By Adam Boxer AFTER months of endless waiting and feverish speculation, the season is up and running with Rangers under way in their assault on the Championship play-off positions. The summer was filled with endless gossip about potential inclusions but R

By Adam Boxer

AFTER months of endless waiting and feverish speculation, the season is up and running with Rangers under way in their assault on the Championship play-off positions.

The summer was filled with endless gossip about potential inclusions but Rangers chiefs remained tight-lipped on their targets. The signing of Alessandro Pellicori was no exception, with the Italian striker claiming to have penned a deal with QPR, in the process rejecting a five-year deal with home-town club Cosenza.

With the club adamant to point out at every possible opportunity that he was a trialist, the clues were there that a deal had already been signed, sealed but yet to be delivered to an entirely underwhelmed support.

QPR were keen to stress that the decision lay with Jim Magilton, and noises were coming out of the club that Pellicori had his final chance to impress against Kettering, but an indifferent game would surely have had Jim thinking twice.

Not so. Pellicori was signed complete with a squad picture as his original words finally came to fruition nearly a month later. The unusual move of preparing a squad photo for a trialist is another confusing element in a deal shrouded in mystery, and one which has led some supporters to cast doubt on the influence of Magilton in instigating the transfer.

It seems that far from going out to buy a tried and tested forward, QPR have settled for someone with no experience in English football.

This is a gamble and an unnecessary one at that, considering that Rangers are willing to dish out a prince's ransom on one player, midfielder Alejandro Faurl�n, and pinch the pennies where it matters most - the striking department.

While Pellicori may prove to be a useful player, we would be well within our rights to question the ambition of the hierarchy when they continue the transfer policy that was already in place prior to their takeover - shopping in the bargain basement.

While the fans were undoubtedly entertained against Blackpool, that cutting edge eluded them once more and questions about Pellicori's availability came to the fore.

If Rangers are to achieve their tempered ambition of a play-off spot they need Pellicori to be a vast improvement on the options at present - and for the current crop to score the goals they were purchased to provide.

If the gamble doesn't pay off then Briatore et al could be in for a long season, along with the suffering supporters who continue to attend Loftus Road and live on a promise by men billed as 'ambitious owners'.