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One Year Ago, QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini responded to assertions on QPR Fan Messageboards and in a couple of newspapers that players had been locked out of the club's rented Harlington training ground because of a failure to pay a bill.
In a lengthy official statement on the Club's website, Paladini denied the "locked Out of Training Ground" rumours and then strongly lambasted "a tiny minority of people seem intent on damaging team morale and destroying the Club." The Chairman went on to say a number of other things (which can be read below). A few days later, in an interview with the Sunday Mirror, the Chairman made some other statements.
August 1, 2006: OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN, GIANNI PALADINI
Having just returned from the R's pre-season tour of Italy, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini can't wait for the big kick-off.
"The trip to Sorrento was a great success, providing the players and coaching staff with an opportunity for some intense training and team bonding.
"Despite the players staying in one of the town's grandest hotels, and having been fitted with brand new QPR tailor-made suits for every player, the trip paid for itself and the Club even managed to make a tiny profit from it.
"Gary, Macca and the coaching staff are now ready for the new season. I believe we have a much improved squad, with summer signings including Armel Tchakounte, Jamaican international defender Damion Stewart, Egutu Oliseh, Adam Czerkas and the much talked about Nicky Ward, and the important re-signing of Lee Cook for two more years.
"Many of last season's first team have improved over pre-season and it has been particularly pleasing to see Martin Rowlands back to full fitness. A number of the youth squad have made tremendous steps forward during pre-season and will be fighting for places in Gary's first team.
"It is frustrating that, despite all the hard work everyone has been doing during pre-season, a tiny minority of people seem intent on damaging team morale and destroying the Club in the run up to our important first game.
"Not only have they once again invented wholly false rumours about the state of the Club, but unfortunately a couple of journalists with a record of writing stories against QPR, and with links to some of the individuals intent on destabilising the Club, have blown up these rumours and made up stories from nothing.
"Last week it was suggested in some of the press that we were putting QPR up for sale. Unfortunately the journalists responsible for this story failed to even check the official statement from Antonio Caliendo, Chairman of Holdings, on the Club's official website, making clear the Board's continued commitment to QPR.
"I have always said if someone with QPR's best interests at heart wants to come along and buy out the existing Board we would not stand in their way. Nothing has changed and nobody has come forward. We will continue to seek out new investors to take the Club even further forward, but as Antonio made clear last week, we are committed to QPR.
"The Club is in a better financial position than it has been in for a number of years. Things are still tough, but we have reduced the annual debt by millions and intend to reduce it further. Yet ridiculous rumours still seem to be invented by a few people for reasons beyond me.
"The latest is the absurd rumour suggested on a message board that the players were locked out of the Harlington training ground, when in fact Gary Waddock had just given them the day off as they had only recently arrived back from a busy schedule in Italy.
"The same newspaper that had to apologise for a series of inaccurate stories about me last season, the Evening Standard, then chose to repeat this wholly false rumour as fact without even checking with me, the coaching staff, or even Imperial College - the owners of the training ground.
"In an article by a journalist named Wayne Vesey, under the headline 'Locked-out Rangers are unable to train' the Standard claimed that the Club was locked out of the training ground on Monday. Such a clearly false statement damages the reputation of the Club, and the morale of the players and supporters. I have been advised it is libellous and our lawyers will be contacting the Standard immediately to demand a retraction.
"QPR fans will ask themselves why should people invent such rumours? The purpose can only be to destabilise the Club and to injure the morale of players and fans just days before the season kicks off. The Club will not allow another season to be derailed by these people.
"The Board, Gary Waddock and the coaching staff, and the players and other members of staff, are all united in our focus to move this great club forward and to achieve success this season on the pitch. We believe we have the squad and the resources to do so. We will not allow a tiny group of people, driven by an agenda that has nothing to do with football, to destroy this Club.
"I urge all fans to treat such rumour-mongers with the contempt and scepticism they deserve. They have been claiming we would go into administration every week for the past year, and they never admit they are wrong when we don't.
"They claimed we were locked out of the training ground before and even that the groundsmen would not cut the grass at the stadium. They predicted we would spend all the Club's money on agents' fees when we have spent less than nearly any other club in this division. They predicted we would sell off Loftus Road and all our best players because we could not afford their wages.
"Just yesterday they claimed we were locked out of the training ground because we could not afford the rent; but today, as scheduled, our players are training at the training ground. On each and every occasion their rumours have been proven false.
"As I believe you say in England, when someone cries wolf so many times, people stop listening. But every time the rumour-mongers are proven wrong they invent another rumour, so desperate to be proven right and for the Club to fail.
"For the last time I say to those who's criticism of the Board has developed into an agenda to undermine the Club, if you know of a better alternative to take QPR forward with the necessary funding to support it, then please let us know. Otherwise stop pursuing a divisive and destructive agenda. The Board, the players and staff and the thousands of fans of QPR will not allow a small selfish group to ruin the season for the rest of us.
"I know most QPR fans will be sensible enough to take every rumour and press speculation with a hefty pinch of salt. We seem to be in the 'silly season' right now - only today I saw an article in the Mirror claiming I had rejected an offer of £3million for Danny Shittu from Wolves and would only sell him for £10 million.
"The story is, of course, rubbish. As I have said all along, we don't want to sell Danny, but if someone comes in with an offer of £3million or above it will be up to him to decide. Nobody has made such an offer and so Danny will be starting the season with us.
"So as we prepare for the opening game at Burnley on Saturday, and then two exciting home games against Leeds United and newly promoted Southend United, I cannot wait for the football to start and for the players to do the talking on the pitch."And I urge every single QPR fan to get fully behind Gary and the boys and help them to turn this into a glorious season. Come on You R's!'' Gianni Paladini - QPR
QPR OFFICIAL SITE STATEMENT RE GROUND CLOSING
CLUB STATEMENT - Queens Park Rangers Football Club would like to issue the following statement to clear the air over yet more wildly inaccurate reporting in the press and on various message boards.QPR staff were admitted to the training ground on Monday. No players were refused admittance to the ground yesterday. This is because no players turned up as it had been decided to give them an extra day off after their pre-season tour to Italy. The players are back at the training ground today (Tuesday) working hard for the opening match of the season at Turf Moor on Saturday. .... It should also be noted that the items printed in the press had not been checked with either QPR or Imperial College before being published.And remember... www.qpr.co.uk is the R's official website - where all the breaking news comes first and fastest. QPR
Daily Mirror August 1, 2006 - RANGERS RENT ROW MYSTERY
QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini last night denied his players had been locked out of the training ground because the troubled Championship club had not paid the rent.
Several QPR players claimed they were turned away from their Harlington training HQ when the gates were locked in the latest apparent financial setback.
Rangers may be entrenched in debt, but Paladini stressed the rent was paid to Imperial College on July 18....
Paladini said: "We can prove the rent was paid and our manager Gary Waddock was there yesterday and allowed in.
"The players were simply given a day off and that is why they were not at the training ground yesterday.
"It's been a very difficult time for the club - the worst I can ever remember...
Mirror
And a few days later:
Sunday Mirror 6 August 2006 - LIVING IN FEAR
Contract killer threat forces QPR chairman to wear a bullet-proof vest GIANNI PALADINI EXCLUSIVE - Anthony Clavane
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini is living in fear after a contract was legedly put out on his life.
Following advice by the police, the controversial Rangers chief now has to wear a bullet-proof vest.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror Sport, Paladini hit out at fans opposed to his regime at Loftus Road, calling them the "enemy within".
Paladini said: "I find it incredible what's going on here. You have to fight against so many things. This must be the only club where the fans love to put s**t on their own club on the website."
Two weeks ago, a group of men were cleared of forcing Paladini to resign at gunpoint during a match against Sheffield United.
The Italian tycoon claimed he was surrounded by hired thugs, punched and slapped, and then warned he'd be killed if he refused to sign a letter of resignation.
But a judge threw out the case against the men. There is no suggestion that any of those men are involved in the alleged contract on Paladini....
Ever since Paladini became a director of the debt-ridden Championship club he has faced hostile criticism from a section of supporters.
The Italian tycoon was furious to discover an attempt to sabotage an interview with him on the QPR website after he returned from the R's pre-season tour of his home country.
He said: "I went mad. It's been cancelled now. They're trying to wind me up. I give up, I really do. I nearly got a heart attack when I saw it.
"They put the face of a fan up there, somebody is stirring things up.
"Sometimes I wonder why I got myself involved in this situation. Whatever you do, you can't win. Even if you win the league and get promoted, you'll still have people who criticise.
"I feel like a dartboard. People are always throwing darts at me.
"We have an enemy within. What kind of people do these things? How can you be a QPR fan when you put this s**t in?"
Paladini also suspected foul play when one newspaper reported last week that Rangers players were turned away from their training ground because the rent had not been paid.
He blasted: "This did not happen. I have a statement showing we paid Imperial College, who we rent the ground from, £32,250 on 18 July. How can they shut it for non-payment two weeks after paying the rent? It's insane.
"There were people from a QPR fan group outside the training ground at 7.20am, putting it out that the players had been locked out.
"But people were asleep at that time. The players didn't go in until 10am.
"They put out so much s**t, so much rubbish, that I just give up.
"Since I've come here there's been problem after problem after problem but now, thank God, it's all left behind. Now we will only concentrate on the football and take this club forward.
"With the players we've brought in and the new manager, Gary Waddock, we're looking forward to an exciting season.
"We've reduced the average age of the team and we've brought in players to give us stability for the next two or three years.
"It's been a very difficult time. But it's business as usual. I just carry on doing my job.
"In this game you need a lot of money. When I came here we were losing more than £500,000 a year but, by the end of next season, we should be out of debt.
"I'm lucky that the people with me they are prepared to put in money. This month, to pay the wages, they had to put in more money."
"When I came here we got promoted and we've been two years in the Championship. Look at clubs like Birmingham, who spend eight or nine million, or Wolves, Coventry, Leeds.
"They spend a fortune every year. They are on a very different level to us.
"Fortunately I've been involved in foot ball for the last 30 years and it's helped me a lot, because I1 can get certain players in." Sunday Mirror
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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
QPR Win Harrow Friendly 3-0
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UPDATED QPR vs Harrow Match Report & Photos Match Report - QPRnet's Simon Skinner and Photos from QPRnet's Ron Norris Also Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Match Report
QPR OFFICIAL SITE UNSCATHED
Manager John Gregory was content with the performance of his side against Ryman's Premier outfit Harrow Borough on Tuesday night.
Following the 3-0 win - courtesy of goals from Marc Nygaard, Adam Bolder and Shabazz Baidoo, the R's chief said: "It was a big night for Harrow, trying to stick one over on us, but I thought we started particularly well, better than we did at Wycombe.
"It was great to get Marcus Bignot on for a bit towards the end, and the main thing is that everyone has come through unscathed."
The win over Harrow followed last weekend's narrow victory against Wycombe, although Gregory isn't too concerned by the scorelines of these warm-up games.
"As always, in this kind of pre-season game, it's a no-win situation because you're expected to win comfortably anyway," he added.
"People often read far too much into pre-season results, and that drives me crackers sometimes - the outcome is of no importance to me." QPR
QPR Official Site - Harrow 0-3 QPR
QPR beat Harrow Borough 3-0 at Earlsmead this evening.
A first half Marc Nygaard strike was added to after the break with goals from Adam Bolder and Shabazz Baidoo. QPR
Teams -
1. Lee Camp, 4. Zesh Rehman, 6. Micheal Mancienne, 5. Damion Stewart, 21. John Curtis, 18. Stephen Moore, 19. Simon Walton, 14. Martin Rowland, 11. James Simmonds, 17. Ben Sahar, 16. Marc Nygaard
Subs: 2. Bignot, 3. Barker, 7. Bolder, 23. Bailey, 22. Baidoo, 15. Simmons, 12. Cole, 8. Nardiello, 9. Blackstock, 24. Timoska, 20. St Aimie QPR
UPDATED QPR vs Harrow Match Report & Photos Match Report - QPRnet's Simon Skinner and Photos from QPRnet's Ron Norris Also Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times Match Report
QPR OFFICIAL SITE UNSCATHED
Manager John Gregory was content with the performance of his side against Ryman's Premier outfit Harrow Borough on Tuesday night.
Following the 3-0 win - courtesy of goals from Marc Nygaard, Adam Bolder and Shabazz Baidoo, the R's chief said: "It was a big night for Harrow, trying to stick one over on us, but I thought we started particularly well, better than we did at Wycombe.
"It was great to get Marcus Bignot on for a bit towards the end, and the main thing is that everyone has come through unscathed."
The win over Harrow followed last weekend's narrow victory against Wycombe, although Gregory isn't too concerned by the scorelines of these warm-up games.
"As always, in this kind of pre-season game, it's a no-win situation because you're expected to win comfortably anyway," he added.
"People often read far too much into pre-season results, and that drives me crackers sometimes - the outcome is of no importance to me." QPR
QPR Official Site - Harrow 0-3 QPR
QPR beat Harrow Borough 3-0 at Earlsmead this evening.
A first half Marc Nygaard strike was added to after the break with goals from Adam Bolder and Shabazz Baidoo. QPR
Teams -
1. Lee Camp, 4. Zesh Rehman, 6. Micheal Mancienne, 5. Damion Stewart, 21. John Curtis, 18. Stephen Moore, 19. Simon Walton, 14. Martin Rowland, 11. James Simmonds, 17. Ben Sahar, 16. Marc Nygaard
Subs: 2. Bignot, 3. Barker, 7. Bolder, 23. Bailey, 22. Baidoo, 15. Simmons, 12. Cole, 8. Nardiello, 9. Blackstock, 24. Timoska, 20. St Aimie QPR
QPR & Ex-QPR Update: Sellotape, Lomas, Munday, Murray, Furlong, Gnohre & Wanchope
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Sellotape extend their sponsorship of QPR...Ex-QPR Steve Lomas joins Gillingham (probably joining up with Simon Royce).
[Previously posted today: Additional ex-QPR news re Paul Furlong, Arthur Gnohre, Jon Munday, Paul Murray and Palo Wanchope (almost!)- Ex-QPR Snippets I
QPR Official Site - SELLOTAPE STAY ON
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce that we have agreed a new two-year extension to our sponsorship deal with Sellotape.
The lucrative deal will see Sellotape's famous blue and yellow logo on the players' home and away shirts for the next two campaigns, creating awareness on a massive scale.
It will provide extensive media exposure for the brand in the national press, on television and via worldwide internet coverage.
We are also very pleased to announce that Sellotape will now sponsor the School End Stand at Loftus Road.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, Colin Gadd, Sales Director at Henkel, owners of Sellotape, commented: "Sellotape are very pleased to have secured this two-year extension to our agreement with both shirt sponsorship and ground advertising.
"We are also delighted at the response to our Pritt half-time competition, which gives boys and girls from schools in the area the chance to play on the famous Loftus Road pitch, as well as potentially winning their school £1,000 worth of Art and Craft products.
"We wish John Gregory and the team every success for the season ahead and hope, as al Rangers fans do, that we can push forward towards the Premiership dream."
R's Commercial & Communications Director, Paul Parker, added: "We are delighted to continue our fruitful working relationship with Sellotape.
"Sellotape is one of this country's most recognisable and well-known products and we're delighted to be associated with them.''...QPR
GILLINGHAM OFFICIAL SITE - Lomas puts pen-to-paper at Priestfield
Gillingham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international midfielder Steve Lomas. The 33-year-old moves to the Priestfield Stadium on a free transfer, after leaving QPR, where he made 36 first-team appearances last season...
Gills manager Ronnie Jepson told the official website, Lomas is a 'tremendous signing for the club' and will be 'an excellent addition to our squad'.
Gillingham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international midfielder Steve Lomas. The 33-year-old moves to the Priestfield Stadium on a free transfer, after leaving QPR, where he made 36 first-team appearances last season....
Gills manager Ronnie Jepson told the official website, Lomas is a 'tremendous signing for the club' and will be 'an excellent addition to our squad'.
Chairman Paul Scally added 'Steve has played at the highest level but still has tremendous enthusiasm for the game. He will be a great asset and further outlines the ambition that I hold for both this football club and the manager.' Gillingham
Cochrane Maybe to Yeovil
Midfielder Justin Cochrane (above) might be turning his trial period at Yeovil into a permanent move?
WITH Yeovil Town's first game of the 2007-08 season away at Huddersfield Town nearing fast, Glovers' boss Russell Slade is still looking to strengthen his squad.
There was talk yesterday (Tuesday) that he was looking to sign former Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham United midfielder Justin Cochrane.
The 25-year-old, who is on trial at Huish Park, played during Yeovil's decent 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at Bristol City on Saturday and Slade later described his performance as great.' London-born Cochrane started his career at QPR as a trainee and played for the youth and reserve teams.
He was sold to non-league Hayes - a club that not so long ago were fierce rivals of Yeovil - having failed to make a single first-team appearance for QPR.
Cochrane was then sold by Hayes on a free transfer to Crewe.
He later had a loan spell at Gillingham and a trial at Luton Town, before he was released by Crewe at the end of the 2005-06 season and joined Rotherham.
But now he is a free agent, Slade is taking a closer look at him to see if he could be another piece of the jigsaw before the curtain-opener on August 11...Yeovil Express
Sellotape extend their sponsorship of QPR...Ex-QPR Steve Lomas joins Gillingham (probably joining up with Simon Royce).
[Previously posted today: Additional ex-QPR news re Paul Furlong, Arthur Gnohre, Jon Munday, Paul Murray and Palo Wanchope (almost!)- Ex-QPR Snippets I
QPR Official Site - SELLOTAPE STAY ON
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce that we have agreed a new two-year extension to our sponsorship deal with Sellotape.
The lucrative deal will see Sellotape's famous blue and yellow logo on the players' home and away shirts for the next two campaigns, creating awareness on a massive scale.
It will provide extensive media exposure for the brand in the national press, on television and via worldwide internet coverage.
We are also very pleased to announce that Sellotape will now sponsor the School End Stand at Loftus Road.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, Colin Gadd, Sales Director at Henkel, owners of Sellotape, commented: "Sellotape are very pleased to have secured this two-year extension to our agreement with both shirt sponsorship and ground advertising.
"We are also delighted at the response to our Pritt half-time competition, which gives boys and girls from schools in the area the chance to play on the famous Loftus Road pitch, as well as potentially winning their school £1,000 worth of Art and Craft products.
"We wish John Gregory and the team every success for the season ahead and hope, as al Rangers fans do, that we can push forward towards the Premiership dream."
R's Commercial & Communications Director, Paul Parker, added: "We are delighted to continue our fruitful working relationship with Sellotape.
"Sellotape is one of this country's most recognisable and well-known products and we're delighted to be associated with them.''...QPR
GILLINGHAM OFFICIAL SITE - Lomas puts pen-to-paper at Priestfield
Gillingham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international midfielder Steve Lomas. The 33-year-old moves to the Priestfield Stadium on a free transfer, after leaving QPR, where he made 36 first-team appearances last season...
Gills manager Ronnie Jepson told the official website, Lomas is a 'tremendous signing for the club' and will be 'an excellent addition to our squad'.
Gillingham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland international midfielder Steve Lomas. The 33-year-old moves to the Priestfield Stadium on a free transfer, after leaving QPR, where he made 36 first-team appearances last season....
Gills manager Ronnie Jepson told the official website, Lomas is a 'tremendous signing for the club' and will be 'an excellent addition to our squad'.
Chairman Paul Scally added 'Steve has played at the highest level but still has tremendous enthusiasm for the game. He will be a great asset and further outlines the ambition that I hold for both this football club and the manager.' Gillingham
Cochrane Maybe to Yeovil
Midfielder Justin Cochrane (above) might be turning his trial period at Yeovil into a permanent move?
WITH Yeovil Town's first game of the 2007-08 season away at Huddersfield Town nearing fast, Glovers' boss Russell Slade is still looking to strengthen his squad.
There was talk yesterday (Tuesday) that he was looking to sign former Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham United midfielder Justin Cochrane.
The 25-year-old, who is on trial at Huish Park, played during Yeovil's decent 2-2 pre-season friendly draw at Bristol City on Saturday and Slade later described his performance as great.' London-born Cochrane started his career at QPR as a trainee and played for the youth and reserve teams.
He was sold to non-league Hayes - a club that not so long ago were fierce rivals of Yeovil - having failed to make a single first-team appearance for QPR.
Cochrane was then sold by Hayes on a free transfer to Crewe.
He later had a loan spell at Gillingham and a trial at Luton Town, before he was released by Crewe at the end of the 2005-06 season and joined Rotherham.
But now he is a free agent, Slade is taking a closer look at him to see if he could be another piece of the jigsaw before the curtain-opener on August 11...Yeovil Express
QPR's (Chelsea's) Ben Sahar Profiled - March 2007 Profile/Interview!
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Chelsea Official Site (From March 2007)
TACKLING TERRY - SAHAR WAITS ON ISRAEL CHANCE
Such has been the pace with which Ben Sahar has risen as a young footballer this season, it will almost come as a surprise if he does not make his competitive international debut on Saturday.
In Tel Aviv this weekend, the 17-year-old Chelsea striker has the chance to line-up in direct competition with John Terry as Israel go head-to-head against England in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier.
It is by no means certain Sahar will start. He has just one full international to his name, won in Israel's most recent friendly against Ukraine, and a mere two appearances for the Under 21s, both this season.
But his chances have increased with the news that striker Yaniv Katan has withdrawn from the game with a cracked rib. This is added to suspension for leading campaign scorer Roberto Colautti. Katan played in three of the four qualifiers so far. Colautti has been ever-present.
If Sahar is picked, it will cap, quite literally, a season in which he has arrived at Chelsea, progressed from youth to reserve to a first team debut in January, as well becoming both Israel and Chelsea's youngest ever international.
'Sometimes I think maybe it is a little too fast,' he admitted before departing England to join up with the Israel squad.
'But the chance has come up and it is good for me. If you play for the first team of Chelsea, of course you like it but you have to keep in your mind that you are still young and there is a lot to improve.'
His Chelsea first team career so far consists of three second-half substitute appearances, one in each of the three domestic competitions, all coming in January.
His has not been a totally sublime season. He has scored in just one of his five appearances in the reserves since the last of those first team run-outs, although he did net a hat-trick that night.
In total he has five reserve goals in 11+1 appearances and four goals in 5+4 youth team games.
'I am still young and I know every day in training I need to work hard. I am happy that the staff has given me the opportunity to play.
'I don't feel pressure here in Chelsea but in Israel, everyone knows me now and everyone expects that I will play good and there is a little bit of pressure from the media in Israel. But I have to control this and stay focussed on the pitch.'
The hopes his county have for Sahar mirror rising expectations over Israeli football in general. An unbeaten, if ultimately unsuccessful qualification campaign for the last World Cup, was a sign of improving standards. Only goal difference denied a place in Germany. Now the people are calling for participation in a major tournament.
Israel currently lie level with England in Euro 2008 qualification group E, three points behind leaders Croatia.
'This is a big game for us because we know if we win, it will help a lot to go to the next round,' Sahar says about Saturday's challenge.
'If you don't think you have a chance, why are you playing? We think we have a chance, particularly at home with all our fans.
'The stadium in Tel Aviv is not a typical English stadium, the fans are a little bit far from the pitch, but it holds 45,000 and the atmosphere I think will be great because a lot of fans from Israel will come and I hear 5,000 from England. The pitch is fantastic.
'Maybe you [England] have a little bit of problems with the national team and maybe this is bad for us because you come, you want to fight, you come with 100 per cent motivation. So this can be good or bad.
'We are not an easy team because we played against France and other big teams and we didn't lose.'
Needless to say, the approaching match has been a topic of conversation at the Chelsea training ground.
'Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard are very friendly but very professional. They speak about the game, and how it is going to be and how the standard is going to be.
'The players in the reserves are saying we are going to beat you, and it is just a joke. I said okay, let's wait for the game.
'I have played already for Israel against Sheva and it was brilliant for me. When he came to Israel, he said about me good things in the media.
In training I have learned a lot from these players and of course you be friendly in training. John Terry is a really good guy and helps me. But if I do play against England I will give my best against John Terry.
'You want to beat them of course. It will be perfect if England after this game win all their games.'
Sahar was first spotted for Chelsea by our academy chief scout Lee Congerton at an Israel youth international in Ireland and was invited over for a trial before being offered the chance to sign.
He has an athletic pedigree. While his father's football was played at a purely amateur local level, his mother was a national sprint and long jump champion at the age of 18. Both take turns to come over and stay with him in England.
'All the time I thought Chelsea was the best club for me. I think I am suited to English football, that is why I came here. I think I am quick and strong.'
José Mourinho, asked last week about the young striker's progress, declared:
"I am very excited. When Shevchenko was injured before the Man City game, Ben Sahar was the next one if Sheva hadn't travelled. He would have been on the bench.
'He is still working in the reserve team. Sometimes he comes to us but next year will be different. Next year he will be part of the first team squad. Of course he will play matches with the reserves but he will be working every day with us.
'If he can play against England at this high level, against big players like Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher, all these great central defenders, it is magnificent for his experience.'
Lampard, another who will be in opposition on Saturday should Sahar get the nod, has also shared his thoughts.
His progress has been very good and he has got first team potential. He has come on and had a little taster and trained with us without looking out of place.
'Ben is still young and has a long, long way to go - but in terms of potential he can definitely get into our first team if he develops as he has been doing.'
Chelsea
Chelsea Official Site (From March 2007)
TACKLING TERRY - SAHAR WAITS ON ISRAEL CHANCE
Such has been the pace with which Ben Sahar has risen as a young footballer this season, it will almost come as a surprise if he does not make his competitive international debut on Saturday.
In Tel Aviv this weekend, the 17-year-old Chelsea striker has the chance to line-up in direct competition with John Terry as Israel go head-to-head against England in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier.
It is by no means certain Sahar will start. He has just one full international to his name, won in Israel's most recent friendly against Ukraine, and a mere two appearances for the Under 21s, both this season.
But his chances have increased with the news that striker Yaniv Katan has withdrawn from the game with a cracked rib. This is added to suspension for leading campaign scorer Roberto Colautti. Katan played in three of the four qualifiers so far. Colautti has been ever-present.
If Sahar is picked, it will cap, quite literally, a season in which he has arrived at Chelsea, progressed from youth to reserve to a first team debut in January, as well becoming both Israel and Chelsea's youngest ever international.
'Sometimes I think maybe it is a little too fast,' he admitted before departing England to join up with the Israel squad.
'But the chance has come up and it is good for me. If you play for the first team of Chelsea, of course you like it but you have to keep in your mind that you are still young and there is a lot to improve.'
His Chelsea first team career so far consists of three second-half substitute appearances, one in each of the three domestic competitions, all coming in January.
His has not been a totally sublime season. He has scored in just one of his five appearances in the reserves since the last of those first team run-outs, although he did net a hat-trick that night.
In total he has five reserve goals in 11+1 appearances and four goals in 5+4 youth team games.
'I am still young and I know every day in training I need to work hard. I am happy that the staff has given me the opportunity to play.
'I don't feel pressure here in Chelsea but in Israel, everyone knows me now and everyone expects that I will play good and there is a little bit of pressure from the media in Israel. But I have to control this and stay focussed on the pitch.'
The hopes his county have for Sahar mirror rising expectations over Israeli football in general. An unbeaten, if ultimately unsuccessful qualification campaign for the last World Cup, was a sign of improving standards. Only goal difference denied a place in Germany. Now the people are calling for participation in a major tournament.
Israel currently lie level with England in Euro 2008 qualification group E, three points behind leaders Croatia.
'This is a big game for us because we know if we win, it will help a lot to go to the next round,' Sahar says about Saturday's challenge.
'If you don't think you have a chance, why are you playing? We think we have a chance, particularly at home with all our fans.
'The stadium in Tel Aviv is not a typical English stadium, the fans are a little bit far from the pitch, but it holds 45,000 and the atmosphere I think will be great because a lot of fans from Israel will come and I hear 5,000 from England. The pitch is fantastic.
'Maybe you [England] have a little bit of problems with the national team and maybe this is bad for us because you come, you want to fight, you come with 100 per cent motivation. So this can be good or bad.
'We are not an easy team because we played against France and other big teams and we didn't lose.'
Needless to say, the approaching match has been a topic of conversation at the Chelsea training ground.
'Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard are very friendly but very professional. They speak about the game, and how it is going to be and how the standard is going to be.
'The players in the reserves are saying we are going to beat you, and it is just a joke. I said okay, let's wait for the game.
'I have played already for Israel against Sheva and it was brilliant for me. When he came to Israel, he said about me good things in the media.
In training I have learned a lot from these players and of course you be friendly in training. John Terry is a really good guy and helps me. But if I do play against England I will give my best against John Terry.
'You want to beat them of course. It will be perfect if England after this game win all their games.'
Sahar was first spotted for Chelsea by our academy chief scout Lee Congerton at an Israel youth international in Ireland and was invited over for a trial before being offered the chance to sign.
He has an athletic pedigree. While his father's football was played at a purely amateur local level, his mother was a national sprint and long jump champion at the age of 18. Both take turns to come over and stay with him in England.
'All the time I thought Chelsea was the best club for me. I think I am suited to English football, that is why I came here. I think I am quick and strong.'
José Mourinho, asked last week about the young striker's progress, declared:
"I am very excited. When Shevchenko was injured before the Man City game, Ben Sahar was the next one if Sheva hadn't travelled. He would have been on the bench.
'He is still working in the reserve team. Sometimes he comes to us but next year will be different. Next year he will be part of the first team squad. Of course he will play matches with the reserves but he will be working every day with us.
'If he can play against England at this high level, against big players like Terry, Ferdinand, Carragher, all these great central defenders, it is magnificent for his experience.'
Lampard, another who will be in opposition on Saturday should Sahar get the nod, has also shared his thoughts.
His progress has been very good and he has got first team potential. He has come on and had a little taster and trained with us without looking out of place.
'Ben is still young and has a long, long way to go - but in terms of potential he can definitely get into our first team if he develops as he has been doing.'
Chelsea
Updated Timeline re QPR's Simon Blitz Loan, Reported Repayment, Transfer Embargo? - Official Responses - Claims, Statements, Responses
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The allegation in today's Daily Mail and this past Sunday's News of the World and Sunday Mirror is that there is a transfer embargo.
UPDATED TIMELINE Timeline: The QPR "Loan Deal Thread - Claims and Responses
July 31: Daily Mail - QPR's new stars may sit it out
New signings Simon Walton and Lee Camp may be banned from starting the season with QPR.
The Football League are refusing to allow Rangers to register new players until they repay a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz - there is understood to be £300,000 left.
Rangers announced the signings of Walton from Charlton for £200,000 and Camp from Derby for £300,000 last week.
But the transfers are yet to be ratified by the League who will block any move to play them in the Championship. Daily Mail
July 30 - On BBC Radio London, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini reportedly said (according to QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report of the programme: "...The embargo was put on us before we started to pay money back to Blitz - now we're paying it back the embargo has been lifted..." (From Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report)
July 28 The Sunday Mirror and the News of the World both reported on a transfer embargo.
Sunday Mirror: "Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
July OLDHAM CHRONICLE - League probes Rangers loan
MICHAEL YARWOOD
FOOTBALL League officials are set to probe Simon Blitz’s £500,000 loan to Queens Park Rangers.
The Boundary Park chairman lent the money from his own account, insisting it was a personal transaction with no connection to Athletic, but the league will discuss a possible conflict of interests.
It seems unlikely that either Athletic or QPR will receive a heavy punishment, even though football investors are not supposed to get involved with more than one club.
Mr Blitz declined to make any comment today, but the expected outcome from the league’s monthly meeting was a slap on the wrist.
The New York-based tycoon offered his loan towards the end of last season as Championship side QPR were going through serious cash-flow problems.
They had to debts to pay, and Mr Blitz helped them out as he had some “extra funds” in his account.
He stressed it was a business deal which did not go through Athletic’s books and on which QPR were charged interest, leaving him with a personal profit.
Everything was registered through the correct channels, with the loan secured against QPR’s star player, Lee Cook.
League officials have opted to discuss the matter, but all parties have taken steps to resolve the issue quickly and avoid any damaging penalties.
Contrary to reports last week, a cheque sent to Mr Blitz by QPR did not bounce – part of the £500,000 has been repaid, with the rest to come within days.
Rangers fans were alarmed about losing 24-year-old winger Cook if the Loftus Road board, who accepted the loan over two months ago, were unable to come up with the necessary payments.
Ironically, Cook is now poised to leave QPR in an expensive transfer to Fulham.
Athletic were not asked to send a representative to the Football League’s meeting, while a spokesman for QPR said: “The arrangements the club has already put in place remain acceptable. No charges have been brought.”
THE Football League will today also decide whether Leeds will be allowed to start life in Coca–Cola League One next month.
Months of uncertainty over the Elland Road club's future were seemingly ended yesterday when administrators KPMG announced Ken Bates' consortium had bought back the club for an undisclosed sum.
But KPMG's decision to sell the club outside of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) could have grave consequences for Leeds' future in League One. Oldham Chronicle
July 12 - Daily Mail - QPR face League probe over loan
QPR could be in trouble with the authorities after today's meeting of the Football League board.
The club face the possibility of sanction over a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz.
The deal may be considered a breach of Football League regulation 80 which forbids individuals linked with one club lending money to another without permission.
Cook's potential transfer is at the centre of the investigation
Details of the loan, which Blitz claims was secured against the future sale of Rangers winger Lee Cook, emerged in April and prompted a League investigation.
Rangers promised to pay back the cash but the League have yet to see evidence the repayment has taken place.
The matter is on the agenda at today's meeting of the league's executive board who may refer it to an independent Football Disciplinary Commission. If found guilty, both clubs could be fined or deducted points.
Blitz said the loan was a private business deal and had no connection to his Oldham role.
Rangers director Nick De Marco said: “The club have been assured by authorities that the arrangements we have put in place to resolve this remain acceptable.”
Daily Mail
JULY 8 Sunday Mirror/Paul Smith "QPR FACE DROP OVER LOAN DEAL"
QUEENS Park Rangers face being relegated from the Championship or handicapped with a severe points deduction when the Football League board meet on Thursday.
The League is furious that QPR seriously breached their rules by entering into an illegal loan agreement with League One Oldham.
They borrowed £500,000 against the future sale of 24-year-old winger Lee Cook. The Football League has ordered QPR to repay the money.
But QPR's financial crisis has deepened leaving them in a perilous position after the original cheque they issued to - repay Oldham bounced.
However, QPR chairman Gianni Paladini insisted last night: "We paid the cheque to Oldham on Friday. I can tell you now that everything is satisfactory."
A Football League source said: "We have unlimited powers to take an acceptable course of action in the case of QPR." Sunday Mirror
July 9, RESPONSE On LSA FAN BOARD BY QPR DIRECTOR/LEGAL COUNCIL, Nick De Marco, Responding in his personal capacity
Query and Response
NICK DE MARCO RESPONSE
"...I will do my best to answer, in a personal capacity and to my best ability, the questions you have raised....
Taking your questions in the order you raised them:
I know that in a previous email on this you said there would be no further ramifications to QPRFC, do you and the rest of the board still feel this to be the case?
Yes. Indeed it is my understanding the story in the press is not reliable. I understand the Club has been assured today by the relevant authorities that the arrangements the Club has already put in place to resolve this issue remain acceptable. No charges have been brought against QPR. QPR have not been invited to attend any meeting or make representations to any meeting dealing with this matter in the next week, or beyond that. No disciplinary charge has been laid against QPR. No suggestion has been made by the relevant authorities of any sanction involving the deduction of points being considered.
The journalist’s story was incorrect on a number of other counts, the most significant of which I understand are as follows:
(i) The alleged loan reported was not made by Oldham FC and
(ii) No cheque bounced.
I do not know who is purported to have told the journalist that “"We have unlimited powers to take an acceptable course of action in the case of QPR." However the statement is pretty non committal. If you consider it in full it amounts to saying, “we can do whatever is appropriate”. That if course is true. If a journalist telephoned an officer of the FL and asked for a comment, I would not be surprised if such a non-committed comment was made. I don’t think too much needs to be read into it seeing as the Club has, I understand, been assured that the resolution it has put in place is acceptable.
It would seem to the average lay man that with several law people on the board, something of this nature should never have occurred, without wishing to sound rude, what checks were carried out as to the legality of this loan?
I was not involved in the negotiation of this matter nor was I involved in any initial review of it. I understand that the initial discussions concerned a proposal by Mr Blitz to assist in re-financing the ABC loan, and the money advanced was done so as a deposit or down payment in respect of those discussions. I understand those involved at QPR relied on the assurances of the lawyers representing Mr Blitz that the arrangement had been cleared with the football authorities and was not in breach of the rules. It remains a matter of debate as to whether any material rule was breached, but given the concerns raised, and our own review of the rules, it was agreed that it would be better to pay the money back and not pursue further the discussions about the re-financing of the loan rather than risk any breach.
With speculation that there is a chance QPRFC could face relegation or start the new season with points deducted, why has there been no official word on this from the Club, I would have thought it of uppermost important to put the supporters minds at rest on this? Can we expect an official statement?
The only speculation about a points deduction and relegation that has been made is in one small article of one newspaper. The article has a number of flaws and we do not believe there is any basis for that speculation. If the Club responded to every piece of speculation about it reported in the press it would probably only further fuel such speculation, would do little to quell it amongst those who wish to speculate, and would take up a disproportionate amount of time. I have, however, attempted to provide you with answers to the questions you have sent me on behalf of the LSA, and I hope that is a proportionate response to the issues raised.
Kind regards Nick De Marco
JULY 10 Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - League may probe Blitz loan
QPR are confident they will face no action when the Football League meets tomorrow to discuss their controversial loan from Simon Blitz.
Rangers are in the process of repaying the £500,000 they received from Blitz, the Oldham Athletic chairman, as part of his proposed investment in the club earlier this summer.
A national newspaper report claimed last weekend that the Rs could be deducted points or even relegated if the League's board decides that a breach of their rules took place.
QPR have strongly denied that, as the newspaper claimed, their cheque to Blitz 'bounced' - and have also stressed that their dealings have always been with Blitz as an individual, never with Oldham.
A Loftus Road insider told the Times: "We were surprised by the story. We haven't been asked to attend the Football League meeting or told there is anything we need to reply to.
"The loan will be repaid in full. The club has contacted both the FA and Football League and they have confirmed they are not taking any action."
Football League spokesman Jon Nagle stated: "To our knowledge, at this point in time, the monies have not been paid. The matter will be discussed by the League board at their monthly meeting on Thursday."
Rangers accepted Blitz's money as part of their attempts to refinance the crippling ABC loan, but agreed to return it after learning that the FA had not authorised the arrangement...
. Kilburn Times
EARLY MAY PIECES RE LOAN POSTED AT QPR REPORT
QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing and Returning Loan
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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CLUB STATEMENT
The Board have today (Sunday) issued the following statement with regards to on-going speculation in the national press.
Queens Park Rangers FC have been involved in discussions with Simon Blitz about possibilities of re-financing the ABC loan at a better interest rate for QPR.
As part of those negotiations, and by way of a down-payment to demonstrate his interest in assisting with this in the future, Mr Blitz agreed to loan QPR £500,000.
It was agreed that the loan was not in violation of the Football Association or Football League rules.
Mr Blitz, as the lending party, assured QPR that he was satisfied, having received his own legal advice, that the loan did not violate any football rules.
The loan, and the security for the loan was not hidden and was made public by the registration of the security at Companies House.
Contrary to press reports, the loan was not made to help QPR with its payroll, but was made in the context of the ABC re-financing discussions.
Having taken further advice, and having discovered that Simon Blitz did not have the prior written authorisation of the F.A. to make this loan, QPR has agreed to pay the loan back forthwith.
QPR would like to assure its supporters that it has no intention of selling Lee Cook, and the fact that the proceeds of any future sale was offered as a security does not suggest this.
Mr Blitz had no say in any potential sale of Lee Cook, and now it is agreed to repay the loan he will not have a security over him.
QPR will continue to work hard to try and re-finance the ABC loan in the near future.
The contents of this statement have been shown to Simon Blitz and agreed by him. It will also been sent to the Football Association.QPR
"Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR"
FROM LAST WEEK re LEAGUE/OLDHAM-QPR INVESTIGATION
Friday's Standard QPR probe spells chaos for League
RAOUL SIMONS Sports News Editor
THE climax of the Championship season was thrown into chaos today by the Football League’s decision to probe Queens Park Rangers.
The club are under investigation after taking out a £500,000 loan from Oldham Athletic chairman Simon Blitz.
If found guilty of breaking League rules, Rangers could be deducted points — opening up the sensational possibility of rivals Leeds United escaping relegation.
Nineteenth-placed Rangers are six points ahead of Leeds — who are third bottom — but results on Sunday when QPR face Stoke and Leeds meet Derby could see that gap close to three.
The outcome of the League investigation is not expected soon, which means the arguments over the final make-up of the table could extend long into the close-season.
In a further twist, Leeds are understood to be close to going into administration which, if announced before the end of the season, could render the QPR issue academic.
The Yorkshire club would automatically be deducted 10 points as punishment for financial mismanagement.
The League have announced they are investigating the bizarre arrangement between Rangers and Blitz, which involves the loan being secured against the future sale of star winger Lee Cook.
Asked if the probe could theoretically lead to a points deduction, a League spokesman today refused to comment.
Blitz is understood to be a friend of Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini and was asked to provide funds to help the club cover wages while they overcame cashf low problems.
Paladini said: “I arranged something in the best interests of the club. I am not telling lies when I say we have no intention of selling Lee Cook — that is unless we get an offer we just cannot refuse.”
Blitz said: “I was talking to the QPR chairman and he asked me for a short-term loan because they had problems covering the payroll. Usually the collateral is something like a house but QPR couldn’t use their land to guarantee the loan so I agreed they could use a player.”
May 3, 2007 BBC -League to probe Oldham-QPR link
The Football League has launched an investigation into a £500,000 personal loan made by Oldham chairman Simon Blitz to Championship side QPR.
A League spokesman said: "An issue, relating to Oldham and Queens Park Rangers, was brought to our attention."
The loan, which was registered with Companies House on 18 April, has been confirmed by Blitz.
However, neither QPR chairman Gianni Paladini nor the Football Association would comment on the matter.
Blitz told the Oldham Chronicle: "This is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics."
QPR's supporters' trust co-ordinator Tracy Stent added: "We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so (after Sunday's game against Stoke)." BBC
May 3, 2007 Sporting Life -LEAGUE PROBE LOAN TO QPR
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
The Football League has launched an investigation into a £500,000 personal loan made by Oldham chairman Simon Blitz to Coca-Cola Championship outfit QPR.
The loan, registered with Companies House on April 18, is believed to be secured against the potential sale of Rangers' star player Lee Cook and has been confirmed by Blitz, although Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini did not want to comment when approached.
A Football League spokesman said: "An issue, relating to Oldham Athletic and Queen's Park Rangers, was brought to our attention. This is now being investigated."
The League did not reveal possible punishments for Rangers or Oldham should they be deemed to be guilty of wrongdoing, while the Football Association would not comment on the matter.
Members of the Rangers Supporters' Trust are to meet Paladini on Sunday, when Rangers play their final Championship match of the season against Stoke, to discuss the matter.
Blitz said the loan would have no negative impact on Oldham's finances, and told the Oldham Chronicle this week: "This is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics."
Rangers' Supporters Trust Co-ordinator Tracy Stent added: "We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so [after Sunday's game against Stoke]." Sporting Life
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR
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Update:
SPORTING LIFE - RANGERS FANS QUESTION LATICS LOAN
The QPR Supporters Trust is to meet chairman Gianni Paladini to discuss a £500,000 personal loan to Rangers from Oldham supremo Simon Blitz.
The loan, believed to be secured against the potential sale of Rangers winger Lee Cook, has been confirmed by Latics chairman Blitz although Paladini did not want to comment when approached.
The loan was registered with Companies House on April 18 and Blitz insists it will have no negative impact on Oldham's finances.
"We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so [after Sunday's game against Stoke]," said Tracy Stent, the Rangers Supporters' Trust Co-ordinator.
Blitz told the Oldham Chronicle: "It is something I do. People borrow money from me and they pay it back with interest. Business is business.
"People can say whatever they like but this is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics." Sporting Life
QPR 1st Statement - New loan for QPR Holdings Ltd
May 2, 2007
Following the file updated at Companies House on Monday concerning a £500,000 loan to QPR Holdings Ltd, QPR 1st Chair, Tracy Stent, yesterday morning spoke to club director, Kevin Steele.
Kevin informed her that that whilst confidentiality clauses had been signed between the various parties involved with this loan, it is a short term one; it's basically a floating charge; that he is confident it will mean good news for the longer term of the club; and that there are other discussions ongoing in relation to the ABC loan. He also informed that because of the nature and sensitivity involved in such discussions, the Board and/or those involved are unable to update regarding this at the current moment in time, but would do so when there is any news to report on.
QPR 1st will update with any further news on this as and when we receive it. QPR1st
Oldham Evening Chronicle Blitz defends loan to QPR
by MICHAEL YARWOOD
ATHLETIC chairman Simon Blitz has made a personal loan of £500,000 to Queens Park Rangers.
Mr Blitz was approached by QPR chief Gianni Paladini as the London club were going through cash-flow difficulties, and he agreed to lend them the money to help cover wages.
The New York-based tycoon, whose main interest is a telecommunications company, said it was entirely a personal business transaction which had “no bearing whatsoever” on Athletic.
Questions have been raised by Athletic supporters, but the funds, secured against the transfer of QPR player Lee Cook, did not go through Boundary Park accounts.
Mr Blitz said: “I was talking to the QPR chairman and he asked me for a short-term loan because they had problems covering the payroll.
“I told him ‘Actually, I can help you out’ because I had some extra funds in my personal account.
“I do this sort of thing – agreeing to a loan, getting the money back quite quickly and making profit from the interest.
“It’s something I do. People borrow money from me and they pay it back with interest. Business is business.
“Usually the collateral is something like a house, but QPR couldn’t use their land to guarantee the loan so I agreed they could use a player.
“There’s no conflict with my position at Oldham Athletic because I haven’t invested in another club, just lent them some personal funds for a few weeks.
“People can say whatever they like, but this is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics.
“I haven’t contravened any rules and I registered it all with Companies House – it’s a way of making money and, in the long term, that can only benefit the club.”
Mr Blitz has several business interests in America and Britain and co-owns Athletic with Simon Corney and Danny Gazal.
He expects to be paid back when QPR, who have had long-term financial problems, receive money from the sale of season tickets. Oldham Evening Chronicle
Julia/Boardroom Blues reporting "[Lee] Cook Used As Loan Security"- That QPR Holdings Ltd has borrowed £500,000 from Oldham Chairman/Co-owner Simon Blitz secured against the future sale of Lee Cook. Report
May 1, 2007 - Boardroom Blues Site "[Lee] Cook Used As Loan Security"
May 2, 2007 - Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR
May 6, 2007 - QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing and Returning Loan
May 8, 2007 QPR & Simon Blitz & Future Investment
May 8, 2007 - QPR's Return of Money to Oldham's Simon Blitz Noted
The allegation in today's Daily Mail and this past Sunday's News of the World and Sunday Mirror is that there is a transfer embargo.
UPDATED TIMELINE Timeline: The QPR "Loan Deal Thread - Claims and Responses
July 31: Daily Mail - QPR's new stars may sit it out
New signings Simon Walton and Lee Camp may be banned from starting the season with QPR.
The Football League are refusing to allow Rangers to register new players until they repay a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz - there is understood to be £300,000 left.
Rangers announced the signings of Walton from Charlton for £200,000 and Camp from Derby for £300,000 last week.
But the transfers are yet to be ratified by the League who will block any move to play them in the Championship. Daily Mail
July 30 - On BBC Radio London, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini reportedly said (according to QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report of the programme: "...The embargo was put on us before we started to pay money back to Blitz - now we're paying it back the embargo has been lifted..." (From Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report)
July 28 The Sunday Mirror and the News of the World both reported on a transfer embargo.
Sunday Mirror: "Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
July OLDHAM CHRONICLE - League probes Rangers loan
MICHAEL YARWOOD
FOOTBALL League officials are set to probe Simon Blitz’s £500,000 loan to Queens Park Rangers.
The Boundary Park chairman lent the money from his own account, insisting it was a personal transaction with no connection to Athletic, but the league will discuss a possible conflict of interests.
It seems unlikely that either Athletic or QPR will receive a heavy punishment, even though football investors are not supposed to get involved with more than one club.
Mr Blitz declined to make any comment today, but the expected outcome from the league’s monthly meeting was a slap on the wrist.
The New York-based tycoon offered his loan towards the end of last season as Championship side QPR were going through serious cash-flow problems.
They had to debts to pay, and Mr Blitz helped them out as he had some “extra funds” in his account.
He stressed it was a business deal which did not go through Athletic’s books and on which QPR were charged interest, leaving him with a personal profit.
Everything was registered through the correct channels, with the loan secured against QPR’s star player, Lee Cook.
League officials have opted to discuss the matter, but all parties have taken steps to resolve the issue quickly and avoid any damaging penalties.
Contrary to reports last week, a cheque sent to Mr Blitz by QPR did not bounce – part of the £500,000 has been repaid, with the rest to come within days.
Rangers fans were alarmed about losing 24-year-old winger Cook if the Loftus Road board, who accepted the loan over two months ago, were unable to come up with the necessary payments.
Ironically, Cook is now poised to leave QPR in an expensive transfer to Fulham.
Athletic were not asked to send a representative to the Football League’s meeting, while a spokesman for QPR said: “The arrangements the club has already put in place remain acceptable. No charges have been brought.”
THE Football League will today also decide whether Leeds will be allowed to start life in Coca–Cola League One next month.
Months of uncertainty over the Elland Road club's future were seemingly ended yesterday when administrators KPMG announced Ken Bates' consortium had bought back the club for an undisclosed sum.
But KPMG's decision to sell the club outside of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) could have grave consequences for Leeds' future in League One. Oldham Chronicle
July 12 - Daily Mail - QPR face League probe over loan
QPR could be in trouble with the authorities after today's meeting of the Football League board.
The club face the possibility of sanction over a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz.
The deal may be considered a breach of Football League regulation 80 which forbids individuals linked with one club lending money to another without permission.
Cook's potential transfer is at the centre of the investigation
Details of the loan, which Blitz claims was secured against the future sale of Rangers winger Lee Cook, emerged in April and prompted a League investigation.
Rangers promised to pay back the cash but the League have yet to see evidence the repayment has taken place.
The matter is on the agenda at today's meeting of the league's executive board who may refer it to an independent Football Disciplinary Commission. If found guilty, both clubs could be fined or deducted points.
Blitz said the loan was a private business deal and had no connection to his Oldham role.
Rangers director Nick De Marco said: “The club have been assured by authorities that the arrangements we have put in place to resolve this remain acceptable.”
Daily Mail
JULY 8 Sunday Mirror/Paul Smith "QPR FACE DROP OVER LOAN DEAL"
QUEENS Park Rangers face being relegated from the Championship or handicapped with a severe points deduction when the Football League board meet on Thursday.
The League is furious that QPR seriously breached their rules by entering into an illegal loan agreement with League One Oldham.
They borrowed £500,000 against the future sale of 24-year-old winger Lee Cook. The Football League has ordered QPR to repay the money.
But QPR's financial crisis has deepened leaving them in a perilous position after the original cheque they issued to - repay Oldham bounced.
However, QPR chairman Gianni Paladini insisted last night: "We paid the cheque to Oldham on Friday. I can tell you now that everything is satisfactory."
A Football League source said: "We have unlimited powers to take an acceptable course of action in the case of QPR." Sunday Mirror
July 9, RESPONSE On LSA FAN BOARD BY QPR DIRECTOR/LEGAL COUNCIL, Nick De Marco, Responding in his personal capacity
Query and Response
NICK DE MARCO RESPONSE
"...I will do my best to answer, in a personal capacity and to my best ability, the questions you have raised....
Taking your questions in the order you raised them:
I know that in a previous email on this you said there would be no further ramifications to QPRFC, do you and the rest of the board still feel this to be the case?
Yes. Indeed it is my understanding the story in the press is not reliable. I understand the Club has been assured today by the relevant authorities that the arrangements the Club has already put in place to resolve this issue remain acceptable. No charges have been brought against QPR. QPR have not been invited to attend any meeting or make representations to any meeting dealing with this matter in the next week, or beyond that. No disciplinary charge has been laid against QPR. No suggestion has been made by the relevant authorities of any sanction involving the deduction of points being considered.
The journalist’s story was incorrect on a number of other counts, the most significant of which I understand are as follows:
(i) The alleged loan reported was not made by Oldham FC and
(ii) No cheque bounced.
I do not know who is purported to have told the journalist that “"We have unlimited powers to take an acceptable course of action in the case of QPR." However the statement is pretty non committal. If you consider it in full it amounts to saying, “we can do whatever is appropriate”. That if course is true. If a journalist telephoned an officer of the FL and asked for a comment, I would not be surprised if such a non-committed comment was made. I don’t think too much needs to be read into it seeing as the Club has, I understand, been assured that the resolution it has put in place is acceptable.
It would seem to the average lay man that with several law people on the board, something of this nature should never have occurred, without wishing to sound rude, what checks were carried out as to the legality of this loan?
I was not involved in the negotiation of this matter nor was I involved in any initial review of it. I understand that the initial discussions concerned a proposal by Mr Blitz to assist in re-financing the ABC loan, and the money advanced was done so as a deposit or down payment in respect of those discussions. I understand those involved at QPR relied on the assurances of the lawyers representing Mr Blitz that the arrangement had been cleared with the football authorities and was not in breach of the rules. It remains a matter of debate as to whether any material rule was breached, but given the concerns raised, and our own review of the rules, it was agreed that it would be better to pay the money back and not pursue further the discussions about the re-financing of the loan rather than risk any breach.
With speculation that there is a chance QPRFC could face relegation or start the new season with points deducted, why has there been no official word on this from the Club, I would have thought it of uppermost important to put the supporters minds at rest on this? Can we expect an official statement?
The only speculation about a points deduction and relegation that has been made is in one small article of one newspaper. The article has a number of flaws and we do not believe there is any basis for that speculation. If the Club responded to every piece of speculation about it reported in the press it would probably only further fuel such speculation, would do little to quell it amongst those who wish to speculate, and would take up a disproportionate amount of time. I have, however, attempted to provide you with answers to the questions you have sent me on behalf of the LSA, and I hope that is a proportionate response to the issues raised.
Kind regards Nick De Marco
JULY 10 Kilburn Times/Ben Kosky - League may probe Blitz loan
QPR are confident they will face no action when the Football League meets tomorrow to discuss their controversial loan from Simon Blitz.
Rangers are in the process of repaying the £500,000 they received from Blitz, the Oldham Athletic chairman, as part of his proposed investment in the club earlier this summer.
A national newspaper report claimed last weekend that the Rs could be deducted points or even relegated if the League's board decides that a breach of their rules took place.
QPR have strongly denied that, as the newspaper claimed, their cheque to Blitz 'bounced' - and have also stressed that their dealings have always been with Blitz as an individual, never with Oldham.
A Loftus Road insider told the Times: "We were surprised by the story. We haven't been asked to attend the Football League meeting or told there is anything we need to reply to.
"The loan will be repaid in full. The club has contacted both the FA and Football League and they have confirmed they are not taking any action."
Football League spokesman Jon Nagle stated: "To our knowledge, at this point in time, the monies have not been paid. The matter will be discussed by the League board at their monthly meeting on Thursday."
Rangers accepted Blitz's money as part of their attempts to refinance the crippling ABC loan, but agreed to return it after learning that the FA had not authorised the arrangement...
. Kilburn Times
EARLY MAY PIECES RE LOAN POSTED AT QPR REPORT
QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing and Returning Loan
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QPR OFFICIAL SITE - CLUB STATEMENT
The Board have today (Sunday) issued the following statement with regards to on-going speculation in the national press.
Queens Park Rangers FC have been involved in discussions with Simon Blitz about possibilities of re-financing the ABC loan at a better interest rate for QPR.
As part of those negotiations, and by way of a down-payment to demonstrate his interest in assisting with this in the future, Mr Blitz agreed to loan QPR £500,000.
It was agreed that the loan was not in violation of the Football Association or Football League rules.
Mr Blitz, as the lending party, assured QPR that he was satisfied, having received his own legal advice, that the loan did not violate any football rules.
The loan, and the security for the loan was not hidden and was made public by the registration of the security at Companies House.
Contrary to press reports, the loan was not made to help QPR with its payroll, but was made in the context of the ABC re-financing discussions.
Having taken further advice, and having discovered that Simon Blitz did not have the prior written authorisation of the F.A. to make this loan, QPR has agreed to pay the loan back forthwith.
QPR would like to assure its supporters that it has no intention of selling Lee Cook, and the fact that the proceeds of any future sale was offered as a security does not suggest this.
Mr Blitz had no say in any potential sale of Lee Cook, and now it is agreed to repay the loan he will not have a security over him.
QPR will continue to work hard to try and re-finance the ABC loan in the near future.
The contents of this statement have been shown to Simon Blitz and agreed by him. It will also been sent to the Football Association.QPR
"Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR"
FROM LAST WEEK re LEAGUE/OLDHAM-QPR INVESTIGATION
Friday's Standard QPR probe spells chaos for League
RAOUL SIMONS Sports News Editor
THE climax of the Championship season was thrown into chaos today by the Football League’s decision to probe Queens Park Rangers.
The club are under investigation after taking out a £500,000 loan from Oldham Athletic chairman Simon Blitz.
If found guilty of breaking League rules, Rangers could be deducted points — opening up the sensational possibility of rivals Leeds United escaping relegation.
Nineteenth-placed Rangers are six points ahead of Leeds — who are third bottom — but results on Sunday when QPR face Stoke and Leeds meet Derby could see that gap close to three.
The outcome of the League investigation is not expected soon, which means the arguments over the final make-up of the table could extend long into the close-season.
In a further twist, Leeds are understood to be close to going into administration which, if announced before the end of the season, could render the QPR issue academic.
The Yorkshire club would automatically be deducted 10 points as punishment for financial mismanagement.
The League have announced they are investigating the bizarre arrangement between Rangers and Blitz, which involves the loan being secured against the future sale of star winger Lee Cook.
Asked if the probe could theoretically lead to a points deduction, a League spokesman today refused to comment.
Blitz is understood to be a friend of Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini and was asked to provide funds to help the club cover wages while they overcame cashf low problems.
Paladini said: “I arranged something in the best interests of the club. I am not telling lies when I say we have no intention of selling Lee Cook — that is unless we get an offer we just cannot refuse.”
Blitz said: “I was talking to the QPR chairman and he asked me for a short-term loan because they had problems covering the payroll. Usually the collateral is something like a house but QPR couldn’t use their land to guarantee the loan so I agreed they could use a player.”
May 3, 2007 BBC -League to probe Oldham-QPR link
The Football League has launched an investigation into a £500,000 personal loan made by Oldham chairman Simon Blitz to Championship side QPR.
A League spokesman said: "An issue, relating to Oldham and Queens Park Rangers, was brought to our attention."
The loan, which was registered with Companies House on 18 April, has been confirmed by Blitz.
However, neither QPR chairman Gianni Paladini nor the Football Association would comment on the matter.
Blitz told the Oldham Chronicle: "This is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics."
QPR's supporters' trust co-ordinator Tracy Stent added: "We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so (after Sunday's game against Stoke)." BBC
May 3, 2007 Sporting Life -LEAGUE PROBE LOAN TO QPR
By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
The Football League has launched an investigation into a £500,000 personal loan made by Oldham chairman Simon Blitz to Coca-Cola Championship outfit QPR.
The loan, registered with Companies House on April 18, is believed to be secured against the potential sale of Rangers' star player Lee Cook and has been confirmed by Blitz, although Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini did not want to comment when approached.
A Football League spokesman said: "An issue, relating to Oldham Athletic and Queen's Park Rangers, was brought to our attention. This is now being investigated."
The League did not reveal possible punishments for Rangers or Oldham should they be deemed to be guilty of wrongdoing, while the Football Association would not comment on the matter.
Members of the Rangers Supporters' Trust are to meet Paladini on Sunday, when Rangers play their final Championship match of the season against Stoke, to discuss the matter.
Blitz said the loan would have no negative impact on Oldham's finances, and told the Oldham Chronicle this week: "This is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics."
Rangers' Supporters Trust Co-ordinator Tracy Stent added: "We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so [after Sunday's game against Stoke]." Sporting Life
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR
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Update:
SPORTING LIFE - RANGERS FANS QUESTION LATICS LOAN
The QPR Supporters Trust is to meet chairman Gianni Paladini to discuss a £500,000 personal loan to Rangers from Oldham supremo Simon Blitz.
The loan, believed to be secured against the potential sale of Rangers winger Lee Cook, has been confirmed by Latics chairman Blitz although Paladini did not want to comment when approached.
The loan was registered with Companies House on April 18 and Blitz insists it will have no negative impact on Oldham's finances.
"We are interested in finding out more about this, and we will be trying to do so [after Sunday's game against Stoke]," said Tracy Stent, the Rangers Supporters' Trust Co-ordinator.
Blitz told the Oldham Chronicle: "It is something I do. People borrow money from me and they pay it back with interest. Business is business.
"People can say whatever they like but this is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics." Sporting Life
QPR 1st Statement - New loan for QPR Holdings Ltd
May 2, 2007
Following the file updated at Companies House on Monday concerning a £500,000 loan to QPR Holdings Ltd, QPR 1st Chair, Tracy Stent, yesterday morning spoke to club director, Kevin Steele.
Kevin informed her that that whilst confidentiality clauses had been signed between the various parties involved with this loan, it is a short term one; it's basically a floating charge; that he is confident it will mean good news for the longer term of the club; and that there are other discussions ongoing in relation to the ABC loan. He also informed that because of the nature and sensitivity involved in such discussions, the Board and/or those involved are unable to update regarding this at the current moment in time, but would do so when there is any news to report on.
QPR 1st will update with any further news on this as and when we receive it. QPR1st
Oldham Evening Chronicle Blitz defends loan to QPR
by MICHAEL YARWOOD
ATHLETIC chairman Simon Blitz has made a personal loan of £500,000 to Queens Park Rangers.
Mr Blitz was approached by QPR chief Gianni Paladini as the London club were going through cash-flow difficulties, and he agreed to lend them the money to help cover wages.
The New York-based tycoon, whose main interest is a telecommunications company, said it was entirely a personal business transaction which had “no bearing whatsoever” on Athletic.
Questions have been raised by Athletic supporters, but the funds, secured against the transfer of QPR player Lee Cook, did not go through Boundary Park accounts.
Mr Blitz said: “I was talking to the QPR chairman and he asked me for a short-term loan because they had problems covering the payroll.
“I told him ‘Actually, I can help you out’ because I had some extra funds in my personal account.
“I do this sort of thing – agreeing to a loan, getting the money back quite quickly and making profit from the interest.
“It’s something I do. People borrow money from me and they pay it back with interest. Business is business.
“Usually the collateral is something like a house, but QPR couldn’t use their land to guarantee the loan so I agreed they could use a player.
“There’s no conflict with my position at Oldham Athletic because I haven’t invested in another club, just lent them some personal funds for a few weeks.
“People can say whatever they like, but this is a business deal on a personal level which has no bearing whatsoever on Latics.
“I haven’t contravened any rules and I registered it all with Companies House – it’s a way of making money and, in the long term, that can only benefit the club.”
Mr Blitz has several business interests in America and Britain and co-owns Athletic with Simon Corney and Danny Gazal.
He expects to be paid back when QPR, who have had long-term financial problems, receive money from the sale of season tickets. Oldham Evening Chronicle
Julia/Boardroom Blues reporting "[Lee] Cook Used As Loan Security"- That QPR Holdings Ltd has borrowed £500,000 from Oldham Chairman/Co-owner Simon Blitz secured against the future sale of Lee Cook. Report
May 1, 2007 - Boardroom Blues Site "[Lee] Cook Used As Loan Security"
May 2, 2007 - Oldham Chairman Simon Blitz Explains £500,000 Loan to QPR
May 6, 2007 - QPR Statement re Blitz Loan, ABC Refinancing and Returning Loan
May 8, 2007 QPR & Simon Blitz & Future Investment
May 8, 2007 - QPR's Return of Money to Oldham's Simon Blitz Noted
Question Whether QPR's New Signings Eligible to Play
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Daily Mail - QPR's new stars may sit it out
New signings Simon Walton and Lee Camp may be banned from starting the season with QPR.
The Football League are refusing to allow Rangers to register new players until they repay a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz - there is understood to be £300,000 left.
Rangers announced the signings of Walton from Charlton for £200,000 and Camp from Derby for £300,000 last week.
But the transfers are yet to be ratified by the League who will block any move to play them in the Championship. Daily Mail
[Last night on BBC Radio London, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini reportedly said (according to QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report of the programme: "...The embargo was put on us before we started to pay money back to Blitz - now we're paying it back the embargo has been lifted..." (From Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report)
On Sunday, the Sunday Mirror and the News of the World both reported on a transfer embargo.
Sunday Mirror: "Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Daily Mail - QPR's new stars may sit it out
New signings Simon Walton and Lee Camp may be banned from starting the season with QPR.
The Football League are refusing to allow Rangers to register new players until they repay a £500,000 loan from Oldham chairman Simon Blitz - there is understood to be £300,000 left.
Rangers announced the signings of Walton from Charlton for £200,000 and Camp from Derby for £300,000 last week.
But the transfers are yet to be ratified by the League who will block any move to play them in the Championship. Daily Mail
[Last night on BBC Radio London, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini reportedly said (according to QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report of the programme: "...The embargo was put on us before we started to pay money back to Blitz - now we're paying it back the embargo has been lifted..." (From Rivals' Clive Whittingham's report)
On Sunday, the Sunday Mirror and the News of the World both reported on a transfer embargo.
Sunday Mirror: "Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Six Months Ago: QPR Relegation Loomed Large
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Six months ago: QPR lost 0-2 at Barnsley and dropped into the bottom three. QPR were on a slump with 6 points out of possible 36 (2 wins and 10 losses) from their last 12 games. QPR's team vs Barnsley: QPR: Royce, Rehman (Nygaard 85), Bolder, Lomas (Ainsworth 74), Cook, Stewart, Timoska, Furlong (Jones 70), Blackstock, Smith, Mancienne Subs: Cole, Kanyuka
[Barnsley had some guy, called Nardiello playing for them!] Barnsley vs QPR Match Reports
Relegation spots after Barnsley loss
17 Norwich 29 -11 34
18 Leicester 29 -9 33
19 Barnsley 30 -15 32
20 Hull 30 -11 31
21 Luton 30 -14 31
22 QPR 30 -12 30
23 Southend 30 -21 27
24 Leeds 29 -22 27
The transfer deadline arrived: Danny Cullip signed on deadline day with Nick Ward going out on loan. Reports in the press that Dean Parret was (or had joined) Spurs.
Six months ago: QPR lost 0-2 at Barnsley and dropped into the bottom three. QPR were on a slump with 6 points out of possible 36 (2 wins and 10 losses) from their last 12 games. QPR's team vs Barnsley: QPR: Royce, Rehman (Nygaard 85), Bolder, Lomas (Ainsworth 74), Cook, Stewart, Timoska, Furlong (Jones 70), Blackstock, Smith, Mancienne Subs: Cole, Kanyuka
[Barnsley had some guy, called Nardiello playing for them!] Barnsley vs QPR Match Reports
Relegation spots after Barnsley loss
17 Norwich 29 -11 34
18 Leicester 29 -9 33
19 Barnsley 30 -15 32
20 Hull 30 -11 31
21 Luton 30 -14 31
22 QPR 30 -12 30
23 Southend 30 -21 27
24 Leeds 29 -22 27
The transfer deadline arrived: Danny Cullip signed on deadline day with Nick Ward going out on loan. Reports in the press that Dean Parret was (or had joined) Spurs.
QPR & Ex-QPR Snippets
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QPR's next friendly is tonight: Away to non-league Harrow Borough. - Harrow's site See also QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham interview with Harrow manager
Hard to Replace Lee Cook? Despite receiving 2.5 million pounds (initial up front payment) for Lee Cook, and having spent just 500,000 pounds on players, John Gregory is suggesting no money left for a replacement. (Hopefully an exageration!) and that anyway, will be difficult "For us to replace Lee Cook is an enormous task. "It will be extremely difficult, and we don't have any money left. "Forward players are always more expensive, and forward players who win games are more expensive still." Teamtalk
(Transfer Embargo? Although Chairman Paladini last night reportedly said that the reports of a transfer embargo were incorrect, he did apparently suggest that there HAD in fact been an embargo but it was now lifted. - See Report on Paladini's comments
QPR youth defender, Jon Munday, released in January signed for Harriers - Signing See also Express and Star
Ex-QPR Forward Paul Furlong, now with Luton faced up against ex-QPR defender, Arthur Gnohre trialing with non-league Oxford. Luton won 2-1. Oxford Reportand Luton Report
The former on-loan midfielder, now at Norwich is out for six weeks with an injury.
Paul Murray now playing for Gretna, profiled - Gretna
And one time, nearly QPR, Paolo Wanchope set to make his debut for Chicago Fire in the MLS.
Chicago Fire - Chicago Fire sign forward Wanchope
BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Chicago Fire Soccer announced today the signing of Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope (pronounced wahn-CHO-pay) and as a result of the signing, the Fire have now filled all four Senior International slots on the team's 28-man full roster. Per Major League Soccer (MLS) and team policy, specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"I think the Paulo Wanchope can only be good news for everyone involved with the club," said Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "Paulo is a very experienced striker, and has scored goals at all levels. I think he will improve our attacking force and hopefully he will be someone challenging the rest of the strikers on the starting line, helping us score more goals, winning more matches, and achieving our goal of making the playoffs."
Wanchope began his career with Club Sport Herediano (1994-97), before moving on to England to play with Derby County (1997-1999), West Ham United (1999-00), and Manchester City (2000-04), where he played under Osorio. Wanchope has since seen stints with Malaga CF (2004-05), Al-Gharrafa Sports Club (2005), CS Herediano (2006), Rosario Central (2006), and most recently FC Tokyo (2007). The Costa Rican international is his country's second all-time leading goal scorer and has played in the 2000 and 2002 Gold Cups, as well as the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.
"Paulo Wanchope is a proven goal-scorer, and his presence on the field will have an immediate impact as we enter the second half of the season," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "I'm sure he will gel very well with the rest of the team on the field and in the locker-room and we welcome him to the Chicago Fire."
"I'm very happy to make the decision to come here," said Wanchope. "I know Juan Carlos from a long time ago, so I know he's a very good professional and a very good coach. The setup here in Chicago will help me regain my level of the game. The interest to come here was to have a new experience, and I have to be honest, I saw the connection with Juan Carlos and that was the key."
Wanchope League Record
Club Season Matches Goals
FC Tokyo 2007 12 2
Rosario Central Apertura 2006 14 6
Club Sport Herediano 2006 10 3
Al-Gharrafa 2005-2006 6 2
Malaga CF 2004-2005 25 6
Manchester City 2003-2004 22 6
Manchester City 2002-2003 0 0
Manchester City 2001-2002 15 12
Manchester City 2000-2001 27 9
West Ham United 1999-2000 35 12
Derby County 1998-1999 35 9
Derby County 1997-1998 32 13
Derby County 1996-1997 5 1
Club Sport Herediano 1996-1997 -- 11
Club Sport Herediano 1995-1996 -- 9
Club Sport Herediano 1994-1995 -- 0
TRANSACTION: CHICAGO FIRE sign Costa Rica forward Paulo Wanchope. CHicago Fire
CBS Sports - Wanchope looking forward to challenge of playing with Fire
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Costa Rican forward Paulo Wanchope expects to make his MLS debut for the Chicago Fire on Saturday against the Columbus Crew.
"This is a great, great challenge for me," he told reporters in Chicago after a training session Monday. "Coming here gives me confidence. ... I know I can improve. I know I can recover my level of game and hopefully score a lot of goals for Chicago."
Wanchope's new coach shares that optimism.
"He is a proven goal scorer, who has scored goals at the top level," Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I've seen it in the premiership and at the World Cup. He will be a great attribute for us."
Wanchope, who signed Friday with the Fire, worked out with the team last week but did not play in Sunday's game at Toronto FC.
He's the second top international player the Fire has added in July. Cuauhtemoc Blanco of Mexico made his debut for Chicago against Toronto.
The striker has seen action in 72 games for the Costa Rican national team, scoring 45 goals -- the second most in Costa Rican history. He played most recently with FC Tokyo, scoring three goals in 11 games.
Wanchope, who turns 31 Tuesday, began his professional career in 1994, playing for CS Herediano until 1996. He then went on to play for Derby County, West Ham United, Manchester City, Malaga CF, Al-Gharrafa Sports Club, Rosario Central and FC Tokyo - News
[Over the weekend, Chicago Fire defeated Danny Dichio's Toronto 3-0 - Match Report
QPR's next friendly is tonight: Away to non-league Harrow Borough. - Harrow's site See also QPR Rivals' Clive Whittingham interview with Harrow manager
Hard to Replace Lee Cook? Despite receiving 2.5 million pounds (initial up front payment) for Lee Cook, and having spent just 500,000 pounds on players, John Gregory is suggesting no money left for a replacement. (Hopefully an exageration!) and that anyway, will be difficult "For us to replace Lee Cook is an enormous task. "It will be extremely difficult, and we don't have any money left. "Forward players are always more expensive, and forward players who win games are more expensive still." Teamtalk
(Transfer Embargo? Although Chairman Paladini last night reportedly said that the reports of a transfer embargo were incorrect, he did apparently suggest that there HAD in fact been an embargo but it was now lifted. - See Report on Paladini's comments
QPR youth defender, Jon Munday, released in January signed for Harriers - Signing See also Express and Star
Ex-QPR Forward Paul Furlong, now with Luton faced up against ex-QPR defender, Arthur Gnohre trialing with non-league Oxford. Luton won 2-1. Oxford Reportand Luton Report
The former on-loan midfielder, now at Norwich is out for six weeks with an injury.
Paul Murray now playing for Gretna, profiled - Gretna
And one time, nearly QPR, Paolo Wanchope set to make his debut for Chicago Fire in the MLS.
Chicago Fire - Chicago Fire sign forward Wanchope
BRIDGEVIEW, IL - Chicago Fire Soccer announced today the signing of Costa Rican international Paulo Wanchope (pronounced wahn-CHO-pay) and as a result of the signing, the Fire have now filled all four Senior International slots on the team's 28-man full roster. Per Major League Soccer (MLS) and team policy, specific terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"I think the Paulo Wanchope can only be good news for everyone involved with the club," said Fire head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "Paulo is a very experienced striker, and has scored goals at all levels. I think he will improve our attacking force and hopefully he will be someone challenging the rest of the strikers on the starting line, helping us score more goals, winning more matches, and achieving our goal of making the playoffs."
Wanchope began his career with Club Sport Herediano (1994-97), before moving on to England to play with Derby County (1997-1999), West Ham United (1999-00), and Manchester City (2000-04), where he played under Osorio. Wanchope has since seen stints with Malaga CF (2004-05), Al-Gharrafa Sports Club (2005), CS Herediano (2006), Rosario Central (2006), and most recently FC Tokyo (2007). The Costa Rican international is his country's second all-time leading goal scorer and has played in the 2000 and 2002 Gold Cups, as well as the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.
"Paulo Wanchope is a proven goal-scorer, and his presence on the field will have an immediate impact as we enter the second half of the season," said Fire President/CEO John Guppy. "I'm sure he will gel very well with the rest of the team on the field and in the locker-room and we welcome him to the Chicago Fire."
"I'm very happy to make the decision to come here," said Wanchope. "I know Juan Carlos from a long time ago, so I know he's a very good professional and a very good coach. The setup here in Chicago will help me regain my level of the game. The interest to come here was to have a new experience, and I have to be honest, I saw the connection with Juan Carlos and that was the key."
Wanchope League Record
Club Season Matches Goals
FC Tokyo 2007 12 2
Rosario Central Apertura 2006 14 6
Club Sport Herediano 2006 10 3
Al-Gharrafa 2005-2006 6 2
Malaga CF 2004-2005 25 6
Manchester City 2003-2004 22 6
Manchester City 2002-2003 0 0
Manchester City 2001-2002 15 12
Manchester City 2000-2001 27 9
West Ham United 1999-2000 35 12
Derby County 1998-1999 35 9
Derby County 1997-1998 32 13
Derby County 1996-1997 5 1
Club Sport Herediano 1996-1997 -- 11
Club Sport Herediano 1995-1996 -- 9
Club Sport Herediano 1994-1995 -- 0
TRANSACTION: CHICAGO FIRE sign Costa Rica forward Paulo Wanchope. CHicago Fire
CBS Sports - Wanchope looking forward to challenge of playing with Fire
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Costa Rican forward Paulo Wanchope expects to make his MLS debut for the Chicago Fire on Saturday against the Columbus Crew.
"This is a great, great challenge for me," he told reporters in Chicago after a training session Monday. "Coming here gives me confidence. ... I know I can improve. I know I can recover my level of game and hopefully score a lot of goals for Chicago."
Wanchope's new coach shares that optimism.
"He is a proven goal scorer, who has scored goals at the top level," Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I've seen it in the premiership and at the World Cup. He will be a great attribute for us."
Wanchope, who signed Friday with the Fire, worked out with the team last week but did not play in Sunday's game at Toronto FC.
He's the second top international player the Fire has added in July. Cuauhtemoc Blanco of Mexico made his debut for Chicago against Toronto.
The striker has seen action in 72 games for the Costa Rican national team, scoring 45 goals -- the second most in Costa Rican history. He played most recently with FC Tokyo, scoring three goals in 11 games.
Wanchope, who turns 31 Tuesday, began his professional career in 1994, playing for CS Herediano until 1996. He then went on to play for Derby County, West Ham United, Manchester City, Malaga CF, Al-Gharrafa Sports Club, Rosario Central and FC Tokyo - News
[Over the weekend, Chicago Fire defeated Danny Dichio's Toronto 3-0 - Match Report
Monday, July 30, 2007
QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini's Radio Interview Commenton Matters re Takeover and Finances
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QPR's Chairman Gianni Paladini waa interviewed this evening on BBC Radio London about the imminent takeover and other matters.
QPR Rivals's Clive Whittingham has written up a report of what Paladini said tonight. - Summary of Gianni Paladini's Comments
QPR's Chairman Gianni Paladini waa interviewed this evening on BBC Radio London about the imminent takeover and other matters.
QPR Rivals's Clive Whittingham has written up a report of what Paladini said tonight. - Summary of Gianni Paladini's Comments
Ex-QPRs: Gnohre vs Furlong Tonight?
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Oxford United - Gnohere on trial as United face Luton
United will take a look at trialist Arthur Gnohere tonight as they take on Luton Town at home (7.45pm)
The French defender is a tough tackling centre half who enjoyed spells at Burnley and QPR, and the 28 year old will play at least 45 minutes tonight. Gnohere was unfortunate to get injured in the behind closed doors game against Bristol Rovers but is now recovered and looking to impress. Fellow trialist Michael Standing will also get a chance to build on some impressive performances so far. Boss Jim Smith is looking forward to the game:
"We'll take a look at Arthur and it should be a good game. We played well against Bournemouth and will try and build on that."...
Kick off is at 7.45pm, and you can save time and money by booking before 2pm. Prices before that time are just £8 for adults, £3 for over 65s and £1 for under 16s. After 2 o'clock prices are £10 for adults, £5 for over 65s and £3 for under 16s.
Victims of the Oxford floods who were staying at the stadium last week have now, happily, been able to return home and the Exhibition Bar is open for business as usual.
Tonight's game is LIVE in Yellow World thanks to our friends at BBC Oxford. Log on to Live Event from 7.40 for exclusive commentary, the only place you'll be able to hear the whole match. Full report and Gallery to follow Oxford
Oxford United - Gnohere on trial as United face Luton
United will take a look at trialist Arthur Gnohere tonight as they take on Luton Town at home (7.45pm)
The French defender is a tough tackling centre half who enjoyed spells at Burnley and QPR, and the 28 year old will play at least 45 minutes tonight. Gnohere was unfortunate to get injured in the behind closed doors game against Bristol Rovers but is now recovered and looking to impress. Fellow trialist Michael Standing will also get a chance to build on some impressive performances so far. Boss Jim Smith is looking forward to the game:
"We'll take a look at Arthur and it should be a good game. We played well against Bournemouth and will try and build on that."...
Kick off is at 7.45pm, and you can save time and money by booking before 2pm. Prices before that time are just £8 for adults, £3 for over 65s and £1 for under 16s. After 2 o'clock prices are £10 for adults, £5 for over 65s and £3 for under 16s.
Victims of the Oxford floods who were staying at the stadium last week have now, happily, been able to return home and the Exhibition Bar is open for business as usual.
Tonight's game is LIVE in Yellow World thanks to our friends at BBC Oxford. Log on to Live Event from 7.40 for exclusive commentary, the only place you'll be able to hear the whole match. Full report and Gallery to follow Oxford
"Further response from QPR on the ABC Loan" - QPRst
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QPR1st - July 30 - Further response from QPR on the ABC Loan
July 30, 2007
The Trust rec'd the following comments from Nick De Marco yesterday (Sunday)...
See QPR1st. QPR1st
QPR1st - July 30 - Further response from QPR on the ABC Loan
July 30, 2007
The Trust rec'd the following comments from Nick De Marco yesterday (Sunday)...
See QPR1st. QPR1st
Reportedly: No Baidoo to Bournemouth
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Shabbaz Baidoo trialed for Bournemouth, playing the first hour in their 2-1 loss to Oxford. Reportedly Baidoo is one of a number of Bournemouth trialists who will not be kept on. (It's not clear whether he's been sent on loan by QPR or being released)
Bournemouth Daily Echo - LETTING THEM GO - By Neil Perrett
CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond looks set to curtail the influx of trialists to Dean Court - with only a couple expected to be kept on.
Bond ran the rule over no fewer than 10 non-contracted players during Cherries' pre-season friendly defeat at Oxford United last night.
But after seeing his side go down 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium, Bond said he would be unlikely to pursue his interest in the majority of them.
South American trio Alfredo Novaes, Lidier Marmol and Marcio Giovanni are not expected to return, neither are Felicien Singbo, Reta Shehata, Shabazz Baidoo or Scott Lye.
However, French defender Christophe Jean Francois could feature against Portsmouth on Tuesday, as could Arsenal youngster Ryan Garry.
Garreth O'Connor, who took the tally of non-Cherries registered players into double figures, is expected to join the club on loan ahead of the new season.
But asked whether there would be many trialists on view against Pompey, Bond replied: "I don't think there will be too many around on Tuesday and the majority of the players who will be involved will be our players.
"I recognise that we've got two games left before the start of the season and 90 per cent of the players we use will either be our players or players who we hope will be our players.
"When you bring in players on trial, you always find 95 per cent of them will come and go. They have all been different class as guys and in the way that they have applied themselves. But they know as well as I do that there are only a couple of places to fill.
"We may have had 15 or 20 throughout the course of pre-season but history will tell you that only one or two will ever get taken on.
"It's just the nature of the business."
Egyptian striker Shehata caught the eye with his first-half display and also set up Cherries' goal for Darren Anderton.
But Bond added: "We recognise that he definitely has something but we just need to find out what the financial situation would be and if he is really what we want.
"I'm only going to be able to bring in one centre forward and that player has got to complement what we've got here already so I'll have to look at that as well."
Bond is aware his squad is still short on numbers ahead of the new season but insists he will not sign players just to bolster his resources.
"We are still looking to bring in players because our squad isn't big enough," he said.
"I'm fully aware we are a fortnight away from the start of the season and, in an ideal world, I would like a couple in.
"But I won't bring them in unless I think they are sufficient for us and I won't bring them in just for the sake of it."
Bond also said he had "a few players missing tonight who will be in the reckoning" and anticipates Paul Telfer, Neil Young and Russ Perrett will face Portsmouth on Tuesday. Daily Echo
Shabbaz Baidoo trialed for Bournemouth, playing the first hour in their 2-1 loss to Oxford. Reportedly Baidoo is one of a number of Bournemouth trialists who will not be kept on. (It's not clear whether he's been sent on loan by QPR or being released)
Bournemouth Daily Echo - LETTING THEM GO - By Neil Perrett
CHERRIES boss Kevin Bond looks set to curtail the influx of trialists to Dean Court - with only a couple expected to be kept on.
Bond ran the rule over no fewer than 10 non-contracted players during Cherries' pre-season friendly defeat at Oxford United last night.
But after seeing his side go down 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium, Bond said he would be unlikely to pursue his interest in the majority of them.
South American trio Alfredo Novaes, Lidier Marmol and Marcio Giovanni are not expected to return, neither are Felicien Singbo, Reta Shehata, Shabazz Baidoo or Scott Lye.
However, French defender Christophe Jean Francois could feature against Portsmouth on Tuesday, as could Arsenal youngster Ryan Garry.
Garreth O'Connor, who took the tally of non-Cherries registered players into double figures, is expected to join the club on loan ahead of the new season.
But asked whether there would be many trialists on view against Pompey, Bond replied: "I don't think there will be too many around on Tuesday and the majority of the players who will be involved will be our players.
"I recognise that we've got two games left before the start of the season and 90 per cent of the players we use will either be our players or players who we hope will be our players.
"When you bring in players on trial, you always find 95 per cent of them will come and go. They have all been different class as guys and in the way that they have applied themselves. But they know as well as I do that there are only a couple of places to fill.
"We may have had 15 or 20 throughout the course of pre-season but history will tell you that only one or two will ever get taken on.
"It's just the nature of the business."
Egyptian striker Shehata caught the eye with his first-half display and also set up Cherries' goal for Darren Anderton.
But Bond added: "We recognise that he definitely has something but we just need to find out what the financial situation would be and if he is really what we want.
"I'm only going to be able to bring in one centre forward and that player has got to complement what we've got here already so I'll have to look at that as well."
Bond is aware his squad is still short on numbers ahead of the new season but insists he will not sign players just to bolster his resources.
"We are still looking to bring in players because our squad isn't big enough," he said.
"I'm fully aware we are a fortnight away from the start of the season and, in an ideal world, I would like a couple in.
"But I won't bring them in unless I think they are sufficient for us and I won't bring them in just for the sake of it."
Bond also said he had "a few players missing tonight who will be in the reckoning" and anticipates Paul Telfer, Neil Young and Russ Perrett will face Portsmouth on Tuesday. Daily Echo
QPR 3 Chelsea 1 - Flashback Six Years!
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Six Years Ago at Loftus Road: QPR 3- Chelsea 1: "Just" a pre-season Friendly - but for newly-relegated QPR a nice result - and the last time QPR defeated (Pre-Abramovich's) Chelsea! With a wonder goal by Leroy Griffiths (also Connolly and Peacock scoring. And in goal for Chelsea: De Goey (with Bosnich on the bench). As fro the QPR team: Every single one of the players has moved on.
Of course, the fact that this post is noting a friendly result from six years ago, while Chelsea fans are counting their trophies does say something!
The teams:
QPR (4-4-2): Day; Forbes, Palmer, Ben Aska, Bruce; Bonnot (Cochrane, 51min), Perry, Peacock, Connolly (Walsh, 90); Thomson, Griffiths (Koejoe, 73).
Chelsea (3-4-3): De Goey (Bosnich, h-t); Gallas, Desailly (Bogarde, 66), Babayaro (Harley, h-t); Melchiot, Lampard, Morris (Jokanovic, h-t), Le Saux; Zola (Gudjohnsen, h-t), Hasselbaink (Forssell, 65), Gronkjaer (Stanic, h-t).
Guardian -Chris Taylor
Griffiths makes Chelsea pay the price as he moves from rags to riches
Chelsea's £25m summer spending spree may yet prove to be value for money, but it was Rangers' sole close-season purchase, a £40,000 buy from Hampton and Richmond, who stole the show as the millionaires from SW6 got a rude awakening in Shepherds Bush.
Leroy Griffiths made himself an instant hit with Rangers fans when he latched on to a through ball and, leaving the Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly trailing in his wake, lashed a fierce volley across Ed de Goey and into the far corner of the net. It was a moment of class from a young man who seemed totally unfazed by taking on one of the world's top defenders only a few weeks after turning out in the Rymans League.
"He's won the World Cup, been in the Champions League and that's where I want to be," said Griffiths. "You may be a World Cup winner but you're playing against someone totally different that you don't know anything about."
It was, as his manager Ian Holloway said, a wonderful goal from a player who has proved to be "a breath of fresh air". The victory will help boost confidence and blow away some of the gloom from last season's relegation to the Second Division, which has left continuing uncertainty over the cash-strapped club's future.
Pre-season games are a notoriously poor guide to the prospects for the coming campaign - witness Chelsea's Charity Shield victory over Manchester United last year - but there was little in this disjointed performance to suggest Claudio Ranieri's team would be capable of mounting a title challenge. In particular, Frank Lampard's anonymous display in midfield, where he was outshone by the Chelsea old boy Gavin Peacock, only served as a reminder that his predecessor as the Blues' costliest Englishman was Chris Sutton.
It had all looked so different early on. When Gronkjaer calmly netted in the 10th minute after Gianfranco Zola's defence-splitting pass had sprung the offside trap, it looked like the visitors would be able to take the game at a stroll on what was a swelteringly hot day. But with Chelsea making seven changes in the second half it was QPR who went ahead when Karl Connolly volleyed past Mark Bosnich. Shortly afterwards a slick passing move had the crowd chanting " ole " and ended with another good scoring chance.
Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equaliser with Eidur Gudjohnsen, the brightest of a lacklustre bunch, three times denied by the Hoops' goalkeeper Chris Day. He also made two fine saves from Mario Stanic, another second-half substitute, in a busy final 15 minutes.
Although Peacock's 88th-minute strike made for a slightly flattering scoreline, Chelsea could only envy the team spirit that Holloway has clearly instilled at Loftus Road.
Holloway knows that QPR still have a long way to go, although he might like to remind his charges that 25 years ago it was the QPR of Gerry Francis who were the high fliers, finishing second in the league, while Chelsea, newly relegated and massively in debt, were fielding a bargain-basement team led by a teenaged Ray Wilkins. It seemed appropriate, then, that the afternoon ended on a note of 70s nostalgia with a knot of fans scuffling in the centre circle after a pitch invasion.
QPR (4-4-2): Day; Forbes, Palmer, Ben Aska, Bruce; Bonnot (Cochrane, 51min), Perry, Peacock, Connolly (Walsh, 90); Thomson, Griffiths (Koejoe, 73).
Chelsea (3-4-3): De Goey (Bosnich, h-t); Gallas, Desailly (Bogarde, 66), Babayaro (Harley, h-t); Melchiot, Lampard, Morris (Jokanovic, h-t), Le Saux; Zola (Gudjohnsen, h-t), Hasselbaink (Forssell, 65), Gronkjaer (Stanic, h-t).
Referee : C Penton. Guardian
BBC - Rangers rock sluggish Chelsea
QPR 3-1 Chelsea
Rangers deservedly got the better of their west London rivals as stunning strikes from Karl Connolly and Gavin Peacock capped an impressive fightback.
Chelsea hardly looked a £50m outfit as they laboured in the heat, but they did catch Rangers out with the opening goal on nine minutes.
Gianfranco Zola's defence-splitting pass to Jesper Gronkjaer on the left saw the Dane bear down on goal before curling the ball home for a fine opener.
The home side responded in style when an inch-perfect pass from Connolly was controlled first time by Leroy Griffiths, who rifled a left-foot shot across Ed de Goey and into the far corner.
Hasselbaink wasted a great chance for Chelsea
A complete miskick from Rangers goalkeeper Chris Day gifted Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink a chance, but the striker volleyed wide from only six yards.
Day made up for the error with a string of fine saves in the second-half, including point-blank stops from Mario Stanic twice and Eidur Gudjohnsen.
But Rangers finished the stronger and Connolly fired them in front when he hammered an unstoppable shot past a bemused Mark Bosnich from the edge of the box.
Then Peacock's marvellous finish after a one-two with Andy Thomson rounded off a great afternoon for Rangers. BBC
Six Years Ago at Loftus Road: QPR 3- Chelsea 1: "Just" a pre-season Friendly - but for newly-relegated QPR a nice result - and the last time QPR defeated (Pre-Abramovich's) Chelsea! With a wonder goal by Leroy Griffiths (also Connolly and Peacock scoring. And in goal for Chelsea: De Goey (with Bosnich on the bench). As fro the QPR team: Every single one of the players has moved on.
Of course, the fact that this post is noting a friendly result from six years ago, while Chelsea fans are counting their trophies does say something!
The teams:
QPR (4-4-2): Day; Forbes, Palmer, Ben Aska, Bruce; Bonnot (Cochrane, 51min), Perry, Peacock, Connolly (Walsh, 90); Thomson, Griffiths (Koejoe, 73).
Chelsea (3-4-3): De Goey (Bosnich, h-t); Gallas, Desailly (Bogarde, 66), Babayaro (Harley, h-t); Melchiot, Lampard, Morris (Jokanovic, h-t), Le Saux; Zola (Gudjohnsen, h-t), Hasselbaink (Forssell, 65), Gronkjaer (Stanic, h-t).
Guardian -Chris Taylor
Griffiths makes Chelsea pay the price as he moves from rags to riches
Chelsea's £25m summer spending spree may yet prove to be value for money, but it was Rangers' sole close-season purchase, a £40,000 buy from Hampton and Richmond, who stole the show as the millionaires from SW6 got a rude awakening in Shepherds Bush.
Leroy Griffiths made himself an instant hit with Rangers fans when he latched on to a through ball and, leaving the Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly trailing in his wake, lashed a fierce volley across Ed de Goey and into the far corner of the net. It was a moment of class from a young man who seemed totally unfazed by taking on one of the world's top defenders only a few weeks after turning out in the Rymans League.
"He's won the World Cup, been in the Champions League and that's where I want to be," said Griffiths. "You may be a World Cup winner but you're playing against someone totally different that you don't know anything about."
It was, as his manager Ian Holloway said, a wonderful goal from a player who has proved to be "a breath of fresh air". The victory will help boost confidence and blow away some of the gloom from last season's relegation to the Second Division, which has left continuing uncertainty over the cash-strapped club's future.
Pre-season games are a notoriously poor guide to the prospects for the coming campaign - witness Chelsea's Charity Shield victory over Manchester United last year - but there was little in this disjointed performance to suggest Claudio Ranieri's team would be capable of mounting a title challenge. In particular, Frank Lampard's anonymous display in midfield, where he was outshone by the Chelsea old boy Gavin Peacock, only served as a reminder that his predecessor as the Blues' costliest Englishman was Chris Sutton.
It had all looked so different early on. When Gronkjaer calmly netted in the 10th minute after Gianfranco Zola's defence-splitting pass had sprung the offside trap, it looked like the visitors would be able to take the game at a stroll on what was a swelteringly hot day. But with Chelsea making seven changes in the second half it was QPR who went ahead when Karl Connolly volleyed past Mark Bosnich. Shortly afterwards a slick passing move had the crowd chanting " ole " and ended with another good scoring chance.
Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equaliser with Eidur Gudjohnsen, the brightest of a lacklustre bunch, three times denied by the Hoops' goalkeeper Chris Day. He also made two fine saves from Mario Stanic, another second-half substitute, in a busy final 15 minutes.
Although Peacock's 88th-minute strike made for a slightly flattering scoreline, Chelsea could only envy the team spirit that Holloway has clearly instilled at Loftus Road.
Holloway knows that QPR still have a long way to go, although he might like to remind his charges that 25 years ago it was the QPR of Gerry Francis who were the high fliers, finishing second in the league, while Chelsea, newly relegated and massively in debt, were fielding a bargain-basement team led by a teenaged Ray Wilkins. It seemed appropriate, then, that the afternoon ended on a note of 70s nostalgia with a knot of fans scuffling in the centre circle after a pitch invasion.
QPR (4-4-2): Day; Forbes, Palmer, Ben Aska, Bruce; Bonnot (Cochrane, 51min), Perry, Peacock, Connolly (Walsh, 90); Thomson, Griffiths (Koejoe, 73).
Chelsea (3-4-3): De Goey (Bosnich, h-t); Gallas, Desailly (Bogarde, 66), Babayaro (Harley, h-t); Melchiot, Lampard, Morris (Jokanovic, h-t), Le Saux; Zola (Gudjohnsen, h-t), Hasselbaink (Forssell, 65), Gronkjaer (Stanic, h-t).
Referee : C Penton. Guardian
BBC - Rangers rock sluggish Chelsea
QPR 3-1 Chelsea
Rangers deservedly got the better of their west London rivals as stunning strikes from Karl Connolly and Gavin Peacock capped an impressive fightback.
Chelsea hardly looked a £50m outfit as they laboured in the heat, but they did catch Rangers out with the opening goal on nine minutes.
Gianfranco Zola's defence-splitting pass to Jesper Gronkjaer on the left saw the Dane bear down on goal before curling the ball home for a fine opener.
The home side responded in style when an inch-perfect pass from Connolly was controlled first time by Leroy Griffiths, who rifled a left-foot shot across Ed de Goey and into the far corner.
Hasselbaink wasted a great chance for Chelsea
A complete miskick from Rangers goalkeeper Chris Day gifted Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink a chance, but the striker volleyed wide from only six yards.
Day made up for the error with a string of fine saves in the second-half, including point-blank stops from Mario Stanic twice and Eidur Gudjohnsen.
But Rangers finished the stronger and Connolly fired them in front when he hammered an unstoppable shot past a bemused Mark Bosnich from the edge of the box.
Then Peacock's marvellous finish after a one-two with Andy Thomson rounded off a great afternoon for Rangers. BBC
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Reported QPR Transfer Embargo
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Besides the assertion of a transfer ban in today's Sunday Mirror, it is also being reported in today's News of The World. (The previous time QPR faced a transfer embargo was during our Administration Days, when a complaint by Brentford's Ron Noades led to this temporary ban.]
Today's Sunday Mirror entitled Sunday Mirror QPR chief Paladini to sell up
....Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Besides the assertion of a transfer ban in today's Sunday Mirror, it is also being reported in today's News of The World. (The previous time QPR faced a transfer embargo was during our Administration Days, when a complaint by Brentford's Ron Noades led to this temporary ban.]
Today's Sunday Mirror entitled Sunday Mirror QPR chief Paladini to sell up
....Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.... League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Ex-QPRs Playing Yesterday
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Updated 6:30pm
Clarke Carlisle was injured...so Danny Shittu played his first preseason game for Watford (coming off after 73 mins). Watford lost 5-1 to Maccabi Haifa - Report Shittu has been given the #4 Shirt by Watford for the new season. Carlisle, the #5 shirt. Watford
Justin Cochrane is now on trial at Yeovil and played yesterday and Bristol City. Also playing for Yeovil: Ex-QPR's Matt Rose and Forbes. Not playing yesterday: The other ex-QPR player, Mark Bircham. Report
Simon Royce played for Gillingham in their 0-5 loss against Charlton. Royce is supposedly expected to sign for Gillingham (who just signed another goalie) - Report
Shabbaz Baidoo, on trial at Bournemouth played the first hour (didn't score) in their win against Oxford. Report
Tony Roberts - still awaiting Insurance company news - played for Dagenham in their 5-1 victory- Report
Ian Evatt Played for Blackpool in their 0-0 draw vs Bury - Report
Updated 6:30pm
Clarke Carlisle was injured...so Danny Shittu played his first preseason game for Watford (coming off after 73 mins). Watford lost 5-1 to Maccabi Haifa - Report Shittu has been given the #4 Shirt by Watford for the new season. Carlisle, the #5 shirt. Watford
Justin Cochrane is now on trial at Yeovil and played yesterday and Bristol City. Also playing for Yeovil: Ex-QPR's Matt Rose and Forbes. Not playing yesterday: The other ex-QPR player, Mark Bircham. Report
Simon Royce played for Gillingham in their 0-5 loss against Charlton. Royce is supposedly expected to sign for Gillingham (who just signed another goalie) - Report
Shabbaz Baidoo, on trial at Bournemouth played the first hour (didn't score) in their win against Oxford. Report
Tony Roberts - still awaiting Insurance company news - played for Dagenham in their 5-1 victory- Report
Ian Evatt Played for Blackpool in their 0-0 draw vs Bury - Report
QPR chief Paladini to sell up
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Sunday Mirror QPR chief Paladini to sell up
EXCLUSIVE By Paul Smith 29/07/2007
Gianni Paladini's troubled reign as QPR owner is set to come to an end this week.
The former football agent has agreed a £5million takeover at Loftus Road - just as Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.
Paladini said last night: "I've agreed in principle to sell the club. I'm selling the vast majority of my shares but I will be retaining a position at the club. The deal has not been signed off yet but I expect it to go through next week."
League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Sky Sports just reporting/repeating what was in the Sunday Mirror story - Sky Report
Sunday Mirror QPR chief Paladini to sell up
EXCLUSIVE By Paul Smith 29/07/2007
Gianni Paladini's troubled reign as QPR owner is set to come to an end this week.
The former football agent has agreed a £5million takeover at Loftus Road - just as Rangers have been hit by Football League sanctions.
Paladini said last night: "I've agreed in principle to sell the club. I'm selling the vast majority of my shares but I will be retaining a position at the club. The deal has not been signed off yet but I expect it to go through next week."
League bosses have withheld central funds from the club and placed a transfer embargo on Rangers, who have announced several recent deals.
Rangers must re-pay the entire £500,000 loan they received from Oldham Athletic which breached League regulations. Paladini insists the outstanding £300,000 from this loan will be repaid this week. Sunday Mirror
Sky Sports just reporting/repeating what was in the Sunday Mirror story - Sky Report
QPR's Week in Review: Positive Signings...Concerns re Finances and New ABC Loan
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On the field, a good week. Off the field, an additional loan from ABC with disturbing-to-some payback conditions. Several statements in response by a QPR Director and Legal Counsel sent to fan sites and to the press; but not a word on the club's Official Site. And in the background, numerous "strong" rumours of positive news re investor developments. [And in today's Sunday Mirror the headline "QPR Chief to Sell Up" and claim of a transfer embargo.
This week after many weeks of hopes and fears and rumours, Lee Camp finally signed for QPR. Also signing for QPR this week: A name no one had linked to QPR until a couple days before his signing: Charlton's Simon Walton. Camp and Walt together cost QPR a reported 500,000 pounds. (QPR of course received 2.5 million up front from the Lee Cook sale, but much of that money was needed to pay back loans). In signing Camp, QPR made a specific point of noting there had been no external financing of the deal Camp. Also joining QPR, on three months loan: Chelsea's highly-rated forward,Ben Sahar. Meanwhile QPR's Baidoo is having a trial with Bournemouth.
On Saturday, QPR played Wycombe at Wycombe, and won 1-0.
Re QPR, Additional ABC Loan & Comments by QPR Director and Legal Counsel, Nick De Marco: See below:
New Investment? Off the field, there are strong rumours re forthcoming new "investment" which is being termed very exciting.
QPR Fans Rank 12th in Championship in Optimism Survey! Optimistic QPR Fans
QPR Will Receive An Additional £750,000+ League Windfall?
BBC - League gives 'solidarity package' "The Premier League is to give more than £90m to the Football League over the next three seasons.... Clubs in the second tier of English football will receive an extra £11.2million next season." Depending on ranking, the fifth-placed club will receive £1,383,602. The lowest amount a club will get will be £775,000. Windfall
Report of QPR's Roof for Rent: The sky's the limit for QPR sponsorship- Rangers want a sponsor for the roof of their main stand
Loftus Road is on the Heathrow flight-path and QPR believe a deal similar to the one Brentford have with Qatar Airways could earn them £100,000-a-year.
AGENTS SPENDING: The Football League's latest report on clubs' spending on agents fees has been released. For QPR, it's way down to just £5,000 in the January-June 2007 Period. (For the entire year:Total Amount Committed to Agents - 1 July 06 to 30 June 07 £192,340 - Agents Fees
Which QPR Player Voted into PFA Hall of Fame?- Still waiting to See!
The Players Football Association (PFA) as part of its Centenary had the supporter of each club vote to decide which one of their players (current or past) should be voted into the Hall of fame. The voting closed June 29. a number of other clubs have announced their vote winner. QPR as of yet, have not." QPR Official Site - June 22, 2007 EVERY VOTE COUNTS Statement
Hall of Fame
Ex-QPRs Update - No Adam Czerkas to Motherwell...Dichio Named to MLS All- star roster. Justin Cochrane trialing at Brentford.
CONCERNS RE ADDITIONAL ABC LOAN AND PAY BACK CONDITIONS
The reports on this new loan came out a week ago on the QPR1st site:
Saturday, July 21. QPR's Director and Legal Counsel, Nick De Marco then offered responses to QPR1st,to LSA, to the Kilburn Times, to the Daily Mail.
QPR1st Initial Statement
ABC New Loan Agreement raises concern
QPR1st have learnt of a new loan agreeement made between QPR Holdings Limited and ABC Corporation.
Details of the agreement have been lodged with Companies House. The documents detail a new loan of £1,300,000 which is repayable in full on or before 15th August 2007. The documentation is dated to 2nd July 2007 and the charge is dated 22md June 2007.
Apart from the obvious suprise that QPR have gone back to ABC for more money when all the noises coming from the board have talked about moving the existing loan away from ABC, the Trust is specifically concerned about 2 additional elements in the documentation.
Firstly "payment in full on or before the repayment date set out in clause 6 1 2 of the new loan agreement (ie 31 July 2008) of the loan of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds sterling) advanced by ABC to the Company persuant to the terms of the Original Loan Agreement"
The Trust would like clarification on what exactly clause 6 1 2 in the new load agreement actualy states and whether the term of the original loan has been shortened to 2008 as suggested in the above paragraph copied from the Companies form 395 or whether this date is just an example and the original term of 10 years (2012) still applies to the new agreement.
Secondly we are concerned about the following paragraph submitted as short particulars on the same Companies House 395 form
" The Company grants ABC an option during the period of 16 months from the date of the Options Agreement ("the option period") to buy the freehold property at Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, Hammersmith, London W12 7PA registered at HM Land Registry with title absolute under title number LN64521 (the "Property") at the purchase price of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds sterling (exclusive of VAT) from the company with full title guarantee"
The Trust has asked for an explanation as to why it is included and confirmation of the start date of the "option period" which we are currently assuming falls in line with the New Loan agreement 22nd June 2007. As far as the Trust is aware no such clause was within the original loan agreement.
In Total their are 3 new documents lodged at Companies House relating to the new agreement and we understand that these matters and the documentation associated with them are complex. We have tried to contact several directors of the club today but have failed to get a response however we realise that with it being the weekend they may not have rec'd the messages yet. We also tried to call the club but could not get a response over the phone. It may well be that there is a context to this information that will make it seem less alarming than it appears to us through the documentation available to us at the moment. As soon as we get a response from an official club representative we will post a follow up. QPR1st
COMPILATION OF QPR's LEGAL COUNSEL & DIRECTOR, NICK DE MARCO
NICK DE MARCO RESPONSE TO QPR1st
"QPR were faced with a winding-up order in July. If the club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the club would have been put in administration.
"Faced with that risk and the need to pay various other debts and on-going costs, the club had no alternative than to seek a short-term bridging loan.
"Nobody was prepared to lend the club the sums required in time, apart from ABC. It's not a great agreement for QPR but it was a choice between that and administration. QPR are able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook." Daily Mail
"...Fans will be aware that QPR was faced with a winding up order from both the IR and VAT in July. If the Club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the Club would have been put in Administration. At that point administrators would have been appointed and the players would have been sold off for way below their market price. ABC would have reclaimed their loan and could have enforced the term of the agreement allowing them to sell the ground. The Club would have been left with no ground or players. This is something the Board was determined to avoid at any cost.
The Board has announced that it is seeking new investors. It is necessary for QPR's long term survival and progression that such new investors come in. There are currently promising discussions in this regard. The Board has also looked to re-finance the ABC loan. Despite positive noises from some, nobody has yet agreed to take it on on better terms.
Faced with the risk of administration if a substantial sum was not paid to the taxman, the need to pay various other debts and of course on-going costs, the Club had no alternative than to seek a short term bridging loan. Nobody was prepared to lend the Club the sums required in time, apart from ABC who were themselves concerned that they might not be able to recover the debt owed to them by the Club if it went into administration.
That is why a variation of the loan agreement with ABC was negotiated. It's not a great agreement for QPR, but it was a choice between that and administration and the disastrous consequences that would have followed. QPR is able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook. Fans will recognise that when we have no new investment the only source of revenue is selling players or going into debt. The Board has attempted to avoid either of these options as far as possible, but at times it is necessary to keep the Club going which has to be the first priority. In any event, the Board believes the Cook deal is a good one for the Club.
It is also true that the club must find a replacement for the ABC loan in the next year. We are confident that we will do that, and financially it is necessary to do anyway. The advantage is that QPR will now be able to get out of the ABC loan earlier than the full 10 years once an alternative lender has been put in place. The on-going discussions with new investors obviously take this into account.
It is hoped that some new investment deal will be agreed in the next few weeks, otherwise an alternative loan provider from ABC will be agreed. It is not possible to go into detail about this at this stage because to do so may jeopardise those discussions.
I know fans understand that the main problem here is that the Club came out of administration with far greater debts than it went into it. The initial ABC loan agreement has cast a very long shadow over QPR. From the day that agreement was made, ABC effectively had the right to sell the ground. In essence, the initial loan agreement sold the ground to ABC for £10 million with interest, and only if that money was paid back to ABC would the ground be QPR's again. That has been the major difficulty facing the Board at QPR since, under both the Chairmanships of Bill Power and Gianni Paladini.
The Club has to pay its debts to survive, and we have to attract new investors now that the investment from the Monaco investors (which has kept the Club going for 4 years) has come to an end. Until the new investors come in, I am sure fans will agree that the main objective must be to avoid administration at all costs.
I realise that I might not have been able to answer all your questions in one email, and some people will inevitably describe this response as "spin", but I thought it better to give you a response as soon as possible. We hope to able able to report a lot more over the next couple of weeks or so. I know it's also time we had another fans consultative meeting and I am sure people will want a discussion of this then.
In the meantime, we have avoided administration and have secured the Club's short term future. All the Board's attention is now turned to the discussions which will hopefully resolve the long term future, over the next few weeks. QPR1st
NICK DE MARCO'S Follow-up RESPONSE TO QPR1st
Clarification from QPR on the "option to purchase"
"...Although I was not involved in the drawing up of the agreements with ABC, I have seen those agreements. I can categorically confirm that the “option” you speak of only arises after the repayment date of the original loan (of £10 million) has past, and only if the debt has not been repaid as of that date. The “option period” only arises after that date. This is very clear in the express terms of all the signed documentation. ABC have no option at present. QPR still has to find an alternative lender to replace the ABC loan, but so long as it does that before the expiry of the loan then the option does not arise...."
QPR1st
NICK DE MARCO'S RESPONSE TO LSA
"...It ought to be obvious why the details were not gone into at that stage. We all know the club has continued financial difficulties, but if it was announced that we needed £1.3million by the end of August or faced defaulting on a loan, do you think there would be any chance of getting more than the £1.5million Fulham bid upfront for Lee Cook? I can tell you there would be no chance at all. So by the news coming out a couple of weeks later we may have brought in an extra one million and are in a better position to sort out the financial mess. I am sure you would all agree that makes sense, and there are times when certain things have to remain completely confidential for the benefit of the Club. It remains the case, as was said at that meeting, that the only long term solution is brining in new investors and that is what we are spending all out time trying to agree....
LSA
NICK DE MARCO, QUOTED IN BEN KOSKY, KILBURN TIMES
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Cook move prevents cash crisis
"Lee Cook's departure to Fulham has effectively staved off the threat of QPR being forced into administration for a second time.
Rangers increased their debt to the ABC corporation by £1.3m at the start of the month to avoid a potentially disastrous winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.
But the sale of Cook, which netted the club £2.5m up front, will enable them to repay the second loan - even though 15 per cent of the fee goes to the winger's former club Watford.
The Rs could eventually receive as much as an extra £2m from Fulham, dependent on how many appearances Cook makes for them and their success over the next four years.
QPR director Nick de Marco explained that the club had no choice but to turn to ABC, who effectively hold an option to sell Loftus Road under the terms of their original £10m loan in 2002.
He told the Times: "No-one else can lend us money with the ground as security because of the existing arrangement with ABC, so it was either borrowing from them or administration.
"As a result, the chances of administration are now not as great as they might have been a few weeks ago.
"We felt that to get £2.5m up front with no conditions attached is a good deal for someone who hasn't been tested in the Premiership - much better than we got from Watford for Danny Shittu."
He added that the board will continue discussions with potential investors, with a view to refinancing the remaining ABC loan, and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.... Kilburn Times
Compilation
Was then reported in the press:
July 24 - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Cook move prevents cash crisis
"Lee Cook's departure to Fulham has effectively staved off the threat of QPR being forced into administration for a second time.
Rangers increased their debt to the ABC corporation by £1.3m at the start of the month to avoid a potentially disastrous winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.
But the sale of Cook, which netted the club £2.5m up front, will enable them to repay the second loan - even though 15 per cent of the fee goes to the winger's former club Watford.
The Rs could eventually receive as much as an extra £2m from Fulham, dependent on how many appearances Cook makes for them and their success over the next four years.
QPR director Nick de Marco explained that the club had no choice but to turn to ABC, who effectively hold an option to sell Loftus Road under the terms of their original £10m loan in 2002.
He told the Times: "No-one else can lend us money with the ground as security because of the existing arrangement with ABC, so it was either borrowing from them or administration.
"As a result, the chances of administration are now not as great as they might have been a few weeks ago.
"We felt that to get £2.5m up front with no conditions attached is a good deal for someone who hasn't been tested in the Premiership - much better than we got from Watford for Danny Shittu."
He added that the board will continue discussions with potential investors, with a view to refinancing the remaining ABC loan, and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
Rangers finally conceded defeat in the battle to retain their Player of the Year last week, when he agreed personal terms and signed a four-year deal at Craven Cottage....
Daily Mail - July 26 - Rangers saved by £2.5m fee for Cook
Fulham saved west London rivals Queens Park Rangers from administration when they paid £2.5million for winger Lee Cook, it has emerged.
The deal allows the debt-ridden club to repay a £1.3m loan from Panama-based money-lenders, the ABC Corporation, which is secured against Loftus Road.
Rangers already owe ABC £10m from the deal which took the club out of administration in 2002 but needed the extra cash to pay an outstanding tax bill and stave off a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs.
The money from last week's Cook transfer will allow the club to pay off the short-term loan and give chairman Gianni Paladini more time to find new investors.
Rangers director Nick De Marco said: "QPR were faced with a winding-up order in July. If the club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the club would have been put in administration.
"Faced with that risk and the need to pay various other debts and on-going costs, the club had no alternative than to seek a short-term bridging loan.
"Nobody was prepared to lend the club the sums required in time, apart from ABC. It's not a great agreement for QPR but it was a choice between that and administration. QPR are able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook."
Rangers are understood to be close to refinancing the £10m ABC loan with another money lender.
To aid this process, QPR directors have negotiated an early-repayment clause with ABC, which had not originally been expecting its money back until 2012.
Under the deal, QPR have until 31 July next year to pay off ABC with cash from another lender or the company will have the right to take over ownership of Loftus Road.
The possibility of losing the ground has raised alarm among fans but QPR sources are "extremely confident" the 2008 option will never be exercised.
The club are in advanced negotiations with a new financial backer and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks....Mail
OTHER ITEMS
See QPR Report for further details of all these stories.
On the field, a good week. Off the field, an additional loan from ABC with disturbing-to-some payback conditions. Several statements in response by a QPR Director and Legal Counsel sent to fan sites and to the press; but not a word on the club's Official Site. And in the background, numerous "strong" rumours of positive news re investor developments. [And in today's Sunday Mirror the headline "QPR Chief to Sell Up" and claim of a transfer embargo.
This week after many weeks of hopes and fears and rumours, Lee Camp finally signed for QPR. Also signing for QPR this week: A name no one had linked to QPR until a couple days before his signing: Charlton's Simon Walton. Camp and Walt together cost QPR a reported 500,000 pounds. (QPR of course received 2.5 million up front from the Lee Cook sale, but much of that money was needed to pay back loans). In signing Camp, QPR made a specific point of noting there had been no external financing of the deal Camp. Also joining QPR, on three months loan: Chelsea's highly-rated forward,Ben Sahar. Meanwhile QPR's Baidoo is having a trial with Bournemouth.
On Saturday, QPR played Wycombe at Wycombe, and won 1-0.
Re QPR, Additional ABC Loan & Comments by QPR Director and Legal Counsel, Nick De Marco: See below:
New Investment? Off the field, there are strong rumours re forthcoming new "investment" which is being termed very exciting.
QPR Fans Rank 12th in Championship in Optimism Survey! Optimistic QPR Fans
QPR Will Receive An Additional £750,000+ League Windfall?
BBC - League gives 'solidarity package' "The Premier League is to give more than £90m to the Football League over the next three seasons.... Clubs in the second tier of English football will receive an extra £11.2million next season." Depending on ranking, the fifth-placed club will receive £1,383,602. The lowest amount a club will get will be £775,000. Windfall
Report of QPR's Roof for Rent: The sky's the limit for QPR sponsorship- Rangers want a sponsor for the roof of their main stand
Loftus Road is on the Heathrow flight-path and QPR believe a deal similar to the one Brentford have with Qatar Airways could earn them £100,000-a-year.
AGENTS SPENDING: The Football League's latest report on clubs' spending on agents fees has been released. For QPR, it's way down to just £5,000 in the January-June 2007 Period. (For the entire year:Total Amount Committed to Agents - 1 July 06 to 30 June 07 £192,340 - Agents Fees
Which QPR Player Voted into PFA Hall of Fame?- Still waiting to See!
The Players Football Association (PFA) as part of its Centenary had the supporter of each club vote to decide which one of their players (current or past) should be voted into the Hall of fame. The voting closed June 29. a number of other clubs have announced their vote winner. QPR as of yet, have not." QPR Official Site - June 22, 2007 EVERY VOTE COUNTS Statement
Hall of Fame
Ex-QPRs Update - No Adam Czerkas to Motherwell...Dichio Named to MLS All- star roster. Justin Cochrane trialing at Brentford.
CONCERNS RE ADDITIONAL ABC LOAN AND PAY BACK CONDITIONS
The reports on this new loan came out a week ago on the QPR1st site:
Saturday, July 21. QPR's Director and Legal Counsel, Nick De Marco then offered responses to QPR1st,to LSA, to the Kilburn Times, to the Daily Mail.
QPR1st Initial Statement
ABC New Loan Agreement raises concern
QPR1st have learnt of a new loan agreeement made between QPR Holdings Limited and ABC Corporation.
Details of the agreement have been lodged with Companies House. The documents detail a new loan of £1,300,000 which is repayable in full on or before 15th August 2007. The documentation is dated to 2nd July 2007 and the charge is dated 22md June 2007.
Apart from the obvious suprise that QPR have gone back to ABC for more money when all the noises coming from the board have talked about moving the existing loan away from ABC, the Trust is specifically concerned about 2 additional elements in the documentation.
Firstly "payment in full on or before the repayment date set out in clause 6 1 2 of the new loan agreement (ie 31 July 2008) of the loan of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds sterling) advanced by ABC to the Company persuant to the terms of the Original Loan Agreement"
The Trust would like clarification on what exactly clause 6 1 2 in the new load agreement actualy states and whether the term of the original loan has been shortened to 2008 as suggested in the above paragraph copied from the Companies form 395 or whether this date is just an example and the original term of 10 years (2012) still applies to the new agreement.
Secondly we are concerned about the following paragraph submitted as short particulars on the same Companies House 395 form
" The Company grants ABC an option during the period of 16 months from the date of the Options Agreement ("the option period") to buy the freehold property at Loftus Road Stadium, South Africa Road, Hammersmith, London W12 7PA registered at HM Land Registry with title absolute under title number LN64521 (the "Property") at the purchase price of £10,000,000 (ten million pounds sterling (exclusive of VAT) from the company with full title guarantee"
The Trust has asked for an explanation as to why it is included and confirmation of the start date of the "option period" which we are currently assuming falls in line with the New Loan agreement 22nd June 2007. As far as the Trust is aware no such clause was within the original loan agreement.
In Total their are 3 new documents lodged at Companies House relating to the new agreement and we understand that these matters and the documentation associated with them are complex. We have tried to contact several directors of the club today but have failed to get a response however we realise that with it being the weekend they may not have rec'd the messages yet. We also tried to call the club but could not get a response over the phone. It may well be that there is a context to this information that will make it seem less alarming than it appears to us through the documentation available to us at the moment. As soon as we get a response from an official club representative we will post a follow up. QPR1st
COMPILATION OF QPR's LEGAL COUNSEL & DIRECTOR, NICK DE MARCO
NICK DE MARCO RESPONSE TO QPR1st
"QPR were faced with a winding-up order in July. If the club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the club would have been put in administration.
"Faced with that risk and the need to pay various other debts and on-going costs, the club had no alternative than to seek a short-term bridging loan.
"Nobody was prepared to lend the club the sums required in time, apart from ABC. It's not a great agreement for QPR but it was a choice between that and administration. QPR are able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook." Daily Mail
"...Fans will be aware that QPR was faced with a winding up order from both the IR and VAT in July. If the Club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the Club would have been put in Administration. At that point administrators would have been appointed and the players would have been sold off for way below their market price. ABC would have reclaimed their loan and could have enforced the term of the agreement allowing them to sell the ground. The Club would have been left with no ground or players. This is something the Board was determined to avoid at any cost.
The Board has announced that it is seeking new investors. It is necessary for QPR's long term survival and progression that such new investors come in. There are currently promising discussions in this regard. The Board has also looked to re-finance the ABC loan. Despite positive noises from some, nobody has yet agreed to take it on on better terms.
Faced with the risk of administration if a substantial sum was not paid to the taxman, the need to pay various other debts and of course on-going costs, the Club had no alternative than to seek a short term bridging loan. Nobody was prepared to lend the Club the sums required in time, apart from ABC who were themselves concerned that they might not be able to recover the debt owed to them by the Club if it went into administration.
That is why a variation of the loan agreement with ABC was negotiated. It's not a great agreement for QPR, but it was a choice between that and administration and the disastrous consequences that would have followed. QPR is able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook. Fans will recognise that when we have no new investment the only source of revenue is selling players or going into debt. The Board has attempted to avoid either of these options as far as possible, but at times it is necessary to keep the Club going which has to be the first priority. In any event, the Board believes the Cook deal is a good one for the Club.
It is also true that the club must find a replacement for the ABC loan in the next year. We are confident that we will do that, and financially it is necessary to do anyway. The advantage is that QPR will now be able to get out of the ABC loan earlier than the full 10 years once an alternative lender has been put in place. The on-going discussions with new investors obviously take this into account.
It is hoped that some new investment deal will be agreed in the next few weeks, otherwise an alternative loan provider from ABC will be agreed. It is not possible to go into detail about this at this stage because to do so may jeopardise those discussions.
I know fans understand that the main problem here is that the Club came out of administration with far greater debts than it went into it. The initial ABC loan agreement has cast a very long shadow over QPR. From the day that agreement was made, ABC effectively had the right to sell the ground. In essence, the initial loan agreement sold the ground to ABC for £10 million with interest, and only if that money was paid back to ABC would the ground be QPR's again. That has been the major difficulty facing the Board at QPR since, under both the Chairmanships of Bill Power and Gianni Paladini.
The Club has to pay its debts to survive, and we have to attract new investors now that the investment from the Monaco investors (which has kept the Club going for 4 years) has come to an end. Until the new investors come in, I am sure fans will agree that the main objective must be to avoid administration at all costs.
I realise that I might not have been able to answer all your questions in one email, and some people will inevitably describe this response as "spin", but I thought it better to give you a response as soon as possible. We hope to able able to report a lot more over the next couple of weeks or so. I know it's also time we had another fans consultative meeting and I am sure people will want a discussion of this then.
In the meantime, we have avoided administration and have secured the Club's short term future. All the Board's attention is now turned to the discussions which will hopefully resolve the long term future, over the next few weeks. QPR1st
NICK DE MARCO'S Follow-up RESPONSE TO QPR1st
Clarification from QPR on the "option to purchase"
"...Although I was not involved in the drawing up of the agreements with ABC, I have seen those agreements. I can categorically confirm that the “option” you speak of only arises after the repayment date of the original loan (of £10 million) has past, and only if the debt has not been repaid as of that date. The “option period” only arises after that date. This is very clear in the express terms of all the signed documentation. ABC have no option at present. QPR still has to find an alternative lender to replace the ABC loan, but so long as it does that before the expiry of the loan then the option does not arise...."
QPR1st
NICK DE MARCO'S RESPONSE TO LSA
"...It ought to be obvious why the details were not gone into at that stage. We all know the club has continued financial difficulties, but if it was announced that we needed £1.3million by the end of August or faced defaulting on a loan, do you think there would be any chance of getting more than the £1.5million Fulham bid upfront for Lee Cook? I can tell you there would be no chance at all. So by the news coming out a couple of weeks later we may have brought in an extra one million and are in a better position to sort out the financial mess. I am sure you would all agree that makes sense, and there are times when certain things have to remain completely confidential for the benefit of the Club. It remains the case, as was said at that meeting, that the only long term solution is brining in new investors and that is what we are spending all out time trying to agree....
LSA
NICK DE MARCO, QUOTED IN BEN KOSKY, KILBURN TIMES
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Cook move prevents cash crisis
"Lee Cook's departure to Fulham has effectively staved off the threat of QPR being forced into administration for a second time.
Rangers increased their debt to the ABC corporation by £1.3m at the start of the month to avoid a potentially disastrous winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.
But the sale of Cook, which netted the club £2.5m up front, will enable them to repay the second loan - even though 15 per cent of the fee goes to the winger's former club Watford.
The Rs could eventually receive as much as an extra £2m from Fulham, dependent on how many appearances Cook makes for them and their success over the next four years.
QPR director Nick de Marco explained that the club had no choice but to turn to ABC, who effectively hold an option to sell Loftus Road under the terms of their original £10m loan in 2002.
He told the Times: "No-one else can lend us money with the ground as security because of the existing arrangement with ABC, so it was either borrowing from them or administration.
"As a result, the chances of administration are now not as great as they might have been a few weeks ago.
"We felt that to get £2.5m up front with no conditions attached is a good deal for someone who hasn't been tested in the Premiership - much better than we got from Watford for Danny Shittu."
He added that the board will continue discussions with potential investors, with a view to refinancing the remaining ABC loan, and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.... Kilburn Times
Compilation
Was then reported in the press:
July 24 - Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Cook move prevents cash crisis
"Lee Cook's departure to Fulham has effectively staved off the threat of QPR being forced into administration for a second time.
Rangers increased their debt to the ABC corporation by £1.3m at the start of the month to avoid a potentially disastrous winding-up order from the Inland Revenue.
But the sale of Cook, which netted the club £2.5m up front, will enable them to repay the second loan - even though 15 per cent of the fee goes to the winger's former club Watford.
The Rs could eventually receive as much as an extra £2m from Fulham, dependent on how many appearances Cook makes for them and their success over the next four years.
QPR director Nick de Marco explained that the club had no choice but to turn to ABC, who effectively hold an option to sell Loftus Road under the terms of their original £10m loan in 2002.
He told the Times: "No-one else can lend us money with the ground as security because of the existing arrangement with ABC, so it was either borrowing from them or administration.
"As a result, the chances of administration are now not as great as they might have been a few weeks ago.
"We felt that to get £2.5m up front with no conditions attached is a good deal for someone who hasn't been tested in the Premiership - much better than we got from Watford for Danny Shittu."
He added that the board will continue discussions with potential investors, with a view to refinancing the remaining ABC loan, and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks.
Rangers finally conceded defeat in the battle to retain their Player of the Year last week, when he agreed personal terms and signed a four-year deal at Craven Cottage....
Daily Mail - July 26 - Rangers saved by £2.5m fee for Cook
Fulham saved west London rivals Queens Park Rangers from administration when they paid £2.5million for winger Lee Cook, it has emerged.
The deal allows the debt-ridden club to repay a £1.3m loan from Panama-based money-lenders, the ABC Corporation, which is secured against Loftus Road.
Rangers already owe ABC £10m from the deal which took the club out of administration in 2002 but needed the extra cash to pay an outstanding tax bill and stave off a winding-up order from HM Revenue and Customs.
The money from last week's Cook transfer will allow the club to pay off the short-term loan and give chairman Gianni Paladini more time to find new investors.
Rangers director Nick De Marco said: "QPR were faced with a winding-up order in July. If the club had not found a substantial sum of money to pay off before 4 July, the club would have been put in administration.
"Faced with that risk and the need to pay various other debts and on-going costs, the club had no alternative than to seek a short-term bridging loan.
"Nobody was prepared to lend the club the sums required in time, apart from ABC. It's not a great agreement for QPR but it was a choice between that and administration. QPR are able to repay the loan now, in part from the proceeds of sale of Lee Cook."
Rangers are understood to be close to refinancing the £10m ABC loan with another money lender.
To aid this process, QPR directors have negotiated an early-repayment clause with ABC, which had not originally been expecting its money back until 2012.
Under the deal, QPR have until 31 July next year to pay off ABC with cash from another lender or the company will have the right to take over ownership of Loftus Road.
The possibility of losing the ground has raised alarm among fans but QPR sources are "extremely confident" the 2008 option will never be exercised.
The club are in advanced negotiations with a new financial backer and hope to make an announcement in the next few weeks....Mail
OTHER ITEMS
See QPR Report for further details of all these stories.
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