GOING UP, GOING UP GOING U......STAYING WHERE WE ARE?

While football fans of a certain age may remember the last time Queens Park Rangers were in the top flight of English football, it will be refreshing for the game in this country if they make the inevitable step up a division. Or will they?

The story which has been festering for a while relates to the signing of Alejandro Faurlin way back in 2009 and the question of third-party ownership. In principle this third-party ownership nonsense is exactly that: complete and utter rubbish. Either a club owns a player, or they don't. The catchphrase "if it ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind...

If however, they are found guilty of breaking any rules then the sanction (should you choose to believe a certain tabloid newspaper) could be a 15-point deduction. This would see the Championship leaders drop into the play-offs with both Cardiff and Norwich set to take the two automatic promotion slots. This scenario would be disastrous for a club that would have sealed a definite return to the land of milk and honey. Denying a club a promotion spot is nothing new and, as a Swindon Town fan, the events of 1990 still grate to this day.

After beating Sunderland 1-0 in the 1990 play-off final at Wembley, Swindon were all set to take their place alongside the elite of the First Division. However, the game's governing body found the club guilty of financial irregularities specifically making illegal payments to players. While bigger clubs often practised this sort of thing, making an example the division's newcomers was the perfect way to sending a warning shot across the bows of the big boys. Swindon paid the price: members of the board were jailed and the club were demoted two divisions which, after an appeal, was reduced to just one demotion, effectively keeping the club in the Second Division.

Rumour has it that schemes like this were behind the top flight's split from the football league. So if you read between the lines, Swindon Town Football Club were one of the reasons that the Premier League exists today! The inquest is due to report its finding over the next week or so but one thing's for sure if you're a QPR supporter: it's squeaky bum time on and off the pitch.



(pictures courtesy of footballunited.com and http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/ )

THE WONDER OF GIGGS

Welcome to the new, re-vamped (sort of) version of the newly named Trequartista blog *pause for applause*. With a renewed outlook on blogging, it seems rather appropriate to write about someone who has quite simply been Mr Consistent throughout his career.

Giggsy, The Welsh Wizard - whatever you wish to call him, Ryan Giggs is a name synonymous with Manchester United and their protracted period of success. At the ripe old age of 37, he is still playing his part in Sir Alex's trophy-winning machine.

I remember him in his prime bamboozling full-backs with the magical combination of skill and pace (as well as those quite frankly awful adverts for Reebok boots in various football magazines). And who could forget that wonderful solo goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa Park.

It was amazing to think that against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter final, he provided the assist for all three of United's goals across the two ties AND played all 180 minutes. He puts his longevity down to yoga. If he has an ounce of business sense about him, then expect to see "Ryan Giggs Yoga" DVDs coming to all good retailers sometime soon.

It's this attitude to the game that has made him so endearing to the wider umbrella of football supporters. His discipline on and off the pitch should be an example to professionals everywhere. If more of his fellow players adopted his approach then footballers would enhance their battered reputations. Sadly, in a world dictated by money, a combination of red top newspapers and a play-boy lifestyle will ensure that most high-profile footballers won't follow in Giggs's footsteps.

So all the more reason to celebrate the career of Ryan Giggs! The last in a dying breed of down-to-earth, black boot wearing, old-fashioned, no nonsense, honest footballers.

(Picture taken from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)