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Shaun Wright-Phillips won't leave QPR as he's on 'fantastic contract'

Shaun Wright-Phillips is happier sitting on a "fantastic contract'' than leaving QPR for first-team football, according to boss Harry Redknapp.

Redknapp rejected complaints from Wright-Phillips he is in the dark over why he has featured just once at Rangers this season. The QPR manager revealed the winger has rejected numerous chances to leave Loftus Road, despite Redknapp telling him he "needs to move on.''

Wright-Phillips, 33, who once cost Chelsea a reported 21 million pounds, has only played 78 minutes of football this season, in the Capital One Cup defeat to Burton Albion.

"He would be allowed to go on a free; the club would do a deal with him, I'm sure," Redknapp said. "Shifting him if he's not in your plans, that's difficult.

"I've told Shaun, of course I've told him, he needs to go on loan or move permanently. But he's not going to move when he's got a fantastic contract.

"Let's all sit and talk straight, when you're earning X amount of pounds, and someone wants to give you money that's nowhere near that, you're not going to go are you?

"It's no-one's fault that Shaun's got a great contract, good luck to him, someone gave it to him. It's all about opinions, someone else could come in and put Sean straight in the team.

"That's the game. He played for me when I first came here in the Premier League, I've got no problems with him, I like him an awful lot. If I didn't, I'd say so. He comes out, trains well, works hard, earns fantastic money, he's got a great contract, good luck to him.

"When he's had a chance on loan, Blackburn, Bolton, Charlton, they've come in for him and he's said 'I'm not interested', he didn't want to know. He wouldn't consider it. He doesn't want to go on loan. But even a permanent deal, who's going to pay the same money he has here? It's difficult.

"But let's be honest, you can't blame the boy. No-one's blaming him; he's got a great contract. In the long-term he needs to move on and play football, and I've said that to him many times.''

Wright-Phillips later defended himself on Twitter, writing, "I'm not at QPR to go back and forth. I'm fit and ready to do my bit in this relegation fight as they may need me at some point. I believe in myself and know what I'm capable of."

Redknapp also responded to reports about his own future amid claims that he'll be sacked should QPR lose to Manchester United on Saturday.

"You've got to beat Manchester United? They couldn't pick an easier one, couldn't they?" he said. "I've got a great relationship with the club and its shareholders. I spoke to Tony yesterday, he's not mentioned anything of that nature to me, and until he does, I'll keep doing what I do."

QPR sit just two points above the bottom of the table and defeat to Manchester United could see them bottom by Saturday evening.

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