Published on Tuesday 27 March 2012 13:30 Former QPR midfielder Marc Bircham believes the club can become an established Barclays Premier League club but only if they survive their relegation scrap this season. The 33-year-old ex-Canada international now works as part of the youth team set-up at Loftus Road and he believes QPR can retain their top-flight status and build upon it. He told Press Association Sport: "I think we can definitely do it. The result against Liverpool was a massive result - not just for the three points but for the confidence and belief of not only the players but the fans as well." Despite following their memorable 3-2 win over Liverpool with a 3-1 reverse at Sunderland, Bircham wants QPR boss Mark Hughes to follow the blueprints set out by promoted clubs in the past. "Stoke have done it and become an established Premier League team and other than this year Bolton have done it," he said. "If we can do it (stay up) with the backing that we have got with the owners and the finances we can gradually turn round and evolve into a Premier League club and hopefully a top-half (club) and maybe a European Premier League club. "There is no point talking about that now because we have just got to be talking about surviving into this summer." QPR were promoted as npower Championship champions last season and were favourites to survive in the Premier League over fellow promoted sides Norwich and Swansea. It has turned out differently however as Norwich and Swansea have performed well above expectations with both managers and squads earning plaudits for their style of play. QPR have struggled despite financing several big-money signings with off-field wranglings also deflecting from their campaign, something Bircham has become accustomed to at Loftus Road. "I have supported QPR for 30 years and we have never done things the easy way," he said. "It hasn't probably gone as planned as it was at the start of the year but the club changed (hands) and we had the transfer window at the start of the season where we had to rush signings through. "We know the way the club wants to go that it can be the start of a fantastic period for QPR but the first hurdle is staying in the Premier League and if we can do that the club can come on leaps and bounds." Copyright PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved http://www.lep.co.uk/news/national/bircham-qpr-can-establish-1-4392335
Despite my doom and gloom I have said that if by some miracle we stay up that there is the foundation with the owner and manager to produce a solid Premiership outfit. Nice to look to the future this way but the hurdle that Birch mentions is set a little bit too high for the team we have at the moment. I am more concerned about our fate after the drop, I can see a Leeds or Portsmouth situation in the crystal ball if we are not very careful.
Good to see some positive thinking from the legend that is Bircham, but I think it's too late. The Liverpool result was great and boosted the fans but let's remember that the Reds are a pretty poor team at the moment - losing at home to Wigan is not good.
Notice how he is the only one to be allowed to come out and say a few things since last saturday. (Apart from Tony's rant.)
I have I expect a big blood vessel has burst ... about time and i sense a big focus now ... we will see on Sat
I sense a change maybe your 21 days are coming to a close you've even tipped QPR to win I think DT is on his way back
This is what we miss fom the Bircham era - really **** blue hair (Remember that Millwall song about birdshit on his head?) I vote the entire team show a bit of pride and let him do the blue rinse on them. If they prefer they can have QPR neck tattoos
