Williams returns for third spell at Loftus Road
QPR have moved to strengthen their team with the short term loan signing of Tommy Williams from Peterborough United – the third time the player has joined Rangers on a temporary contract.
Williams was in superb form for Peterborough at Loftus Road earlier this season, setting up a goal for Aaron McLean and turning in an eye catching performance, however with Posh currently bottom of the table and his contract up for renewal at the end of the season QPR have been able to get their man today on a two month loan deal. Depending on how Williams does in this his third spell with the club he may yet be signed permanently in January. The R’s had been very short of cover in his favoured left back role, highlighted on Saturday when Peter Ramage had to fill in for Gary Borrowdale in the win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Williams was an important part of Ian Holloway’s QPR teams in two separate loan spells in the 2002/03 play off season and then again as the R’s won promotion in 2003/04. He is best remembered by QPR fans, rather harshly it must be said considering his decent overall performance level, for failing to square a ball in the play off final at Cardiff that would have resulted in a certain goal for Paul Furlong.
Williams told the official website: “I'm really excited, I enjoyed my time here previously and I can't wait to pull on the jersey and hopefully cement my place in the side. There is a very strong squad of players here, but the club's ambitions match my own and I genuinely believe we can build on the fantastic start the lads have made to the season."
Manager Jim Magilton said: “I just felt we needed a bit more competition in that department. It is no reflection on Gary Borrowdale or Peter Ramage, who have both played in that left back position for us this season, but when a player of Tommy's quality becomes available, it's too good an opportunity to turn down.It was a no brainer in that respect. He has got a quality left foot and as he showed here earlier in the season, he's got decent pace and a great delivery from wide areas. It is a short term deal initially, but he's out of contract in the summer and he's got a great opportunity to impress us.”
Meanwhile two of the existing squad members at Loftus Road have been named in the division’s team of the week today following the weekend win at Sheffield Wednesday. Goal scorers Kaspars Gorkss and Jay Simpson have both been selected after scoring the crucial goals for Rangers at Hillsborough and former R Ian Evatt was also picked. The full team is Julian Speroni (Palace), Danny Simpson (Newcastle), Ian Evatt (Blackpool), Kaspars Gorkss (QPR), Lloyd Doyley (Watford), Tom Cleverley (Watford), Darren Pratley (Swansea), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Darren Ambrose (Palace), Rob Hulse (Derby), Jay Simpson (QPR).
In former QPR news today Martin Allen has been cleared of the allegations that he racially abused a doorman at a nightclub, however he remains on gardening leave from his job at Cheltenham Town in League Two.
