FORMER Blues boss Jim Magilton believes there is more quality in the QPR side he inherited than the Ipswich Town squad he left behind.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

FORMER Blues boss Jim Magilton believes there is more quality in the QPR side he inherited than the Ipswich Town squad he left behind.

Magilton, who spent more than �12m over three years building the Ipswich Town side that failed to make the play-offs during his tenure, praised his current charges following their 3-0 win over League One side Southampton.

He was quoted the official QPR club website as saying: “There is more quality here without any shadow of a doubt. There's more quality all over the park and more experience too.

"The application and attitude of the players has been first class from the moment I arrived.

"We're now hoping to get off to a good start and build from there. I feel we're ready for next week now - the players have set the standard."

Meanwhile, Magilton looks set to sign former Ipswich and Norwich keeper Andy Marshall who was released by Coventry City at the end of last season.

QPR visit Portman Road on December 28.

Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has praised former Black Cats boss Roy Keane who is now in charge at Ipswich Town.

Keane came in for some stick after he left Sunderland last December, 18 months after he had got them promoted and kept them in the top flight for a season.

Caretaker boss Rocky Sbragia kept the club in the Premier League, before Bruce arrived from Wigan Athletic to take over from him, and the former Latics manager says the criticism of Keane is unfair.

Bruce said: “Make no mistake, Roy Keane did a fantastic job here. They were, what, bottom of the Championship?

“He kept them up then got them up. That is some going. That is difficult, but he did it very successfully.

"To be fair to Roy, when he was here for a couple of years they were in the Championship, then getting out of it. It's always difficult in your first year or so to try and attract the calibre of player you want to the club.

"I can understand his frustration. I don't think it's the football club. Unfortunately, it's geographical. Plonk this football club in the middle of London and you'd have no problem. Up where we are, it's difficult.”

Bruce's move for Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent has stalled recently, after looking close to completion during the last few days. Nevertheless, Bruce concluded by asserting that the club were still working hard to reinforce the squad before the Premier League's new season begins on August 15.

"We're trying to improve the squad. We've obviously got some good players here but you've got to try and keep improving, which is difficult.

Bruce was last night closing in on former Ipswich Town striker Darren Bent who completed his medical last night.

The clubs are reported to have agreed a �12million fee - allowing Bent to finally move and become Sunderland's record signing.

Bent would join England Under-21 striker Fraizer Campbell, who has moved from Manchester United, Albanian midfielder Lorik Cana from Marseille, and Paraguay defender Paulo da Silva as new signings at the Stadium of Light.

The fee would eclipse the �9million spent by Sunderland on Scotland keeper Craig Gordon who they bought from Hearts. There is no add-on fee for Ipswich.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk