Chris Baird trained with QPR for six weeks in the summer of 2013 – and contrary to what boss Harry Redknapp said at the time – the Northern Ireland player claims he was never offered a contract.
Hoops boss insisted Baird had priced himself out of a deal, but the man who has gone full circle to rejoin Fulham on loan insists there was nothing on the table for him at Loftus Road.
“To be fair, they didn’t offer me a deal,” he said. “Then Reading obviously then came in and offered me a deal.
“I’m grateful to QPR for letting me have the opportunity under Harry Redknapp, but there was never any contract put on the table.
“That was unfortunate as I was enjoying it there, but Reading came in with a contract and I took that - simple as that.”
The will-he-won’t-he join saga rolled on through pre-season, with Redknapp finally announcing Baird had become a Royal.
He said: “He would've been perfect for us. We made him a decent offer and were hoping to get it done, then got a phone call to say he's gone to Reading.
“I don't know what happened. He obviously got offered more money at Reading and decided to go there.
“We made him a very fair offer and couldn't have done any more.”
Baird has kick-started his season back with the club where he spent six years, and is earmarked as the alternative to Scott Parker, whose recovery time between games doesn’t allow Saturday, Tuesday appearances on the trot.
Baird, 33, hopes to forge his way into the team with or without Parker as he did at Leeds on Tuesday night.
He added: “I’m not saying I’m going to come straight into the team, I’m going to work for my place.
“The manager has just said he needs my experience, the holding midfielder to go in and help as much as he can, use the experience from previous years and try to just help the team.”
