JAKE BIDS TO STAY
Defender Jake Bidwell is eager to be a part of the QPR revival
QPR defender Jake Bidwell says it’s painful to contemplate leaving the club he cherishes.
The left-back’s third season as a fixture in the R’s side is in danger of being overshadowed by uncertainty over his future, with his deal expiring this summer and talks on ice.
Bidwell has been in west London for over eight years, spanning a spell at Brentford, and has no plans to leave – but it may not be in his hands.
“There’s been no contact at all from the club,” said the 25-year-old.
Rocking
“I’m sure as and when the club are ready, I’ll hear something. If not, I’ll have to deal with it.
“When Loftus Road is rocking as it has been recently, it’s hard to think about leaving and I have no intentions of going elsewhere.
“I didn’t move to QPR to stay in west London, I moved to play for the club, but I’m happy in the area.
“My first 18 months or so were a bit tricky, the club was in transition, but we’re coming out of the other side. We’re building something.
“I really want to be a part of it moving forward.”
The R’s take a break from league action this afternoon when they make their seasonal bow in the FA Cup, though they do face a fellow Championship outfit at Loftus Road – league leaders Leeds United.
A proud Evertonian, Bidwell has a deeply ingrained respect for the Cup having come through the ranks with the five-time winners.
The Hoops, however, don’t boast a distinguished record – they haven’t won a game in the FA Cup for five years with just two triumphs in the last 17 seasons.
Bidwell, who signed his scholarship papers with the Toffees weeks after their Cup final defeat to Chelsea in 2009, wants to help his side turn around another record.
“It’s been highlighted we haven’t had a decent cup run for a while, so as a squad it’s something we’re aware of and motivated to put right,” he said.
“We’ve managed to right some wrongs this year – we won at Forest for the first time ever earlier this season. Hopefully we can do it again in the FA Cup.
“How much priority clubs give it can depend on how the season’s panning out, whether you might go up or down, but with our momentum and league position we want to have a run.”
Pulsating
In the throes of a pulsating promotion push, the FA Cup isn’t likely to be a priority for Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds side.
But Bidwell is wary of the threat posed by Kemar Roofe, having watched the red-hot striker score no fewer than six goals in his last three outings against the R’s.
“His record suggests he’s the best player in the Championship and he seems to like playing against us,” he said. “He’s someone we’ll have to keep an eye on.
“Even if they rest a few players, Bielsa is an experienced manager and they’ll be competitive.”
Steve McClaren’s tenure at Loftus Road has seen the R’s gradually improve after a sticky start and a festive flourish of five games unbeaten has led them to the fringes of the play-off race.
And Bidwell concludes a return to a four-man defence has helped him rebuild his confidence after a shaky start to life at the club under Ian Holloway.
“I think Steve is getting more out of me than Ollie did,” he said. “Going back to a back four on a consistent basis has helped me and I’m sure it’s helped Angel (Rangel) on the right-hand side as well.
“Being part of a team with confidence, it’s easy to jump to that conclusion but I feel like I’m improving. Not many people expected us to go and get results against Forest (won 1-0 away), Middlesbrough (won 2-1 at home) and Villa (drew 2-2 away) but we’ve proven we can mix it with the big boys.”
●QPR in the Community Trust, which works with 23,000 people from the age of three to 90 annually, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.