Nottingham Forest have signed Peterborough midfielder George Boyd on loan until the end of the season.

The 24-year-old, who could make the move permanent in the summer, was also wanted by Middlesbrough.

And although the former Stevenage winger had indicated he was happy to stay at London Road, he said the lure of Forest was too strong to resist.

"I can't wait to start. It's a massive club and joining was a no-brainer," Boyd told BBC Radio Nottingham.

The Scotland B international has been a key player for Posh since signing from Stevenage in 2007, but his current contract will run out in the summer of 2011.

Boyd saw his Posh club record for consecutive appearances come to an end at 144 after he missed Saturday's trip to Swansea with a virus.

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony admitted it was a tough decision to let Boyd leave.

Speaking from the United States he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "I've offered many contracts to George and his agent. We always knew in the background that there were a lot of clubs wanting George.

"I've been wrestling with it, I don't want to lose George Boyd. Everyone knows what he means to the club.

"It wasn't an easy decision and it wasn't actually based on money it was based on many reasons."

MacAnthony would not rule out the possibility of more departures from London Road but insisted he was not looking to force anyone out of the club.

He said: "There's no fire sale. Whatever the manager wants to do I'll support him.

"Whether it's this season or next season we'll be rebuilding. This isn't about trying to put money into my pocket, this is about making us a better football club."

CRYSTAL Palace legend Dougie Freedman is heading back to Selhurst Park - as assistant manager to Paul Hart.
We exclusively revealed earlier today that former QPR and Portsmouth boss Hart is going to replace Neil Warnock, who joined QPR yesterday.
And the South London Press understands that Freedman will be his assistant manager with John Pemberton, who played for the Eagles between 1988 and 1990, coming in as first-team coach.
But it is the appointment of Freedman which will most excite Palace supporters.
He scored the goal at Stockport which kept them up in 2001 - and he will now try and help steer the club away from relegation to League One.
Hart, Freedman and Pemberton have agreed deals until the end of the season. An official announcement is expected this afternoon.

Swansea' s Gorka Pintado (sitting) is shown a red card during the melee
Derby and Swansea have been charged with failing to control their players in Saturday's clash at Pride Park.

The charge follows a mass confrontation between both sets of players sparked by Swansea's Gorka Pintado who was sent off for a lunge on Robbie Savage.

Derby have until 9 March to respond to the FA while Swansea have until 5 March to answer to the FA of Wales.

The Rams earlier had James McEveley sent off and he has until Tuesday to reply to an improper conduct charge.

Derby County have signed 18-year-old Arsenal striker Gilles Sunu on loan until the end of the season.

Rams manager Nigel Clough has been trying to sign a forward for several weeks and Sunu was top of his list.

"It has taken a while to get everything done but we're delighted we've been able to secure a deal," said Clough.

"He brings us some raw pace up front, which compliments what Rob Hulse, Kris Commons and Chris Porter provide for us right now."

France Under-19 international Sunu moved to Arsenal in 2007 but has only made two first-team appearances.

Clough added: "Gilles is still young and learning the game, so it is a great opportunity for him to develop and in turn we hope Derby County can benefit as well."

Clough had also been looking at re-signing Everton forward James Vaughan for a second loan spell at Pride Park.

Meanwhile, Rams defender Paul Connolly has been told he can go out on loan.

Source: BBC Football

Flavio Briatore has stepped down as chairman of Queens Park Rangers Holdings with immediate effect.

Briatore and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone bought the club in September 2007, with Briatore vowing they would be in the Premier League in five years.

But since then they have had an amazing 10 managerial changes and 47 players have been signed by the club.

They currently lie 19th in the Championship table and have lost their last five matches.

As a result of the boardroom reshuffle, the family of the world's fifth richest man, Lakshmi Mittal, has increased its shareholding in the club.

Mittal's son-in-law Amit Bhatia was brought into the club by Briatore and Ecclestone in December 2007, buying a 20% stake and joining the board of directors.

Current managing director Ishan Saksena replaces the 61-year-old Italian, and Gianni Paladini will resume his role as chairman of the club.

Briatore and Ecclestone will retain their shareholding in the Loftus Road outfit.

"My three years as chairman of QPR have been an exciting and incredible experience. I'm proud to have helped save this historical club and to have contributed in paving the way to its future success," said Briatore.

Source: BBC Football

SOCCEROOS playmaker Nicky Carle has emerged as a priority recruit for Sydney FC, who are also edging closer to signing prolific Dutchman Sergio van Dijk for next season.

As the Sky Blues head into their most important match in years - Sunday's minor premiership-decider against reigning champions Melbourne Victory - coach Vitezslav Lavicka continues to look beyond the horizon after committing himself to the club for at least one more season. Negotiations with Carle have been going for three months and despite recently breaking into the first team at his English club, Crystal Palace, it's believed the World Cup hopeful remains interested in returning to his home town if the deal is right.

Carle, 28, has been abroad for three years since leaving Newcastle Jets and while he has another two seasons left on his deal at Selhurst Park - and still believes he has what it takes to succeed in Europe - the prospect of becoming Sydney FC's new marquee player is one that excites him. Lavicka is keen to make the deal happen, but wages and contract length remain sticking points.

The discussions with Carle indicate that if John Aloisi, the two-goal hero against Perth Glory last weekend, is to get a new contract with the club he will not keep his status as marquee player. The highest-paid player in the A-League will need to take a substantial pay cut to stay with the Sky Blues and even then his chances of regular football will be reduced if Sydney can snatch van Dijk from Brisbane Roar, and his other suitors, Melbourne Heart.

Van Dijk, 27, is coming off contract but has repeatedly said he won't be making any decision on his future until the end of the season. Brisbane complete a disappointing campaign in Perth this weekend.

The muscular striker has been a revelation since arriving in Queensland at the start of last season, averaging a goal every two games for the Roar, who remain desperate to keep him. However, both Melbourne Heart and Sydney FC are believed to be able to offer a substantial pay rise, while it's also understood van Dijk could be about to join Adelaide United on a stop-gap basis for their forthcoming Asian Champions League campaign.

Regardless of how this season finishes, Sydney FC will have a makeover during the off-season, with Aloisi, veteran Steve Corica, defender Simon Colosimo, goalkeeper Clint Bolton, Slovakian import Karol Kisel and youngster Chris Payne all yet to secure their futures at the club.

The Sky Blues have signed Wellington Phoenix keeper Liam Reddy to a three-year deal but have yet to make it official. Sydney will hold a media conference today to announce what has been described as a ''major'' player announcement.

Meanwhile, Sunday's blockbuster between the Sky Blues and the Victory will be played at the SFS, as scheduled, after pitch inspections yesterday satisfied both the club and Football Federation Australia. The stadium hosted the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in heavy rain last weekend and Sydney FC officials had been considering a late switch to Parramatta Stadium.

In other news, it's believed the next A-League season will have it's earliest-ever start - the last weekend of July - after Football Federation Australia and the clubs agreed to a 30-week competition to accommodate new franchise Melbourne Heart.

West Brom will sign West Ham striker Frank Nouble on a month's loan when the window reopens on Tuesday.

The England Under-19 international, 18, will be eligible to make his debut against Scunthorpe that evening.

The Baggies have lost striker Ishmael Miller to an ankle injury and winger Jerome Thomas is serving a four-match ban during a busy month of fixtures.

"Frank is an exciting, young player who I am delighted to welcome to the club," said head coach Roberto di Matteo.

"He can play in any of the three forward positions - down the middle, wide left or wide right - and we hope the next month is a fruitful one for both the club and Frank," the Italian added.

The teenager joined West Ham from Chelsea on a five-year contract last summer, but has recently fallen down the pecking order at Upton Park with the transfer window arrivals of Ilan and Benni McCarthy.

Nouble's 28-day spell at The Hawthorns will also include league fixtures against Cardiff, Bristol City, Derby, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday.

However, he is not available for the FA Cup fifth round tie at Reading having already appeared for the Hammers in this season's competition.

Source: BBC Football

SWANSEA CITY boss Paulo Sousa has lit the fuse on Tuesday’s trip to Crystal Palace by insisting the cash-starved Eagles should be relegated from the Championship.

Palace’s slide into administration has seen the club deducted 10 points and forced to sell teenage star Victor Moses to Wigan for £2.5m.

The points deduction suddenly plunged play-off chasing Palace into a relegation battle – but Sousa believes the punishment does not fit the crime.

And, with the two camps at loggerheads over Albert Serran’s contentious red card in the goalless draw at the Liberty Stadium six weeks ago, Sousa’s comments will up the ante ahead of the Selhurst Park rematch.

“In England the (financial) rules are there for everyone to see and it is important to follow these rules,” said Sousa.

“They give respect to everyone in football who is honest and trying to do his best. Losing points is unfair for the players and the manager, but it’s also unfair for the other clubs who are working very hard to deal with contracts and other things.

“In other countries – and it is my opinion also – I would like to see not to take 10 points off, but to automatically relegate because it’s unfair on the other clubs.”

Despite the unfolding crisis at Palace, the Eagles only lost the precocious Moses in the January transfer window.

And manager Neil Warnock has adopted a philosophical stance, with the Eagles buoyed by taking the Premier League scalp of Wolves to set up an FA Cup fifth round date with Aston Villa next week.

“I’m enjoying it at the moment and the administrator has told me he has no intention of asking me or any of my staff to leave,” said the 61-year-old veteran boss.

“The fans know they are in safe hands on the field and we have to keep that going while the administrator does his job.

“The 10 points is the biggest blow because deep down I quite fancied our chances in the play-offs. But don’t write us off yet, there’s a lot of points to play for, 19 games, and you never know in football.”

Swansea also have their focus on a play-off spot but Sousa reckons the race for automatic promotion is down to Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, West Brom and Cardiff City.

“I think Newcastle will finish in the top two but second place is open,” he said.

“Forest are very well-organised and very competitive and tactically they are very good too.

“They are very consistent in everything that they do and since the beginning of October it is a team with a lot of motivation.

“West Brom are also there and Cardiff have started to come once more because they have great quality in their squad. They’ve started to get consistency and they can fight for a top two spot.”