Tommy Smith says the Queens Park Rangers hierarchy have reassured players that the threat of a points deduction will not affect their promotion to the Premier League.
Another emphatic victory last night stretched QPR's lead over third-placed Cardiff to 13 points. Yet, with the Football Association investigating the signing and ownership of Alejandro Faurlin - scorer of the second goal last night - doubts remain.
Smith is one Rangers player who should be unfazed by off-field issues, having arrived from troubled Portsmouth in August. But even he has needed reassurances.
"I think, initially, when we heard about it, it was a worry," admitted the midfielder. "But the manager, Neil Warnock, spoke to us, and the chairman, and we've been told not to worry. All we can do now is keep winning and keep getting points."
Judging by his comments, Warnock must have been a calming influence when he discussed the Faurlin issue.
"I'm not anxious at all," Warnock said. "I don't think we should comment until it's finished. Then you'll see what I think."
The irony of the situation is that the player-ownership rules which are threatening to hinder QPR's promotion charge were brought in following the Carlos Tevez saga, which led to his Warnock's Sheffield United side being relegated in 2007.
Warnock says the experience of four years ago has motivated him in his bid to return to the Premier League and he showed no sentiment by organising a ruthless 3-0 demolition of his former club.
Rangers opened the scoring after 29 minutes when Heidar Helguson's lobbed cross was side-footed in by Wayne Routledge.
Faurlin struck early in the second half from 20 yards and, following a slick passing move, Helguson teed up Routledge again in the 66th minute.
It would be natural for Rangers to start calculating how many more wins they need to go up, should they not be deducted points. But Smith is adamant they will not look ahead.
"Once you do that, you take your foot off the pedal," he said. "That's when you start getting nervous because you're not playing the way you want to play. We're going to make sure we keep pushing hard."
