having claimed that he has been “exploited” since taking charge. Few would argue with this assertion, given the casual manner in which former boss Mark Hughes blew his hard-earned cash on an inept, disloyal, uncaring rabble.

Add this to the “reluctant” spending of £20million by Redknapp, most of which on the hugely disappointing Christopher Samba, and Fernandes’ anger is understandable. Not one to ever keep his thoughts to himself, R’s supporters would of course be the first to know if Fernandes wanted out, because it would be up on Twitter in seconds.

Similarly to Redknapp, with second-tier commercial opportunities rather limited and a pre-season tour of Asia effectively ruled out, will he be quite as enthused next season ? Trips to Barnsley, Ipswich Town and Blackpool are not quite as attractive as money-spinning ‘Super Sunday’ clashes with Manchester United or Chelsea, after all.

Based on current guesswork by journalists, pronouncements from players and vicious rumours, only a handful of the current squad will be around for the brave new dawn. Stalwarts such as Shaun Derry, Clint Hill and Jamie Mackie will most likely stay, along with the likes of Robert Green, Jay Bothroyd, Nedum Onuoha and Jermaine Jenas.

Nothing more than a respectable finish should be expected, and planned for, by the club hierarchy: big spending and big promises have only served to humiliate QPR. Fernandes has essentially spent the last two seasons learning on the job, and to his credit, he has admitted making several mistakes and tried to put things right.

With all of his endeavours now having failed, Rangers must go back to basics. Sort out the squad unity, sign proven Championship players, and prepare for hardship.

One of the biggest problems last year was that Hughes did not forge a team or a squad. His house was built on sand, with no foundations or plans. The players he recruited expected an easy ride and to live off their reputations. In the end, when faced with a crisis, Champions League winner’s medals were useless.

Rather than a mantra of “buy now, ask questions later”, the motto for Fernandes should be “if you build it, they will come”. This is the only way forward for QPR.

Chris King

Twitter @chriskking

Team: Denoon, Mitchell, Whyman, Grendon, Wake, Baldock, Jefferson, Smith, Dale, Gregory, Fox

Attendance: 6,500

The West London Observer reported on the game as follows:

‘Rangers gained a highly creditable victory at Shepherd’s Bush on Saturday, when they defeated Millwall by three goals to nil. In the absence of Wingrove, Mitchell had to partner Whyman at full-back, and he gave a wonderfully fine display while Wake , at centre half-back, proved to be a tower of strength to the team.

A notable personage in D. Davis who is home on leave from France, made his re-appearance at centre-forward for Millwall, but the Welsh international was not at his best, although he gave flashes of brilliance, and towards the end of the game he was frequently dangerous in many strong attacks then made by the visitors.

The defences of both sides held out until 36 minutes had elapsed, and then Gregory drove in a high shot, which rebounded from Bailey on to the cross-bar and thence into the net. Two minutes afterwards the Rangers went further in front, for Jefferson worked in to take a centre from Fox and finished a splendid piece of play by scoring.

Changing ends with a lead of two goals, the Rangers commenced the second half in spirited fashion, but Hadley and Elvey performed admirable in defence and Bailey was not given much to do. After about a quarter of an hour, Jefferson was fouled in the penalty area, and Dale, who took the kick, put the home side three goals up.

Fast play followed and as the game progressed Millwall were again the aggressors, but no further score accrued and the Rangers won by three goals.’

Brentford finished in top spot whilst the R’s concluded the season in fifth place. The Southern League had been suspended in 1915 because of the Great War and was resurrected for the 1919/20 season. Rangers were to join the newly formed Division Three (South) in 1920.

Long serving John Gregory is pictured above. He was signed from Willenhall Swifts in 1912 before becoming Yeovil Town’s player-manager in 1923.

Steve Russell

It has felt like in the wake of relegation the club has gone on the offensive to win the hearts and minds of the fan base and the wider world. However, this plethora of messages has left at least some bemused. Whilst previous regimes were criticized for being tight-lipped, the current club management would do well to recognise that there is such a thing as over-communication. There is a happy medium to be struck.

It’s a dramatic understatement to say that expectations were not high against the Champions League stalwarts from North London. For the record, Redknapp went with four changes. Tal Ben Haim came in for Jose Bosingwa who was described as having suffered “a tear”. Andros Townsend and Ji-Sung Park were re-instated to the team on the right and left flanks respectively. Bobby Zamora returned from his three-match suspension to make up the eleven alongside Loic Remy upfront.

It really didn’t take long for Rangers to do what they have so often done this season at home – surrender an early advantage to the opposition. Armand Traore was clearly asleep as on three separate occasions within the first twenty seconds after kick-off, when he firstly, lazily headed a hopeful long ball into the path of Lukas Podolski. The German international headed down for Tomas Rosicky, who in turn roasted the hapless Traore on the Rangers left. The QPR defender’s embarrassment was complete after some neat interplay between Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey and Miguel Arteta saw Theo Walcott clear past Traore.

Robert Green might have done better with Walcott’s close range shot, but Rangers were one down after conceding the fastest Premier League goal this season. The Loftus Road faithful were stunned, but to be honest not that stunned or shocked by the display of inept defending. Clint Hill threw his arms out in despair and frustration at Traore’s efforts, or lack of.

(Hill demonstrates his anger at Traore)

As the game settled, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be a classic. Both Park and Townsend put in good showings in the early stages. The Korean superstar nearly put Remy in on goal with a clever pass on four minutes. But Arsenal controlled possession with a fair amount of ease, but without the real urgency which suggested they were keen for a quick second.

The visitors were 4-5-1 with Podolski leading the line and Miguel Arteta providing protection to the back-four. Rangers were shut down in midfield and resorted to pumping long balls up to Zamora. All very speculative from a lethargic relegated team. There was little evidence that the R’s would feel relieved of pressure and start to express themselves with freedom. If anything, Rangers withdrew deeper and surrendered increasing space to the visitors, themselves largely wasteful of their possession.

(Hill gets to grips with Walcott in the penalty area)

Unsurprisingly then Rangers created little in the first-half. On twenty minutes, Park nipped in to intercept a long ball to Bachary Sagna. He played on to Remy who took a wild lash at goal from 25 yards which predictably ballooned off into the Gooners in the School End. The dog’s abuse for their old adversary Redknapp was only momentarily interrupted by jeers for the French striker.

Arsenal made their superior possession tell on 25 minutes when the impressive Rosicky put Walcott clear through on goal. Walcott shot low, but Green got a touch on it and pushed it onto his left post. Two minutes later at the other end, Park spooned a good chance over the Arsenal bar after a great dribble from Townsend and a Zamora lay-off.

Around the half-hour mark Rangers had a mini spell of pressure with a blocked Park shot and a whipped Townsend corner. The impetus fizzled out until 37 minutes when Ben Haim intercepted a ball on the half-way line and let fly from 35 yards. It was an easy save from Wojciech Szczesny.

Three minutes later it was Stephane Mbia’s turn for a loose shot from outside the box which sailed harmlessly over the Arsenal goal. A dismal first-half culminated with Townsend going close from a free kick after Sagna bundled over Park just outside the area. Rangers went in already looking like a beaten side.

The second-half started with Shaun Derry coming on for the distinctly average Mbia who had apparently just passed a pre-match fitness test, and immediately the R’s had a lot more shape about them. Townsend threatened on the right and three minutes in tested the Arsenal keeper with a cross aimed at Remy’s head.

The game opened up and Park went close with a looping header from a Zamora cross. Rangers were now not sitting so deep and began to press Arsenal in midfield. The game was suddenly a lot more watchable.

On 53 minutes, Townsend underlined his ability with a rasping 25 yard, left-footed shot which was straight down the throat of Szczesny. Remy shot low from outside the box two minutes later, but Rangers couldn’t capitalise on this spell of pressure. On 58 minutes, Townsend forced a free kick out of Nacho Monreal which saw the Arsenal man booked. Rangers were definitely warming to the task.

(Remy faces up to Sagna)

Arsenal always looked capable of doubling their advantage. Derry was booked on 63 minutes for a poorly-timed challenge on the lively Rosicky. Arsenal now had a spell with more possession for Santi Cazorla, who was so impressive when the R’s visited the Emirates back in the autumn. The Spanish midfielder forced a scrappy reflex save from Green moments later with a shot which was moving everywhere.

Rangers were being forced deeper again with Clint Hill being called upon to make a number of important clearances. On 76 minutes, Walcott again tested Green from distance. The Rangers number one saved comfortably, although, again, was unable to collect the ball at the first attempt. A minute later, Jermaine Jenas was booked when Rosicky was floored yet again on the run. At this point Park was replaced by Adel Taarabt.

Rangers had their best chance of the game eight minutes from time when Townsend fed Zamora in space on the right, whose cross met Jenas in the middle. A quick pass out to the left saw a powerful first-time shot which Szczesny had to push away to safety.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked lively after coming on for Podolski but the change didn’t make much of an impact as Arsenal sat on their lead. There were further comedy attempts on goal at either end – an unlikely lob from Zamora and a scuffed grubber shot from Aaron Ramsey. But even though the barren spectacle of the second-half fizzled out, it was much more of a contest than the first.

It is telling that this game, even though it was the first of our ‘dead rubber’ games, Redknapp chose not to play any upcoming talent, whereas Park holds a starting berth. It’s much too late though to be questioning the selection of players for commercial reasons. Most fans just want an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again from the wreckage of this dreadful season.

Team: Green 7, Traore 5 (Fabio), Hill 7, Onuoha 6, Ben Haim 6, Park 6 (Taarabt 6), Jenas 6, Townsend 8, Mbia 6 (Derry 6), Remy 7, Zamora 6.

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Granero, Mackie, Bothroyd.

QPR MOM – Townsend. Clearly a cut above most of the other players in hoops. Passionate, energetic and clearly playing for a higher profile role at Spurs next season.

Arsenal MOM – Rosicky. Found acres of space in the Rangers midfield and looked very dangerous. The Gunners biggest threat, especially in the first-half.

Attendance: 18,178

Saycey

(Photos provided by Sandra Sayce and are used with permission)

The caption reads: ‘Leighton James won’t forget this moment. He’s recently joined QPR and was seeking his first goal for the club. This is it ! And Champions Liverpool are the unfortunate opposition. Other players (left to right) are Dave Needham, Ray Clemence, Peter Eastoe, Alan Hansen and Emlyn Hughes. Rangers eventually ended up winning by two-nil.’

First up are ‘Smith & Son’ – Barry Smith and his young son Danny were the managerial team that ran Third Division club Grandon Town. In a League Cup Fourth Round replay against mighty Thamesmeade at Grandon’s ground, Barry was forced to play Danny at inside-left when his squad was hit by an injury crisis. Then, in the second-half, Danny opened the scoring with a great goal, but…

This is followed by ‘The Football’ – Terry Jackson owned the football and he had made an enemy of the local bully, Jack Harker, after sending him off in a soccer match which Terry was refereeing. Eager for revenge, Harker planned to break into Terry’s house. Late one night, Terry heard a noise…

The latest on ‘Roy of the Rovers’ covers two pages, which are also in colour. When the England team manager was injured in a car crash, Roy Race…player-manager of mighty Melchester Rovers…was invited to take over the England squad for a vital, World Cup warm-up match against Holland. Now, as officials scanned the team that Roy had selected…

‘The Hard Man’ – Johnny Dexter, the recently signed midfield star of Real Granpala, a top Spanish club, was determined to score a goal in a league match at Marlona. A fierce shot from Johnny was put behind for a corner and as the corner came across…

‘Tommy’s Troubles’ – Tommy Barnes and his pal, Ginger Collins, went to a school where there was no soccer…only rugby…so they formed their own soccer team, Barnes United. One weekend there was no play because of snow and Tommy and Ginger built a sledge and went out on the hillside. They were on the sledge-run when Adam Waller and Cyril Swate, Tommy’s “enemies”, pushed them off course…

‘Simon’s Secret’ – Simon Benson was not very good at football but he sometimes played for his school. Then he had an accident and was given ‘implants’ in his left leg, right hand and ear and became a ‘bionic’ boy. He was given the chance to take part in a penalty-kicking competition at a local professional football ground…

‘The Safest Hands in Soccer’ – Gordon Stewart, brilliant young goalkeeper with Second Division Tynefield City, had played yet another outstanding game for the club, against free-scoring league leaders Barktown…and his great display had been watched by England Under 21 manager Ron Levy !

Last up is ‘Mike’s Mini Men’ – Mike Dailey had won his way through to the County Table Football Finals, where he was due to play his old friend Martin Fisher. But Mike had other things on his mind. He had left his skateboard, a Christmas present from his parents, at the local playing fields and he was afraid it had been stolen’.

On the back page is a colour pic of Charlton’s Mike Flanagan who was to join the R’s two years later.

Steve Russell

C.D. Crisp is described as ‘one of the most eminent authorities on the game’. So much so that he used to attend FA headquarters for the purpose of ‘putting aspiring referees through their paces.’

His article then goes on to recall some of his refereeing experiences:

‘During his twenty years of refereeing he has had many remarkable experiences. His escape at Reading from the attentions of an angry mob which resented his giving a penalty kick against the home side was one of the most exciting incidents of his life; for he found it necessary to proceed under escort at a swift speed, and to take refuge in a barge in which to cross the river at Caversham; his pursuers followed in another craft, still keeping up the chase.

Mr Crisp sighted an empty cab and entered it, only to leave by the opposite door. The cabman, however, had been told to drive on; and the crowd, thinking their quarry was inside, pursued it, while Mr Crisp made his way comfortably home chuckling at his fortunate escape.

At Portsmouth he had another extraordinary experience, but this happened on the field of play. A corner was being kicked, and Mr Crisp actually headed the ball through the goal. Of course the point was valueless, and the corner was re-kicked, but the incident is worthy of mention as being probably the only case on record where a referee has involuntarily increased the score.

In another match, at Cowes, Mr Crisp had to send five men off the field; these were soldiers, and travelling one day to officiate at another town nearby, in the compartment of his train he met the worst offender of all, a sergeant, whose suspension sentence had expired that day. The extraordinary thing was that this man was to play in the match for which Mr Crisp was bound.

Mr Crisp is one of those hard-working referees who refuse to take any fees for their labours. The ordinary fees for officiating, it may be explained, range from a guinea for first-class matches to five shillings for lower-rate matches; but none of the gentlemen mentioned in this article officiate, of course, in any but the former.’

Crisp was one of the founders of the Referees’ Union.

Steve Russell

“It has shocked me,” Fernandes said. “It’s an alien concept to me that someone takes someone’s salary, doesn’t put 100 per cent in, thinks, ‘Oh, we lost. No big deal. What club are we going to tonight ?’ Whatever I have done as a job, for whoever has hired me, I put in 150 per cent. It’s in my character. If I am taking someone else’s money, then I am going to work bloody hard for that person.”

“I haven’t said it throughout the season because it wasn’t right to be said, but it hurts me when I saw some of the players who didn’t feel the way I felt. In their case, it should be worse because this is their job, it’s their life.”

“It was probably the low point for me when I saw the reaction of some of the players. We want players that want to play for us. Players that want to win. Players who get disappointed like I do when we lose. It’s been heart-breaking for me when we lose. I don’t want to go out. I just want to stay at home.”

Fernandes did not mention names but QPR have not concealed their annoyance at the behaviour of certain players. Jose Bosingwa refused to sit on the bench for one match shortly before Christmas because he was unhappy at being a substitute. He was fined two weeks’ wages (£130,000) and, according to manager Harry Redknapp, is on a higher salary than any player at Tottenham.

Bosingwa was also caught on camera smiling as the QPR players left the pitch after drawing with Reading on Sunday, although Redknapp did later excuse that gesture.

There was further anger from some at pictures last week of Julio Cesar going to David Luiz’s birthday party dressed as the Chelsea defender on the night QPR’s relegation could have been sealed.

Allegations also emerged in March – furiously denied by Redknapp – of a training trip to Dubai that was likened to a “stag party”.

Redknapp did say in December that he had seen things which “disturbed” him in the attitude of some of his squad and claimed that the club’s owners had “their pants pulled down” with what they were paying certain players.

While Fernandes’s blunt appraisal yesterday will earn some sympathy from supporters, it still reflects badly on his own performance in the transfer market.

There is also the question of how the team will react to Fernandes’s outburst, with many of the players likely to remain at the club next season after being put on lucrative long-term contracts.

Much of the damage was clearly done under Mark Hughes when the club began the season by picking up only four points in 12 games and Fernandes now wants Redknapp to lead the club out of the Championship.

“I noticed everything and I am a little bit wiser for it now,” said Fernandes, who had a two-hour meeting with Redknapp on Monday, during which Fernandes re-affirmed the continued commitment of his fellow shareholders who crucially include the billionaire Mittal family.

Loic Remy, who has an £8 million release clause, will almost certainly be sold and QPR will listen to offers for many other players, although it will clearly be difficult to find clubs willing to match their wages.

Steve Cotterill, who has been assisting Redknapp, will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

There is a desire to keep defender Chris Samba, who admitted that he had struggled to find fitness after joining QPR in January from Anzhi Makhachkala.

It will leave QPR facing an enormous challenge to meet financial regulations in the Championship that require clubs not to lose more than a total of £8 million a year. QPR lost £23 million in the last accounting year.

Jeremy Wilson and Ben Rumsby – The Telegraph

Subs Not Used: Cesar, Ben Haim, Park, Derry

Attendance: 23,388 (including 1,601 R’s fans)

In the end Reading and Queen’s Park Rangers conspired to put each other out of their misery. On a day when both knew that nothing less than a victory was needed to keep their faint hopes of avoiding relegation alive, all they could manage was the most humdrum of goalless draws. Devoid of ideas and playing without any real sense of urgency, it felt like both sets of players had no desire to prolong the agony.

Even if QPR and Reading win their final three matches – and it has to be said that, on this evidence, there is more chance of Luis Suarez winning the FIFA Fair Play award – it would not be enough for them to catch Wigan Athletic or Aston Villa, one of whom is guaranteed to reach 35 points because they meet at the DW Stadium on the final day.

The atmosphere in the closing moments here was strangely subdued. There were no fans pictured in tears at the final whistle, just an air of resignation among both sets of supporters that the inevitable had happened. A return to the Championship had been on the cards for weeks and this was merely a case of hammering the final nail into the coffin.

For Reading, who have picked up only two points from their past 10 league games and paid the price for chronic under-investment in the summer, the promise of up to £60m in parachute payments should allow the club to come back stronger. For QPR, that windfall will not come close to making the numbers stack up on a balance sheet that showed close to £90m of debt before this season’s financial madness.

Their scattergun approach in the transfer market has lined the pockets of agents and players alike, but left the supporters – the people that really matter – feeling short-changed. Mark Hughes made a disastrous start to the season, failing to win any of the opening 12 matches, but Redknapp, who has averaged less than a point per game since taking over in November, knows that he cannot be absolved from blame.

The QPR manager was being polite when he described this contest as “mundane”. The opening 45 minutes were more like a pre-season friendly in terms of the tempo. As for the quality of the football, there were times when it felt as though the game should have been kicking off on Sunday morning rather than Sunday afternoon. One over-hit pass that Stephane Mbia played in the direction of Jay Bothroyd at the end of the first-half summed up a match that everyone involved with will be keen to erase from their memory.

There was an alarming lack of conviction about both teams, in particular in front of goal, where QPR have now gone 4 hours and 35 minutes without scoring. They have averaged less than a goal a game since Redknapp took over, which helps to explain why they never came close to turning things around and climbing to safety.

Adel Taarabt, who is joint top scorer with five goals, is a mercurial talent, but this will go down as another one of those afternoons when he was infuriating rather than inspirational. Two wonderful chances were squandered early in the second-half, the first almost apologetically hit into the ground and into the arms of Alex McCarthy, the Reading goalkeeper, after the Moroccan was set up by Loic Remy. When the second opportunity was volleyed horribly wide, it was a matter of time before the substitutes’ board came out and his number came up.

Earlier in the game Esteban Granero clipped the top of the crossbar with a whipped free kick and Jay Bothroyd lobbed wide, after breaking away in the inside-right channel, but QPR created little else of note. Although Pavel Pogrebnyak came close to scoring in the first-half, when the Russian was denied by the combination of Rob Green and Jose Bosingwa during a goalmouth scramble, Reading’s best moments came after the interval.

Pogrebnyak will wonder how he failed to add to his disappointing return of five league goals this season. He curled beyond the far upright, after beating Bosingwa with embarrassing ease, and wasted an even better chance when he headed Chris Gunter’s inviting centre into the ground and wide.

Adam Le Fondre, a second-half substitute, later nodded over the bar and Sean Morrison saw his 87th minute header from Jobi  McAnuff’s corner tipped over by Green as Reading forlornly chased a late winner.

Stuart James – The Guardian