Football: DON'T QUIT

MARC BIRCHAM fears QPR manager Ian Holloway will be tempted away from the debt-ridden club unless a fund-raising drive by fans proves successful.

Rangers supporters are being asked to dig deep this Christmas and donate money at the clash with Colchester or risk watching key players sold off to appease the board.

But Bircham, himself being watched by Tottenham, insists the club should be more worried about losing the boss who has taken Rangers to the verge of promotion.

He said: "What's upsetting is that it must be hard for the manager because his contract is up in the summer, and the club should be worried about that. Ollie could coach at a higher level and would be the first name on any club's list. They should sort him out because he started a revolution at this club.

"He's the most honest man I've ever worked for and he doesn't want this to distract us from winning promotion, because we've been on such a high and we've got a great team here."

Bircham is a die-hard Rangers fan and even wears his Hoops shirt under his international jersey when he plays for Canada.

But, along with utility man Martin Rowlands, he was the first name linked with a move when QPR chief executive David Davies revealed the club would have to consider offers last week. Bircham said: "I had 25 missed calls on my phone saying QPR wanted to sell me after that! But when the Spurs thing came up Ollie told me I would be leaving over his dead body.

"If things are so bad they have to sell me there's nothing I can do, but as a QPR fan I'd be devastated.

"Ideally Roman Abramovic would buy QPR and I'd be able to play for them for 10 years. But I can't give myself a new contract. Every day we joke with each other in training, saying 'Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow'."

Holloway has already pledged to contribute to the scheme set up by fans to raise much-needed funding - and he reckons their fanatical support could just rescue QPR.

He said: "I set off with a dream and I want to believe in it. My players see my commitment to that week in, week out. I believe this club is going places and I believe in its supporters.

"Football clubs should belong to the fans and I think our fans can save this club."

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