QPR HAVE refused to match the near £3,000-a-week pay-rise Dexter Blackstock will get if he signs for Nottingham Forest permanently - and have resigned themselves to losing their leading striker.
Hoops' last hope of enticing Blackstock back to Loftus Road disappeared when Forest secured their Championship status on Monday night after Norwich's defeat to Reading.
Rangers had wanted the 22-year-old's return after they were forced to loan out a player not able to get into sacked boss Paulo Sousa's team.
But once the Portuguese manager departed three weeks ago, moves were afoot to reclaim the striker they paid Southampton £750,000 for three seasons ago.
Blackstock is believed to be on something like £9k-a-week in west London - but once he let it be known he wanted to stay with Forest, Rs slapped a £2million price tag on the Oxford-born player.
Blackstock said: "I am enjoying it (at Forest) and everything about the club is great. The fan base, ground, training ground and the management staff. It is a massive club. If QPR accept a fee for me it's up to me to leave.'
Blackstock carried on his goalscoring exploits with the Reds' and netted twice in his five appearances, including last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Blackpool.
Forest's chief executive is also expected to write out a second cheque for wantaway keeper Lee Camp, who was also on loan at the City Ground earlier in the season.
