Holloway: I’m the man to help Caulker
Ian Holloway says he can help Steven Caulker turn his career around.
Caulker has recently spoken of his mental health issues and addictions to alcohol and gambling.
The 25-year-old has since resumed training and on Tuesday evening he returned to action, playing 70 minutes of a friendly at non-League Billericay Town.
Caulker could join Celtic before the transfer window closes – talks have taken place with the Glasgow club, who appear to be interested in a potential deal.
However, Holloway has suggested that Caulker will be part of his squad.
And the Rangers boss has also declared that he is the right person to help Caulker.
Holloway said: “I’m there all day long for him. I want to help him. I’m going to try and help this boy. This boy is someone’s son and I’m going to help him.
“That’s my duty of care; to help him be the best he can be. He’s said he’s wandered off that path a few times and he needs some help. Well I’m the man to help him.
“And I need our supporters to help him, because he genuinely wants help and he needs it.
“I know when we go to away grounds that won’t happen, because that’s football and people think that’s banter.”
Caulker, who played under Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers at Swansea City, is now in the final year of a four-year contract at Loftus Road.
He was signed from Cardiff City for £8m in the summer of 2014 and has made only 48 league appearances for the R’s.
He has not played a first-team match since last October and has been warned by the club after a series of misdemeanours.
QPR lost patience with him when he was arrested and charged with failing to provide a breath sample following an incident in Windsor in March.
It was the fourth time Caulker had been in trouble with the police and came less than a month after he was fined for throwing objects at passers-by at Clapham Junction station.
He pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly after that offence, was fined £650 and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Removing his lucrative contract from their wage bill would help QPR’s efforts to add to their squad within the club’s budgetary restrictions.
Rangers are keen to sign a striker and remain interested in Barnsley’s Andy Yiadom despite reports of Premier League interest in the right-back.
