Ross McCormack
Leeds United vs Doncaster Rovers

• by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland

With Neil Warnock rumored to have a transfer war chest of just £1.25m, despite the wealth of owner Bernie Ecclestone, the pending departure of their best performer from their promotion campaign will add fuel to the widely-held opinion that they are favourites for relegation. Taarabt spent the last 2 months of the 2008/09 season, and the full 2009/10 campaign at Loftus Road, doing enough for the Hoops to take him on a permanent deal last summer. Taarabt was highly rated by Damien Comolli, who was instrumental in bringing him to Spurs from RC Lens, but the Moroccan playmaker struggled to make the breakthrough at White Hart Lane under both Juande Ramos and Harry Redknapp. He made just 13 first-team appearances for Spurs, all of the bench, and failed to find the net. But the move to QPR reignited his career.

His season long loan saw him notch 7 goals and 5 assists, but it was this past season where he really set the Championship alight and made both Premier League and European clubs take notice, as well as causing Tottenham supporters to wonder why he was let go. With a healthy diet of first-team action (43 of his 44 league appearances were starts), he thrived under Neil Warnock. His 19 goals were tied for third in the division, whilst his 16 assists led the Championship. But almost before the champagne was dried after Rangers's promotion celebrations, the player often accused of thinking too much of his own abilities was making noise about leaving QPR for a bigger and better club. The young star has never been afraid to speak his mind, quitting Morocco after just 10 caps after being dropped for an African Nations Cup qualifier, and it now looks likely he will end up at newly-rich Paris Saint-Germain for around £10m.

Warnock's position has looked unsteady this summer, with speculation surrounding his future, and the loss of his best player will put even more pressure on the manager to bring in the right players, while also being fiscally conservative. Taarabt's exit would also leave a massive hole in the midfield, and would bring about a fundamental change in the tactics employed by Warnock, whose attack was based around the mercurial number seven. And with a lack of Premier League experience in the side at the moment, the loss of their talisman player will be seen as the exact opposite of what is needed to stave off the dreaded immediate return to the second tier. If Warnock is given Taarabt's fee to spend on new players, he could well improve the squad and build solid foundations for QPR's first season in the top flight since their relegation in 1996. But it seems that, so far, their transfer window seems to weaken a side already written off by many.

[photo by "whereareyousimon"]

Swansea City clinched promotion today in front of 86,581 at Wembley. Scott Sinclair lead the Swans scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 victory over Reading in the Championship Play-off Final. Sinclair is only the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a Play-off Final at Wembley. The other player is Charlton Athletic's Clive Mendonca, who did it in 1998. The victory earns Swansea City their first promotion to the top flight of english football in 28 years. It also makes them the first Welsh team to play in the Premier League. The club will earn an estimated $148 million as part of the promotion.

"These players deserve to be in the Premier League, they showed great courage. It's fantastic. The supporters today were incredible and it's nice to repay their faith and get promotion." said Swansea City boss Brendan Rogers. "It can be a big mistake to get promoted and do it with the same players. In my experience, having been in the Premier League for four or five years, it is a different stratosphere in relation to pace and power."

"We have shown this year over the course of 49 games, there's substance to us. Not just style, there is steel there too. That is what you have to have if you are going to be a good team."

[photo via qpr.co.uk]

• by Joe Curtis, writing from Pembroke Pines, FL

Today was the final day of the Premier League season, and the League Champions, Manchester United, were crowned. On the opposite end of the table, today was "Survival Sunday" and three teams reached the end their time in the top flight of English football. Those teams were Birmingham, Blackpool, and West Ham United. Those three will be replaced by three new teams who have won promotion from the Championship. Two of those three have already been established, Queens Park Rangers and Norwich City. The third and final spot will be awarded to the winner of the npower Championship playoff.

Queens Park Rangers won the Football League Championship this season. Their promotion to the Premier League was confirmed on the final day of the npower Championship season, when the Club learned that they would not face a points deduction over the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009. QPR was charged with seven breaches of Football Association regulations. The charges "concern[ed] the alleged existence of an agreement between the club and a third party in respect of [Faurlin's] economic rights, and the alleged failure by the club to notify the FA of that agreement before the player was registered to play in England in July 2009". QPR finished with an impressive record of 24-16-6.

The Norwich City Canaries finished the npower Championship season in second place with a record of 23-15-8. Led by Captain Grant Holt, the Canaries are ready to play in the top flight. "You always want to pit your wits against the best teams, at the highest level you can. I knew, personally, that this was the only way I'd ever achieve that; I didn't think anyone at Premier League level would ever buy me at my age, so this was my way to do it." Holt said. "To do it with a club I enjoy being at, and with a manager you want to work with week-in, week-out - I'm just thankful that's the way it's worked out." Holt has been a big part of the Canaries' run to the Premier League, scoring 22 goals this season. In total, Holt has netted 52 goals in just 91 matches.

The Championship Promotion Playoff Final will take place on Monday May 30th at Wembley Stadium. Reading will take on Swansea City for the third and final promotion spot. Reading reached the Final after defeating Cardiff City 3-0. Their opponent, Swansea City, reached the Final after defeating Nottingham Forest 3-1. The Final kicksoff at 10:00 AM.