John Harbin has paid tribute to the "dressing room leaders" who have helped to make his job, and the job of Iain Dowie's, that bit easier.

The Performance Manager, who worked alongside Dowie at Oldham, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and Coventry City, was one of the first people brought on board by the R's First Team Coach following his appointment in May.

And he feels the desire of some key personnel to succeed has helped to make the pre-season preparations run smoothly.

Fitz Hall and Mikele Leigertwood worked under Dowie and Harbin at Crystal Palace - the former also featured in their Oldham team - and Harbin acknowledges that their presence in the current squad was useful.

"The fact that Fitz and Mikele were already here when we arrived was beneficial for us," he told www.qpr.co.uk.

"It meant that they had given the players here an idea of what to expect when we got here.

"The other key factor is that we have some outstanding leaders in the dressing room, people with integrity who believe in what we - the staff - are doing.

"Mikele, Fitz, Adam Bolder, Martin Rowlands, Damien Delaney and Gavin Mahon all have a very strong work ethic as individuals, and they've been leading the way.

"They haven't had to drag anyone else along, but their enthusiasm for whatever we're doing has had a positive impact on the rest of the lads."

*You can read John Harbin's exclusive Fitness First column in Saturday's matchday programme, when the R's play host to Barnsley in their opening fixture in the Championship.

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