What Jimmy Dunne has said after big QPR decision - It's a "proud moment" | OneFootball

The Irishman is now the designated leader in the dressing room.

Jimmy Dunne has been appointed as Queens Park Rangers' new first-team captain.

It would have been no surprise, and there probably wouldn't have been much frustration, if the Irish defender wasn't wearing QPR colours next season. Sheffield United, who came within minutes of a Premier League return, were most keen on Dunne.

Football League World first reported their interest in him in January, but he chose to stay at Loftus Road for the foreseeable future.

He said, at the time when his new contract was announced, that he felt his current home was the best place for him to be going forward. And off the back of his massive show of loyalty, Dunne has now been rewarded with the club armband.

Jimmy Dunne reacts to being made QPR captain

"It’s a really, really proud moment," Dunne told the club's website after being made captain. "My friends and family back home are all chuffed for me.

"I’m delighted that I'm still a QPR player alongside my mates, staff and people that I love. I feel just as valued as ever. The opportunity to lead the group is also an immensely proud moment.

"I've changed a lot as a person since I've come into the club. I was definitely a kid when I came here and the experiences with the different head coaches have definitely been very valuable.

"I definitely understand the game a lot better than I did at the start. I'm less emotional in my decision-making than I was when I first came. But I'm still just as eager to win.

"I want to continue to improve and it's nice to have another head coach (Julien Stéphan) that wants to continue to help me with my development."

Dunne also pointed to the love that he has seen from the supporters during his four seasons with the club as the reason why he has stuck around. "They're the reason why I want to be here, because you can go your whole career and not feel really valued by a crowd.

"I've been lucky enough to find that at QPR and I didn't want to squander that. When the Loft is bouncing, when you're scoring in front of the Loft and when everyone's up on their feet singing, there's no better place to be."

Jimmy Dunne can thrive as QPR captain

There's no question that the Irishman deserves to wear the armband after the season he just had.

As arguably their best player, he came up with clutch moments at both ends of the pitch. He takes on the responsibility from fellow defender Steve Cook, who personally passed over the armband to the 27-year-old.