QPR defender Todd Kane has revealed he turned down Premier League interest to join the club due to the influence of manager Mark Warburton, who he believes can help his side make it back to the top tier of English football.

Kane joined the Championship during the summer after ending an 18-year association with Chelsea, during which time he never made a senior appearance for the club, instead spending his career on loan elsewhere.

Now Kane has found himself a new permanent home, after signing a four-year deal with QPR during the summer transfer window, and it seems that Warburton - himself only appointed as the club's manager in the summer - played a huge role in securing that deal.

Speaking to TalkSport about his move to QPR, Kane said: “It was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever had to make in football (joining QPR).

“I got a call off Mark [Warburton] one day out of the blue.

“He made me feel wanted straight away and asked if we could arrange to meet as soon as possible. For a manager to do that goes a long way – you don’t forget those things.

“It’s normally always a director or an agent dictating everything in terms of initial meetings, so it was refreshing – especially being a free agent at the time – to have a manager contact me."

Discussing how that impacted on him, Kane revealed: “By doing that he showed me just how much he wanted me at this football club."

Despite that, it seems that things could have been very different for the right-back, who confirmed there had been interest in him from the top-flight, as he continued: “Yes, there was Premier League interest too, but it was about what club was the right fit for me at this stage of my career.

“When I met Mark my point was proven. I knew that QPR was going to be the club that I’d eventually join.

“I walked out of that meeting and I said to myself ‘I want to play for that manager’."

Asked whether he had any regrets about turning down the opportunity to play in the Premier League, Kane responded by saying: “I have none whatsoever [regrets]. Everything happens for a reason. We all go down different paths and it takes some longer than others to realise their dream in this game.

“I’m a QPR player for the next four years and beyond and I want to get this club back to the Premier League."

Discussing whether he thinks it is possible the club can do that, the 26-year-old again spoke about Warburton in glowing terms, as he concluded: “There is a good man in charge of this club at this moment in time who plays the game the right way and you can tell that he really cares.

“I truly believe we have the right man at the helm and a squad of sufficient quality to fight for promotion over the next couple of years.”

Having won five and drawn one of their eight league games so far this season, QPR currently fifth in the Championship standings, with Kane having made eight appearances in all competitions this season.

The Verdict

I think this is a big coup for QPR.

Given the level of interest in Kane, and his previous proven ability at this level, the defender looks to be a strong addition to the Rangers squad.

The fact that they were able to bring him to the club therefore, highlights just what an asset Warburton has the potential to be for the club, considering the part he played in signing Kane.

When you look at the start Kane and QPR have made to the season so far, it is hard to see any reason why the club can't push for a return to the top flight this season.