Further Press Reports re Brigatore Plans for QPR

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UPDATE - 2:00 PM

QPR Official Site DESTINATION PREMIERSHIP!
Flavio Briatore wants Premiership football within four years.
The 57 year-old, who alongside Bernie Ecclestone has had his offer for the Club recommended by the Board, has wasted no time in setting his stall out at Loftus Road.
In an exclusive interview with QPR World - to be screened tomorrow (Wednesday) - the Italian speaks candidly about his hopes and dreams with the R's.
"We are very happy to be part of QPR," he said.
"We have already taken the first good step because the Club is still here. I am very sure that without our involvement QPR would not exist this week.
"We know what we need to do to be competitive. We are involved because we are serious. I didn't do this because I've got nothing to do on a Saturday.
"We have already saved the Club and that's a good way for us to introduce ourselves to the fans."
Briatore added: "We have put a programme together to reach the Premier League in four years. Whenever we (Bernie and I) have set a target in our history, it has been reached and I can't see why that will not happen this time too.
"I want everyone to be proud of Queens Park Rangers Football Club."
You can join QPR World now for just £3.99 - click here for further details!QPRBasically the same story being reported in the different papers. But not too arduous to keep rereading!

The actual BBC London Interview with Brigratore can be heard at BBC London/Brigatore

BBC London - Flavio Briatore on QPR
Renault Formula One boss Flavio Briatore spoke to BBC London 94.9 about his plans for Queens Park Rangers - listen again to the interview
Flavio Briatore has revealed he and Bernie Ecclestone have devised a four-year plan to get QPR into the Premier League.
The two Formula One magnates are poised to complete their takeover of the Coca-Cola Championship club and Briatore, head of the Renault F1 team, believes the duo can fulfil all the ambitions of the Loftus Road faithful.
Asked how long it might take to set Rangers promoted, the Italian told BBC London 94.9: "You set a target and when we take over we're talking about four years' time. If it happens earlier, it happens earlier. "You need a strong base and the moment you arrive in the Premier League you stay there."
He added: "When we started at Benetton (now Renault), we said we wanted to win the championship in five years. Afterwards, we had our champion in three years."
You can listen to the full interview with BBC London 94.9's Kevin Hand below:
03.09.07 Listen to the Flavio Briatore interview >
Saturday saw the club reveal Briatore and F1 supremo Ecclestone had made "a recommended offer", believed to be about £14million. The club are reportedly in debt to the tune of £13million.
Briatore would not be drawn on the figures involved but insisted sufficient funds would be made available to strengthen the team in January.
He added: "I won seven championships in Formula One and I won the championship with a barely good budget proportional to the results. "We won't do anything crazy. What's more important is the programme you are doing, step by step, and it's impossible to change everything in one year. "You need the money to do the job but what is more important is the total organisation of the club."
Briatore claimed he became interested in Rangers "a long time ago" and insists he and Ecclestone are not buying the club simply to make a profit selling it on. "We take it to keep it," he said. "It's not a real estate investment, it's a sport investment."
He added: "QPR have the potential to be at the top again. "It's a great team, a great club. They have a lot of fans who support the club. "I believe it's a good opportunity." Briatore drew comparisons between football and F1. "Sport is sport and there is a lot of similarity between football and Formula One," he said. "The Formula One investment is nearly 10 times bigger than a football team."
Chairman Gianni Paladini and manager John Gregory are expected to stay in place if the takeover succeeds. "Paladini has done a job with small resources and John as well," Briatore said. However, the 57-year-old admitted his various business interests would make it impossible for him or Ecclestone to attend every Rangers match.
He said "We have different activities as well, not only in Formula One. It's a question of management, it's a question of the people you put in charge. "Myself and Bernie understand very well what you need to be competitive. "If I'm there or not, the club is not better or not." Meanwhile, Gregory has warned supporters Briatore and Ecclestone will struggle to bring immediate success.
He said: "The investors can really help this club move forward, but, as always, it will take time. "We can't do it overnight and the transfer window is closed, so it will take time to make the transition." BBC

Telegraph - F1 bosses have a Premier plan for QPR
By Jeremy Wilson and Alistair Grant
Queens Park Rangers might lie in the relegation zone of the Championship, but Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have wasted little time in outlining their aim of taking the club into the Premier League by 2011.
"Gianni [Paladini, the club's chairman], Bernie and I are all determined to see the club return to the Premier League within the next four years," said Briatore, who is the managing director of the Renault Formula One motor racing team. Under the proposed takeover deal, Briatore's Sarita Capital company will gain control of just under 50 per cent of the shareholding. Ecclestone, the billionaire ringmaster of Formula One, has bought 15 per cent of the shares and will work in unison with Briatore.
Four more years: Flavio Briatore has promised the funds to return QPR to the Premier League by 2011
Their offer for QPR values the issued share capital at approximately £1 million and the duo will take on £13 million of the west London club's debt.
They will also loan QPR £5 million, which will be partly made available to the manager John Gregory for strengthening the club's squad.
The proposal was yesterday welcomed by Gregory. "The investors can really help this club move forward but, as always, it will take time," he said. "We can't do it overnight and the transfer window is closed, so it will take time to make the transition."
Under the proposed new structure, Paladini will remain as chairman while Briatore, Bruno Michel and Alejandro Agag will join the board with Antonio Caliendo and Franco Zanotti both resigning as directors.
In recommending the offer to shareholders, the club's board predicted that the ownership of QPR by Sarita Capital and Ecclestone could be the catalyst to promotion into the Premier League.
"Sarita Capital has provided assurances to the board of QPR that Sarita Capital and Bernie Ecclestone intend to commit further significant sums to fund the current and continuing working capital requirements of the club and, in particular, to fund the development of the club's first-team squad, its academy and its scouting system," said a statement.
QPR have also confirmed the departure of former assistant manager Richard Hill following his part in the brawl that erupted during a friendly match against the Chinese Olympic team earlier this year.
Rangers dismissed Hill during the summer but have only just stated it publicly, a club spokesman saying: "Richard Hill's contract was terminated in mid-July." Hill was found guilty of violent conduct by the FA, who banned him from football for three months. He has appealed against the verdict.
QPR were fined £40,000 for their involvement in the incident, £20,000 of which has suspended until May 31, 2008.
The China team were seven days into a two-week visit to England when the brawl, which was alleged to have erupted when China's striker Gao Lin aimed a punch at defender Patrick Kanyuka, took place at QPR's training ground in West Drayton.
Both the police and the London ambulance service had to be called to the scene. Defender Zheng Tao suffered a broken jaw in the melée which involved about 30 players, including QPR first-team regulars. Telegraph

The Sun - Flav four-year target for QPR
FLAVIO BRIATORE revealed he and Bernie Ecclestone have a four-year plan to get QPR into the Premier League.
The Formula One magnates are poised to complete their £14million takeover of the Championship club and Briatore — head of the Renault F1 team — believes the duo can fulfil the fans’ ambitions.
The Italian said: “You set a target and, when we take over, we’re talking about four years’ time. If it happens earlier, it happens earlier.
“When we started at Benetton — now Renault — we said we wanted to win the championship in five years. We had our champion in three years.”
But Rangers manager John Gregory has warned supporters not to expect Briatore and Ecclestone to bring immediate success to Loftus Road.
He said: “The investors can really help this club move forward — but we can’t do it overnight.” The Sun

Guardian - Briatore reveals plan for QPR to join the elite Ben Rumsby

Flavio Briatore has revealed that he and Bernie Ecclestone have devised a four-year plan to get QPR into the Premier League. The two formula one magnates are set to complete their takeover of the struggling Championship club and Briatore, head of the Renault team, believes the pair can fulfil all the ambitions of the Loftus Road faithful.
Asked how long it might take to get Rangers promoted to the top tier, the Italian said: "You set a target and when we take over we're talking about four years' time. If it happens earlier, it happens earlier. You need a strong base and the moment you arrive in the Premier League you stay there."
Briatore added: "When we started at Benetton [now Renault], we said we wanted to win the championship in five years. Afterwards, we had our champion in three years."
The club had revealed on Saturday that Briatore and Ecclestone had made "a recommended offer", believed to be about £14m for Rangers. The club are reportedly in debt to the tune of £13m.
Briatore would not be drawn on the figures involved but insisted sufficient funds would be made available to strengthen the team in the January transfer window.
He added: "I won seven championships in formula one and I won the championship with a barely good budget proportional to the results. Guardian

Mirror - Rangers up four it
Flavio Briatore has revealed he and Bernie Ecclestone have devised a four-year plan to get QPR into the Premier League.
The Formula One magnates are poised to complete their takeover of the Coca-Cola Championship club and Briatore, head of the Renault F1 team, said: "QPR have the potential to be at the top again."
And asked how long it might take to get Rangers promoted, the Italian said: "When we take over we're talking about four years' time. If it happens earlier, it happens earlier."
Saturday saw the club reveal Briatore and F1 supremo Ecclestone had made "a recommended offer believed to be about £14million. The club are reportedly £13m in debt. Mirror

See Also: Earlier Reports re Brigatore/Ecclestone Plans and comments QPR Owner Talk About Their Plans