Further re Takeover Reactions

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AFP - Muted optimism as QPR fans welcome F1 chiefs
LONDON (AFP) — A mood of cautious optimisim prevailed at Loftus Road after the news that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone's recommended offer for English Championship club QPR had been accepted.
The confirmation of the takeover by Renault chief Briatore and Formula One supremo Ecclestone was released in a club statement prior to the kick-off of their home game with Southampton on Saturday.
The details of the deal have not yet been announced, but it has been suggested the pair would invest around 25 million pounds (37 million euros, 50 million dollars) with 10 million pounds available for buying players.
It is the latest in the long line of takeovers of English clubs by foreign investors, a move that is not always popular with the club's fans, particularly at clubs who boast a history as proud as QPR.
"The Hoops" were formed in 1882 and were playing in the top division until as recently as 1996. However, their recent fortunes have been less glorious with promotion to the Championship in 2004 being a rare bright spot.
Off-the-field activities have been equally unstable following an incident in 2005 which saw chairman Gianni Paladini allegedly held at gunpoint. Paladini will remain chairman in the proposed deal.
The mood of the fans was explained by fan Ian Morton, 37. He said: "We don't complain about foreign ownership, we've been struggling along for so long we're just grateful that someone's going to invest in us we don't mind where the money's come from."
A fellow fan, who wished to remain nameless, compared the situation with QPR's west London rivals, Chelsea. The stars bought thanks to investment by Russian club owner Roman Abramovich helped secure the Premiership title in 2005 and 2006.
He said: "It's looking good. I was a bit worried because Briatore has only got 70 million and I thought 'it's not going to be enough', but Ecclestone's a billionaire. So Chelsea have Abramovich and we've got Ecclestone, I'm not saying money alone can turn you into a great side, but..."
The fan did express a degreee of caution though, saying: "With new owners it's difficult as you don't know what their agenda is but it's better than what we had, we were going to go into administration.
"Hopefully they'll have this club at heart, we deserve it after so many years in the doldrums," he added.
Briatore took his seat before kick-off to a standing ovation, but was soon made aware of the size of his task after seeing his new team suffer a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of the visiting Saints. AFP

MAIL - Q.P.R. lacking the formula - By GRAHAM OTWAY
Emotions ran in two different directions for Rangers' fans and players at LoftusRoad allowing Southampton to pull off what may be their easiest victory this season.
Before the game there were tears and three different applause led-tributes lasting around 15 minutes for Ray Jones the popular teenage striker recently killed in a car crash.
At half time there were cheers as it was announced that Formula One chiefs Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore had completed their £30 million boardroom takeover averting the threat of the West London Club going into administration.
Rangers' skipper Adam Bolder refused to blame the distractions for a wretched defeat saying: “It's been a difficult time, but we should have been a lot better. There was no excuse for that performance.
“We've got a lot of things to sort out and now we have a break we can hopefully do that quickly on the training ground. The takeover is great news for the club and hopefully things will start heading in the right direction.”
But whether manager John Gregory is part of that future now that Rangers have lost all three of their home matches this season, two in the Championship and one in the Carling Cup, must he doubtful.
He refused to discuss the match with the media and could not have missed the sight of Tony Adams sitting close to Briatore in the directors' Box.
The former England and Arsenal defender has been a part of Harry Redknapp's backroom staff at Portsmouth for the past 18 months, but has made no secret of his wish to return to management if the right opportunity arises.
And Rangers need someone to sort out a defence which on Saturday which contained so many holes that Saints could have run up a cricket score.
Grzegorz Rasiak scored twice in the first half and should have doubled that tally while shortly after the break Bradley Wright Phillips rose unchallenged to head a third.
But the extent to which Southampton dominated the game was highlighted by the extraordinary debut of Stern John the striker who was part of the late £5million transfer deal which took Kenwynne Jones to Sunderland.
Brought on as a substitute with only seven minutes of the game left, John missed three clear-cut chances to score a hat-trick of his own. Saints manager George Burley had some sympathy for QPR saying: “It must have been very difficult for them. It was hard seeing all the tributes outside the ground when we arrived, but we are paid to win games and entertain the public and that's exactly what we did." Mail