Quashie gone - for good

Nigel Quashie has joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers for the remainder of the season - finally bringing an end to his turbulent spell at West Ham.

The 31-year-old midfielder - who began his career at QPR in the mid-1990s - has been released from his contract with United and moves across the City to join Rangers.

The news was confirmed on qpr.co.uk this lunchtime; a statement read: "Queens Park Rangers are delighted to announce the signing of midfielder Nigel Quashie, following his release from West Ham United.

"Quashie, who began his career as a youth player at Loftus Road, has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season."

Quashie, who made a grand total of eight appearances for the Irons during his three years at the club said: "It's great to be back home, and I am delighted to be at a club that I love to pieces. I had a good time when I was here before, and the fans were very good to me.

"I'm a fan of the club myself so I know what they demand. There are some excellent players here and it is nice to come back and be a part of it."

Of all the players signed by Eggert Magnusson and Alan Curbishley during the Icelandic's reign at the club, Quashie is perhaps the most criticised deal of them all.

Signed for £1.75million to the surprise of many from West Brom during the 2007 January transfer window, Quashie made just a handful of appearances before sustaining an injury that was to keep him out of action - on and off - for nearly two years, a period during which West Ham continued to pay his £25,000-per-week wages.

However that figure is dwarfed by the salary earned by midfielder Kieron Dyer who has fared only slightly better, managing 18 appearances since arriving at West Ham seven months after Quashie.

* Young midfielder Josh Payne has joined Cheltenham on a month's loan. Payne, who made his first team debut against Millwall in the Carling Cup earlier this season goes straight into the squad to face Rochdale this weekend.