UNNAMED FAN TO INVEST?

from the Ealing Gazette 23 January 2004

by David McIntyre

QPR are closing in on the signing of striker Jamie Cureton. Rangers boss Ian Holloway is desperate to capture the 28-year-old, who played under him at Bristol Rovers. 

And as the Gazette went to press yesterday (Thursday), Holloway was also attempting to sign winger Peter Hynes on loan from Aston Villa. 

Hynes, 20, could play against Bournemouth this weekend if the deal is pushed through in time. QPR led the queue of clubs hunting Cureton in the summer but Holloway missed out when the player was offered a lucrative deal by South Korean outfit Busan Icons. 

Cureton recently arrived back in England having failed to settle abroad and several clubs have shown an interest. He has remained in contact with Holloway and would like to join him at Loftus Road, but his return to the country coincided with chairman Nick Blackburn and chief executive David Davies declaring there was a cash crisis at Rangers and Cureton seemed destined to move elsewhere. 

Budgetary constraints could still be a barrier. Earlier this week Cureton looked certain to make the move but now Rangers are calculating the loss of revenue resulting from Tuesday’s shock exit from the LDV Vans Trophy at the hands of Division Three strugglers Southend. 

The setback left the board balancing the financial repercussions of missing out on the final with Holloway’s pleas to let him bring in Cureton, who he sees as the missing piece in the jigsaw in the battle for promotion. 

But despite apparent financial worries not to mention the fact Rangers already have quality strikers in Kevin Gallen, Paul Furlong and the currently sidelined Tony Thorpe imminent investment means Holloway is looking increasingly likely to be given the green light to get his man. 

Arab businessman Haleem Kherallah has admitted defeat in his long-running attempt to buy a major stake in the club after his latest offer was rejected. 

But money is coming via another source. A supporter, who does not want to be named at this stage, is about to follow in the footsteps of directors Kevin McGrath and Bill Power by injecting cash in return for a place on the board. 

It is exactly the kind of investment the club have been desperate for and, subject to board approval, it will pave the way for Holloway to sign a player he has wanted for a long time. Cureton is likely to sign a contract until the end of the season. 

Holloway’s priority this week has been to make a loan signing, with Hynes his top target. The Dublin-born wide-man has just completed a loan spell at Doncaster, where he made five substitute appearances. 

His arrival in time for the Bournemouth game would compensate for the loss of Rs winger Kevin McLeod, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. 

 

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