As some of you may have noticed, Varc's Ex Files slot on QPRnet has been somewhat quiet of late. This is obviously not because the recent Rangers players have been too good to drop into the non league hall of infamy, but more because of my Stefan Moore like lethargy (I will of course blame marriage and the birth of my first son) when it comes to getting in front of a PC!  

However, the Ex Files itself has always been a popular column since I started it a few years ago, so when Paul Hoop contacted us asking if he could take it over, the offer was grabbed with both hands.

So from now on Paul will lead you on a winding road following the Richard Paquette's and Paul Bruce's of this world, while we all continue to laugh and cry at their errrr... success. I will continue to feed any information to Paul as I find it and I implore you to as well...

Enjoy the new look Ex Files....

Varc

So then after a long break the ex-files has returned, hopefully for a regular run! That of course depends on you guys if you like it and if you don’t; well then I will do a disappearing act quicker than Steve McClaren! 

For the addition I’m going to concentrating on former Rangers players currently plying their trade in the division below us, League 1. 

Let’s start off with Gillingham, you might as well rename them Gillingham Park Rangers with the amount of ex Rangers stars currently playing for them! No more then SIX ex R’s are currently in Kent (there must be something in the air down there!)  

Steve Lomas is currently out of favour with boss Mark Stimson, the former Northern Ireland skipper and Rangers stand in captain has only made 8 appearances in the league this season and my sources at the Kent club tell me he’s on his way out in January, it’s a shame really I think he could still do a job in the championship for someone.  

In goal you can find Simon Royce still defying the years and performing very well for the Gills. Royce who was a loyal servant to rangers and gave 100% in every game. He has made 18 league appearances so far this season.  

Dennis Oli has been on loan to Gillingham from Blue Square Premier side Grays Athletic, Oli was undoubtedly extremely talented when with us, indeed I remember watching him regularly in the youth team a couple of years ago and he always used to stand out from the others. Oli had real pace to burn as well as a good left foot.  

Also joining the Gills is Leroy Griffiths, I mean who could forget THAT goal against Chelsea in pre season? After that great things were expected from Leroy and I think many of us were thinking about how good he may have been. After making a mug out of Desailly he has had spells at none other than SEVEN different clubs!( Lewes, Grays, Aldershot, Fisher Athletic, Margate, Hampton and Richmond Borough and Gillingham) in case you were wondering! I always thought that he had a slight attitude problem when I saw him play but I wish him well at Gillingham lets hope he can earn himself a permanent move in January.  

A quick look down the squad list and you can also find Adam Miller who moved to us amid such great hype in 2004 under Ian Holloway and was then bombed out just as quickly back into the non- league game with Aldershot and then Stevenage before joining The Gills on a 3 month loan deal in November.  

Also alongside him you can find Aaron Brown, remember him? No me neither! After making just two sub appearances and just one start in the league in two seasons he was released and joined Swindon before turning up at Preistfield at the start of this season. He has currently made 13 appearances to date without scoring. 

Staying in League 1 and Yeovil Town are running Gillingham very close with Ex-R’s in their squad they currently have FOUR! The biggest name in the West Country is undoubtedly Mark Bircham. Birch has been having a terrible time down there with a succession of niggling injuries (sound familiar?) he is yet to make his debut for them.  

Forget Darren Anderton the original sick note, Matthew Rose, is keeping Bircham Company in the Yeovil treatment room. Rose has just got over an elbow ligament injury and has to date made 25 appearances since joining on deadline day last year, no doubt about it Yeovil have got themselves a good player in Rose and if they can keep him fit he will go on and become one of the best defenders in that division, indeed I believe we should have hung on to him last season he would have defiantly made a better contribution then our current leaky defence. Terrell Forbes and Justin Cochrane are the two other ex R’s plying their in the West Country. 

Along the coast a little are Brighton who are going strong under Dean Wilkins. Whilst not as skilful as his brother as a player, he seems to be doing better as a manger and he has led them to 11^th place in the table.

Stewart Nelson is keeping goal for Leyton Orient some of you may be aware that Nelson had a trail with us some years ago just before his move to Brentford.  

Luton Town have 3 ex-R’s in the shape of Richard Langley who’s currently out injured again, Paul Peschisolido who’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods in his career, and of course the legend that is Paul Furlong who’s still banging in the goals at the age of 39.

I’m sure plenty of you know that Millwall are now managed by former assistant manager Kenny Jacket. Some familiar faces welcomed him on his first day I’m sure, Chris Day is currently second choice keeper over in South London and of course one of his first signings was Marcus Bignot on loan.  

Biggers made 5 starts during his loan deal there but has since returned to Rangers. Also currently at The New Den is Danny Cullip. Fresh from being released last week is on trial, I do hope that Danny can get himself a club quickly because I for one always rated him.  

Joe Gallen completes the ex-R’s at the Den he has just been appointed Reserve team Manager, how long until Kev joins him? 

At Northampton Town Giles Coke is the loan representative for Rangers on the playing staff, great things were expected of Giles when a youngster with us, but as is so often the case with young rangers players he was just not given a chance at all. 

At Forest we have two former hoops in Matthew Lockwood and Junior “Manuel” Agogo whilst on the coaching staff at the City Ground we have David Kerslake. He made 58 appearances and scored 8 goals for the R’s and has been a long term assistant to Colin Calderwood, following him from Northampton.  

Other former R’s Playing in League 1 are Callum Willock at Port Vale, Leon Clarke at Southend, Jamie Vincent (ex trialist) at Swindon, and Gareth Taylor and Andy Taylor at Tranmere. 

So then as you can see there are a number of Ex-R’s playing in the division below, some good, and a lot bad! I do hope that you have enjoyed my ramblings in this column if you haven’t gone to sleep then I thank you.  

The next instalment hopefully in about a week or so, (if Ron and Simon allow it!) I shall be looking at League 2 and finding out about any old faces playing or coaching in that division, you will be surprised at some of the names that I have found.  

If you do have any news on ex Rangers stars then drop me an email or PM me on the message board and I will be delighted to include and investigate them further.   

Paul Hoop
paul_j_curran@yahoo.co.uk