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Neil Warnock wants 'five or six new signings' for Queens Park Rangers• Warnock sought advice from the Blackpool's Ian Holloway
• Targets thought to include Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell
Share24 Jamie Jackson guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 June 2011 16.52 BST Article history
Despite expressing the need to buy, Neil Warnock says the players who took QPR up must be given a chance too Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
Neil Warnock believes he requires "five or six new signings" for Queens Park Rangers to survive their first Premier League season in 15 years. The Rangers manager has also revealed he has been taking advice from Ian Holloway, whose Blackpool side were relegated on the final day of the last campaign.
"Ian Holloway said to me that he thought where they [Blackpool] made a mistake was not getting the squad big enough before the end of August, and we don't want to make that mistake if we can help it," Warnock said. "We need five or six signings, which we are desperately trying to move on. It is difficult at the moment but when the season starts we will be ready and Loftus Road will be buzzing at the rafters.
"We do need some signings but the lads that took us up deserve a chance as well. It's not just a matter of signings. I've got to get the right ones that I think will go in to the team and make the team better. I am going to persevere."
Despite his desire to recruit, though, Warnock claimed he will not be panicked into buying overseas players. With Flavio Briatore among the club's shareholders, QPR have been linked to a number of the Italian's countrymen – including 34-year-old Milan defender Nicola Legrottaglie and 37-year-old Marco Materazzi of Internazionale.
"I am not against foreign players as such – in fact there's three on my list – but some of the names we've been linked with over the past few weeks, I've either barely heard of or I'm not interested," said Warnock. "If I get a DVD sent to me and it's only got the highlights of someone's career, it goes straight in the bin. If it's got an entire game and that player's part in it then I'll have a look, or one of my staff will, and then we'll follow it up in person."
While Jay Bothroyd, who is a free agent, Blackpool's DJ Campbell and Hull City's Jimmy Bullard are thought to be among Warnock's targets, the manager laughed off suggestions that Adel Taarabt, last season's Championship player of the season, will be sold.
"You take it with a pinch of salt. I read this morning he fancies Chelsea and Arsenal, so hopefully he will turn it on against these clubs and get himself a move. I'll probably have had enough of him by Christmas, so hopefully he'll score 10 or 15 goals by then and get himself a move," Warnock said before looking ahead to the new season, which QPR will begin with a home game against Bolton Wanderers.
"It doesn't matter who you play, the Premier League is where we all want to be. It's just fabulous to be involved. I think the thing is to try to play without fear. We know we're going to have one or two defeats, but it's how you bounce back – and our home record's always been good. I'm really glad I'm in the Premier League and I've got to make sure whoever plays [against] us, it's difficult for them."
Neil Warnock wants 'five or six new signings' for Queens Park Rangers• Warnock sought advice from the Blackpool's Ian Holloway
• Targets thought to include Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell
Share24 Jamie Jackson guardian.co.uk, Friday 17 June 2011 16.52 BST Article history
Despite expressing the need to buy, Neil Warnock says the players who took QPR up must be given a chance too Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian
Neil Warnock believes he requires "five or six new signings" for Queens Park Rangers to survive their first Premier League season in 15 years. The Rangers manager has also revealed he has been taking advice from Ian Holloway, whose Blackpool side were relegated on the final day of the last campaign.
"Ian Holloway said to me that he thought where they [Blackpool] made a mistake was not getting the squad big enough before the end of August, and we don't want to make that mistake if we can help it," Warnock said. "We need five or six signings, which we are desperately trying to move on. It is difficult at the moment but when the season starts we will be ready and Loftus Road will be buzzing at the rafters.
"We do need some signings but the lads that took us up deserve a chance as well. It's not just a matter of signings. I've got to get the right ones that I think will go in to the team and make the team better. I am going to persevere."
Despite his desire to recruit, though, Warnock claimed he will not be panicked into buying overseas players. With Flavio Briatore among the club's shareholders, QPR have been linked to a number of the Italian's countrymen – including 34-year-old Milan defender Nicola Legrottaglie and 37-year-old Marco Materazzi of Internazionale.
"I am not against foreign players as such – in fact there's three on my list – but some of the names we've been linked with over the past few weeks, I've either barely heard of or I'm not interested," said Warnock. "If I get a DVD sent to me and it's only got the highlights of someone's career, it goes straight in the bin. If it's got an entire game and that player's part in it then I'll have a look, or one of my staff will, and then we'll follow it up in person."
While Jay Bothroyd, who is a free agent, Blackpool's DJ Campbell and Hull City's Jimmy Bullard are thought to be among Warnock's targets, the manager laughed off suggestions that Adel Taarabt, last season's Championship player of the season, will be sold.
"You take it with a pinch of salt. I read this morning he fancies Chelsea and Arsenal, so hopefully he will turn it on against these clubs and get himself a move. I'll probably have had enough of him by Christmas, so hopefully he'll score 10 or 15 goals by then and get himself a move," Warnock said before looking ahead to the new season, which QPR will begin with a home game against Bolton Wanderers.
"It doesn't matter who you play, the Premier League is where we all want to be. It's just fabulous to be involved. I think the thing is to try to play without fear. We know we're going to have one or two defeats, but it's how you bounce back – and our home record's always been good. I'm really glad I'm in the Premier League and I've got to make sure whoever plays [against] us, it's difficult for them."