The bizarre saga of Gary Borrowdale's QPR career took a new twist today as the club announced they have loaned him to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Borrowdale is infamously yet to make his QPR debut despite being with the club since November. He joined from Coventry City initially on loan but there was then a change of manager as Iain Dowie and then Gareth Ainsworth made way for Paulo Sousa and for whatever reason the new management team did not rate him enough to use him. Nevertheless QPR had already agreed to sign the player for £250k and therefore were in the bizarre position in January of completing the signing of a player the manager did not want.

Borrowdale, an unfortunate bystander in much of this, was named as a substitute at first but has recently disappeared from view altogether except for occasional reserve outings and is yet to play a single minute of first team action.

QPR had been chasing Borrowdale, who came through the ranks at Crystal Palace and has England youth honours, for some time. They were beaten to his signature by Coventry 18 months ago but moved swiftly to secure his signing this season when he became available. It is hard not to feel sorry for the player who presumably came to rangers expecting to play and hopefully he will now get some first team action at Brighton where he has moved on loan until the end of the season. He did make four first team appearances in League One on loan at Colchester United at the start of this season.

Brighton chairman Dick Knight said: "Queens Park Rangers have extended the hand of friendship to the Albion. Gianni [Paladini] was aware of our crippling injury situation and I am very grateful that he has helped us out."

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