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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Warren Neil Finally Listed on The Club's Site

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A couple of weeks after Warren Neil's coaching assistance was reported on the boards and then in the local press; and a few days after manager John Gregory finally made reference to it in some statements...Warren Neil has now been added to the club directory. (Meanwhile the suspended Richard Hill and Tony Roberts, who it was reported had been suspended (or departed) remain listed as coaches)

Official Site -First Team Coaching Staff

Manager - John Gregory
Coach - Richard Hill & Warren Neill
Sports Performance Manager - Joe Dunbar
Goalkeeper Coach - Tony Roberts
Official Site

From March 19 - QPR OFFICIAL SITE - A HELPING HAND
The Club can confirm that former R's defender Warren Neill is currently assisting Manager John Gregory.
However, contrary to reports in today's national press, Neill is only working on a part-time basis and has not replaced assistant manager Richard Hill.
Hill is currently suspended by the Club, pending an on-going internal enquiry into his involvement in the behind-closed-doors friendly against the Chinese Olympic team on February 9th.
Gregory told www.qpr.co.uk: "Warren is doing an old friend a favour for the time being.
"He's a very experienced guy and is QPR through and through. He spent three years here as our Assistant Academy Director and is certainly no stranger to coaching on the training ground. The situation regarding Richard Hill hasn't changed.''
Neill, 44, is a former Rangers team-mate of Gregory and a lifelong fan of the club. He was an apprentice at Loftus Road before making 224 appearances for the Rs between 1980 and 1988.
He played in the 1982 FA Cup final replay against Tottenham and the Milk Cup Final against Oxford four years later.
Neill moved to Portsmouth and had a brief spell at Watford, before returning to QPR as a coach after his playing career ended. QPR

Last week: Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times on Warren Neil
JG turns to an old mate
WARREN Neill has no plans for a permanent return to QPR - despite answering John Gregory's SOS call to assist him on the training ground.
The former Rangers full-back has stepped into the breach left by the suspension of Gregory's right-hand man Richard Hill and will assume coaching duties on a short-term basis.
Neill was previously manager of QPR's successful under-19 team until the club's slide into administration - and subsequent downgrading from Academy status - cost him his job.
But Neill, who works as a London taxi driver, said: "Obviously I'll be doing something different for the next few weeks, but it's just until the end of the season.
"I've known John for along time and basically I'm just helping out a friend, simple as that. If anything happens after the end of the season, I'll think about it then."
Neill's sentiments are highly reminiscent of those voiced by another of his former QPR team-mates, Alan McDonald, when he returned to assist Gary Waddock just over a year ago.
McDonald stayed on as assistant manager when Waddock landed the top job - but was sacked, ironically to make way for Hill, after Gregory took over the hotseat in September.
Hill was suspended following an investigation into the punch-up between QPR staff and the Chinese Olympic team last month and is facing an FA charge of violent conduct.
He was also questioned by police on suspicion of actual bodily harm and, although no charges have been brought against Hill, he is highly unlikely to return to his role at Loftus Road.
Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini wants Gregory to sign a new two-year contract when his initial deal runs out, but has made it clear that no such offer will be made to Hill.
If Gregory has to appoint a new assistant, 44-year-old Neill - a veteran of more than 200 appearances in the blue and white hoops - could fit the bill.
The Acton-born right-back emerged through the ranks and made a real impact on the Rs' first team during their run to the FA Cup final of 1982, featuring in the replay against Tottenham.
He was also a key member of the side that lifted the Division Two title a year later, qualified for the UEFA Cup and also reached the Milk Cup final in 1986.
Moving to Portsmouth in 1988, he was briefly reunited with Gregory - taking his first step in management at Fratton Park - and spent another eight years on the south coast.
After finishing his career with Watford, Neill moved into coaching and led Rangers' under-19 side to the national championship final in 2001, only to be axed that summer.
But he was back in the dugout alongside Gregory for last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday, a game which saw Spanish playmaker Inigo Idiakez make his debut after signing on loan from Southampton...." Kilburn Times

Also reported last week by Dave McIntyre: Warren Neill back in the Fold -Ex defender fills the void left by departure of assistant manager - By David McIntyre/Essex Gazette

Former QPR defender Warren Neill has joined manager John Gregory's backroom team.
Neill will help Gregory until the end of the season after assistant boss Richard Hill was axed following the brawl between a QPR reserve side and the Chinese Olympic team last month.
Hill will not face police charges having been arrested after the incident, but he will face an FA charge of violent conduct and chairman Gianni Paladini does not want him back at Loftus Road.
Neill, 44, is a former Rangers team-mate of Gregory and a lifelong fan of the club.
He was an apprentice at Loftus Road before making 224 appearances for the Rs between 1980 and 1988.
He played in the 1982 FA Cup final replay against Tottenham and the Milk Cup final against Oxford four years later.
Neill moved to Portsmouth and had a brief spell at Watford before returning to QPR as a coach after his playing career ended.
He was the academy director before losing his job after Rangers went into administration in 2001. Gazette

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