QUEENS Park Rangers defender Steve Cook has announced that he will leave Loftus Road this summer after three years in West London.
Cook, 35, joined from Nottingham Forest in August 2023 and has made 99 appearances for the club and scored five goals.
The former AFC Bournemouth defender has played 30 times for Julien Stephan’s side this season.
“After three years, the time has come to move on from QPR,” Cook said.
“In my career, I have been fortunate to win promotions and enjoy successful campaigns in the Premier League. But ‘success’ is relative. And my time at Loftus Road really highlighted to me what fans want from you as their player. It isn’t always about winning leagues, achieving promotion. It’s about giving absolutely everything for their shirt, respecting the badge and respecting the fanbase.
“If you do that, proper fans will have your back. I have always seen QPR as a proper football club with proper fans – my time at Loftus Road confirmed it.
“It is far easier to be a fan when things are going well on the pitch. But it takes a special fanbase to stand with you during the hard times. We have had three tough battles at the wrong end of the table. On each occasion, the QPR fans turned up when we needed them, stood with us and successfully helped us across the line.
“To be named Supporters’ Player of the Year in my first season is something I will always be proud of, and to captain the club was an honour.
“As a player, you want to leave a club in a better state than when you arrived. I feel I achieved that with the help of all the coaches and team-mates I have worked with over the last three years.
“As I move on to the next chapter of my career, I want to say a huge thank you to the owners, the board, the management, coaches, staff and the R’s fans.
“It has been one hell of an adventure. We have had ups and downs but I have loved the journey.
“QPR will always have a special place in my heart and I wish you nothing but success in the future.”
