James Perch says there was never any prospect of him leaving QPR in the recent transfer window, insisting his long-term future lies in W12.

Perch was heavily linked in the national media with a return to his former side Wigan Athletic, with his first-team chances few and far between at the Rs in the first month of the season.

However, Perch says no such move was on the cards and insists he is happy at Loftus Road.

He told the Times: “That was just pure paper talk. There was nothing else in it. I know Gary Caldwell (the Wigan manager) really well and played with him and people just put two and two together and got five. It definitely wasn’t true and was never going to happen.

“I’ve got family down here now and I’m really settled and happy at QPR. The thought of moving now didn’t even enter my mind.”

He continued: “The gaffer picked his team at the start of the season and I wasn’t in it so that was fair enough.

“To be fair to the lads who were playing at the back they were playing very well so I had no complaints.

“It’s worked out that I’ve got back in the team now and I think I’ve done quite well. It’s always about the team though and I’ll do a job wherever I’m asked to do. My versatility is obviously something the manager can look at and hopefully think is a boost to the team.”

Perch has been pleased with the start the Rs have made, picking up 10 points out of 21 so far, but admits the they can’t afford to keep dropping points against the likes of Preston and Blackburn if they harbour genuine ambitions of pushing for promotion.

He added: “We don’t want to look back at the end of the season and think ‘what if we hadn’t lost to Preston or drawn to Blackburn’?

“Those five points could end up being crucial. We just need to keep on going and get as many points on the board and see where that takes us come May.”