McClaren laughs off reports linking QPR with Martin and Ward

Steve McClaren has laughed off speculation linking him with Derby County striker Chris Martin and Nottingham Forest forward Jamie Ward.

Both men previously played under McClaren at Derby and he has been tipped to sign them following his recent appointment as QPR manager.

McClaren said: “I expect over the next few days and weeks we’ll be linked with everybody. That’s football.

“We’ll have time to sit down, to plan and to look ahead.”

But McClaren has suggested that he will look to add experienced players to his squad this summer.

Speaking at a media conference on Monday, he said: “This squad I believe is a very good squad; young, energetic, with a good attitude and can play football.

“They’ve already proved that at the end of the season when the young players were thrown in and did well.

“But to go forward and improve you need experience around you.

“The next stage over the next year is to move forward, add experience and if we do that we can progress.”