QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has hopes of keeping Christopher Samba as they prepare for their Championship return.

Fernandes is confident the club can hold onto the former Blackburn man and has revealed that Harry Redknapp is due to speak with the defender on Friday.

When asked how realistic the chances of keeping Samba are, Fernandes told London Call-In: "I think it's very real.

"I haven't had a chance to speak to Chris since (relegation) and I think Harry is sitting down with him tomorrow.

"We want players who want to play for us. I think the days of bringing in players because of their reputation, their name and they're just coming to QPR for the salary are gone.

"We want to have players who want to play for us, who are excited by walking down that tunnel and going to play for us.

"We're under no pressure now to just keep players so if Chris wants to stay with us, if he believes in what the club can do, then I'd love him to be one of the pivotal points of the Championship side.

"But if he doesn't feel that this is right for him then I don't want to force him to stay and I'd rather get someone who gets excited going out there.

"But Chris would be a tower in the Championship and it would be fantastic to build a team around him."