Press article:

Peacock leaves QPR - 17/07/2002

Veteran midfielder Gavin Peacock has left Queens Park Rangers by mutual consent. Peacock's future is uncertain, particularly as he is nursing a knee problem that will need several weeks' rest. "He is a great person and I wish him all the best," said QPR manager Ian Holloway. "Gavin has had a knee problem. It keeps swelling up and he will get that seen to before he knows what he will do next. "He's been unlucky with injuries. Charlton nearly signed him when he was on loan there last season but he had a calf injury at the time. "He'll be taking some time to see what he is going to do and I really hope he sorts something out for himself, because he deserves it."

Peacock started his career with QPR and returned to the club in 1996 after an initial spell on loan from Chelsea. Rangers had just dropped out of the Premiership and were strongly fancied to make an immediate return to the top flight. "I haven't come here to be playing First Division football five years from now," Peacock declared at the time. Five years later the club were in Division Two. Peacock's £900,000 signing was one of a number of ambitious transfers QPR pulled off in a desperate and ultimately disastrous attempt to get back to the Premiership.

But while the player's high wages were a burden for Rangers, he proved to be of more value than other big-money signings such as Mike Sheron and John Spencer. Peacock was a key player for the R's before struggling for fitness and form during the last couple of years. The summer signing of Marc Bircham signalled the end of his QPR career and his departure had been on the cards for some time.

BBC Sport Online

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