For some time it looked like there would be very little to write about this week then things kicked into gear on Thursday with Rangers announcing a pre-season tour, the departures of two players and one member of the backroom team. Any new signings? ‘Fraid not.

We are going to be on the telly though, and the BBC at that. As part of Auntie’s new deal with the Football League they will be showing ten live Championship games this season and our trip to Derby has been chosen for broadcast in October. As a result the game moves back to half past five on the 24th and will be seen live on BBC2 no less.

QPR announced a pre-season tour on Thursday with the squad decamping to Slovenia later this month. As a result two more games have now been added to the five friendly fixtures already confirmed. On Wednesday July 15th we will meet Slovak First Division side NK Celje whilst the second game will be played four days later against NK Karlovac who will play their football in the Croatian top division this coming season.

Our fitness coach John Harbin left the club this week after only a year at Loftus Road. Harbin arrived as part of Iain Dowie’s backroom team and looks set to join up with Paulo Sousa at Swansea. For me this is a big loss, Harbin had the squad incredibly fit last season so hopefully a more than adequate replacement can be found.

Another member of the coaching staff possibly moving on is Gareth Ainsworth, he has been linked with a move back to old club Port Vale in a player/coach capacity. Ainsworth looks to have been frozen out of the management set up at Loftus Road and is desperate to continue his coaching education.

He told The Ealing Gazette, “As far as I know, I'm wanted as a player next season if Rangers want to keep me but of course I would like to be involved in coaching in the future."

The big news this week though was the much rumoured departures of Damien Delaney and Lee Camp finally happening. Both were confirmed today with Delaney moving to Ipswich and Camp on the verge of switch to Nottingham Forest.

Delaney becomes compulsive Irishman collector Roy Keane’s second signing as Ipswich boss inking a two year contract after joining for a top secret amount whilst Camp is set to complete his transfer to Forest by the weekend after the two clubs agreed a fee today.

Delaney told the BBC that ambition played a part in his decision to move on.

"I genuinely thought QPR would be a successful team, obviously it hasn't panned out the way everyone hoped it would have done," he said. "I think Ipswich have a great chance of being successful, hopefully they will be successful this year and hopefully I'll be part of it."

Camp enjoyed a productive loan spell at The City Ground last season after falling out of favour at Loftus Road. He is Billy Davies’ fourth summer signing as Forest look to have a real crack the division this season. Hopefully for their sake they won’t bring in any competition.

Whilst both departures have been on the boil for weeks it now leaves us with one goalkeeper, The Scarlet Pimpernel at left back and a clutch of ten goal a season strikers. Some signings must be just around the corner, surely? 

ron@qprnet.com