QPR defender yet to enter contract negotiations

BY EDMUND BRACK
edmund@slpmedia.co.uk

QPR defender Morgan Fox has revealed talks have yet to start over extending his contract with the Championship side.

The former Charlton Athletic youngster joined the west Londoners as a free agent from Stoke City ahead of the 2023-24 season.

The left-back, who has predominantly played as a centre-back for the Hoops, has featured 43 times and been a key figure under Marti Cifuentes at Loftus Road.

“No, not at the moment,” Fox, 31, told the South London Press when asked whether negotiations had taken place over fresh terms. “I’m just focusing on my football.

“I have equalled the number of games I played last season and I’m looking to get a few more in before the end of the season.

“The most important thing for me is being on the pitch and seeing where we go.

“I have really loved my time here. Being from the south of England, we’re really settled where we are.

“In terms of the group and the club, it has been brilliant to be around. We all push each other.

“We will see what happens.”

QPR find themselves edging towards Championship safety with games in hand, something which has not been the case in recent seasons, with Cifuentes and his predecessor, Gareth Ainsworth, both keeping the club up by five and six points in the past two seasons.

Fox said: “When we set out at the start of the season, it was to look up rather than down. The quicker we can achieve safety, it’s important.

“At this moment in time it’s been a positive season and we can turn it into a good season with the games to come. We’re still on track to meet some of our in-house targets from the start of the season.

“We’re looking to finish strongly during the rest of the season.”

Cifuentes’ side found themselves bottom of the Championship in late November after just one win in their opening 10 games.

But a run of one defeat in 13 saw the west Londoners jump up to four points off the play-offs after a 2-1 win at Hull in January.

They were unable to keep their form up during the second half of the campaign and have slumped back down to mid-table.

“Football changes so quickly,” said Fox. “Prior to being around the play-offs, nobody would have seen us in that position and suddenly you’re there – that’s the nature of the Championship. You put a few games together back to back and you can make a big jump.

“It was nice to be there while we were in and around it, but in our group we just took every game as it came.

“Injuries to key players at key times [have played a part in the form]. We just played some really good teams in the run we have just come off.

“There are no easy games in the Championship. We will look back and have a reflection at the end of the season. It has been patchy.”

Cifuentes is closing in on the end of his first full season at Loftus Road.

The Spanish boss, 42, has been sought-after in the past by teams higher up after he guided QPR to safety last season, but he signed a new contract in September.

“Foundations are key in any team,” added Fox.

“It’s important that we build on any positives that we had. We finished last season strongly and we brought that into this year.

“Football has changed so much. I played under managers 10 or 12 years ago who did things completely differently to the way we do things now.

“The way that Marti works is really good. Training is at a higher level every day. I’m always asking questions and looking to learn.”

The key standout in the second half of the season has been Southampton loanee Ronnie Edwards.

Ex-Peterborough defender Edwards, 21, has featured at the back and as a midfielder under Cifuentes, with many fans wanting him to return for a full campaign next year.

“The way he has slotted into the group has impressed me the most,”

“He’s a really good lad and you can see the quality that he brings.

“When you talk to him, you realise that he’s played so many games already in his career – that’s really important.

“It’s something that I did when I was younger. I wanted to go out and play to experience men’s football as quickly as possible.

“Ronnie has done that and I’m sure he would say it has played a big role in his development.”

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PICTURE: ROB AVIS