JG: I'd almost given up hope

From: The Kilburn Times

Lee Camp

By Ben Kosky

QPR boss John Gregory admits he was close to abandoning his pursuit of Lee Camp last week and bidding for another goalkeeper.

Gregory finally landed his top transfer target last Friday, paying Derby £300,000 to bring the highly-rated England under-21 international back to Loftus Road after two successful loan spells.

But the Rangers manager acknowledged: "We were heading towards a period when I thought I'd have to get somebody and forget all about Lee Camp. By the end of this week I'd have had to do something else.

"Derby basically said they wanted to keep him and he wasn't for sale. I wasn't too sure whether to believe them or not and whether to start looking elsewhere, but we did.

"We've always had a Plan B and indeed a Plan C, people we were looking at if they need arose. It was a bit cat and mouse and I had a sneaking suspicion Derby were originally trying to get someone else they couldn't get.

"So we had to hold fire and play the waiting game, then their Plan B kicked in and fortunately it all came together."

Derby's purchase of Ipswich keeper Lewis Price finally cleared the way for Camp to move to Loftus Road, turning his back on the newly-promoted Rams in search of first-team football.

Camp, who turns 23 later this month, told the Times: "It was a tough decision leaving my home town, but it was there for all to see that I wasn't going to be number one at Derby.

"The opportunity to play football was one I couldn't turn down. I think it was dragged out more by the press than the two clubs involved but, when it's out of your hands, it can become slightly frustrating.

"I have to thank QPR for their patience - they were fantastic during the time this was going on. They could easily have pulled the plug and signed someone else, but they supported me and hopefully I can repay that."

Camp amassed almost a century of appearances for Derby, but has been a hugely popular player at QPR ever since arriving on loan in 2004 and playing a key role in guiding Ian Holloway's side to promotion.

As Rams boss, Gregory gave the keeper his professional debut and he was quick to send for Camp last season, again with enormous success, after Paul Jones and Simon Royce fell from favour.

Camp added: "There's maybe a fear factor in being in new surroundings and not knowing anyone when you start, but I know the club and the area, the manager and many of the boys well, so that wasn't a problem.

"When you get so much support from the fans and everyone inside the club, it makes life a lot easier. This is certainly a place where I've enjoyed my time in the past and that's all I ever want to do, enjoy my football at QPR.

"I think our form towards the end of last season was championship form and if we can take that into the new season, you never know what could happen."

Gregory quickly followed the capture of Camp by paying Charlton £200,000 for 19-year-old midfielder Simon Walton, bringing his number of permanent signings this summer to five.

That will be complemented by two loan deals today, when Chelsea duo Michael Mancienne and Ben Sahar - both of whom played in Rangers' friendlies against Wycombe and Harrow Borough - formally put pen to paper.

Gregory is expected to add a third Chelsea loanee to the squad before the start of the season, possibly attacking midfielder Scott Sinclair, but the manager admitted: "That's it now, the money's all gone.

"The chairman said I could have £500,000 of the proceeds and spend it whichever way I felt fit, whether it was 10 players or one player. I would have paid the whole £500,000 for Lee Camp, trust me, without question.

"Fortunately we got him at a reasonable price and I was able to spend some more money on Simon Walton, who's still only 19 and I think he's got a big future ahead of him.

"We might have to go into the loan market again as the season progresses, but this will probably be the squad that starts for me."

Rangers currently have another Chelsea player on trial - midfielder James Simmonds, who also played at both Adams Park and Earlsmead.

Source: Kilburn Times