Flashback Six Years: "The Fall and Fall of QPR" and Bidding for QPR

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Six years ago, the club was in deep trouble both on and off the field as QPR were still looking for someone to take over from Chris Wright ...

BBC - 20 November, 2001, The fall and fall of QPR
QPR fan Ian Pyke reveals the heartache of watching his beloved club plummet towards obscurty.
QPR's season of suffering hit its lowest point with the 4-0 FA Cup first round exit at Swansea City.
It meant support for the team from long-suffering supporters came in the shape of barracking for players and some club officials at every opportunity.
This may seem an unusual method of backing - but it is an understandable reaction from fans who have suffered three cup exits and a series of poor performances in recent weeks.
It was a season of high expectations at Loftus Road under manager Ian Holloway, despite relegation in the previous campaign.
A home victory against Stoke on the opening day of the season seemed to support the optimism, especially as it was followed by an away win at Bury.
If you've followed QPR over recent years, you will know an away win is rarer than an Englishman playing for Chelsea.
Obviously the league table and the number of free Saturdays until the end of the season show the picture has changed.
If you allow me to reminisce, it was only eight years ago QPR finished as top London club.
And although no one expected us to remain in this position forever, we didn't expect to now have only Leyton Orient below us.
QPR was regarded by as many as a model of how to run a relatively small club.
Alan Curbishley was once quoted as saying "I want Charlton to be the new QPR" when they were restructuring their club and looking to return to The Valley.
Charlton announced a profit this week, and look to have established themselves as a Premiership club.
So QPR now aspire to be like Charlton.
The fall and fall of QPR can mainly be attributed to the previous club owners and their lack of foresight.
When we parted company with the Premiership, we had a wage bill that was unsustainable in the First Division.
Alan Curbishley was once quoted as saying 'I want Charlton to be the new QPR' when they were restructuring their club and looking to return to The Valley
QPR fan Ian Pyke
Not only did we fail to reduce this, we went on to sign players with limited ability on relatively big contracts.
Although some may say we gambled to get back into the top flight, I would argue the real gamble should have taken place a year earlier when were still there.
Last summer saw almost 30 players leave the club and QPR go into admistration - and yet this summer the sales of season tickets increased.
I have on three occasions had to queue at 7am to get tickets for away games. This is a measure of QPR's fan base and the club's potential.
So my final word is about the fans.
Yes we have voiced our opinions against individuals recently, but after two relegations and being dumped out of the FA Cup in the first round for the first time in almost 50 years, we have had cause to complain.
OK enough moaning - a home win against Swindon at Loftus Road on Wednesday and a win at Brentford will make things look better.
I can dream. And this is why we still have a healthy home attendance and we queue for tickets for away games.
We all dream of better times.
Sadly, at the moment we are not too fond of reality. BBC

November 21, 2001 - This is Local London - QPR Protest
Rs fans angry at the ongoing fight for ownership of their club planned to form a ring around its Loftus Road stadium in South Africa Road last night (Nov 21).
Fans living abroad or who couldn't make the fixture were encouraged by supporters' trust QPR1st to e-mail the club at the same time.
The club is in the throes of being sold by ex-chairman Chris Wright. A consortium led by Brian Melzack is currently negotiating and fans are worried that a deal may involve selling the ground - This is Local London

This is Local London - October 10, 2001 - Brian Makes An Offer For Qpr
Edgware property developer Brian Melzack is taking his obsession with Queens Park Rangers FC so seriously that he is heading a consortium bidding for ownership of the cash-strapped Second Division team.
The group is headed by Mr Melzack, 44, from Highview Avenue, and friend Laurence Selman, 43, from Bushey, is favourite to buy the club, based at the Loftus Road stadium in west London, for around £10million.
Owner Chris Wright and club administrators BDO Stoy Hayward have formally accepted a bid from the group, which secured a three-week deal blocking rival bids.
Mr Melzack is a lifelong QPR fan, a member of Edgware and District Reform Synagogue and a founder member of the Maccabi side Temple Fortune. He was part of a consortium led by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Tim Razzall to try to buy the club before it went into administration at the end of last season with debts of around £10 million.
QPR had been linked to a takeover bid by the religious cult the Moonies, after the club admitted to holding a meeting with the Church of Unification.
Mr Melzack has also fought off bids from a consortium led by businessman Maurice Fitzgerald and a mystery bidder from overseas.
Loftus Road chief executive David Davies said in a statement: "We are pleased to announce we have entered into this exclusivity period with Brian Melzack and his consortium.
"Due to confidentiality agreements signed by both parties we will be unable to discuss this any further until the matter is resolved one way or the other." This is Local London

See Also What the QPR Fan Trust, QPR1st, was saying back in November 2001 - QPR1st, November 2000

Also: Wednesday, 21 November, 2001, - Gallen back at QPR
Queens Park Rangers have completed the signing of striker Kevin Gallen from Barnsley.
Gallen returns to the club where he made his name by breaking Jimmy Greaves' youth goalscoring record in 1992.
The 26-year-old, a lifelong QPR fan, has agreed a deal that will keep him at Loftus Road until the end of next season after a relatively unsuccessful spell at Oakwell.
"I'm absolutely delighted. I never wanted to leave in the first place, things happened but that's in the past," he told the club's website. ...
"QPR are my team, I'm delighted to be back and can't wait to pull on the blue and white hoops once again. I'm over the moon. "It's happened really quickly and now I'm looking forward to Wednesday night and the derby against Brentford on Saturday."
. BBC

Meanwhile,Three Years Ago, November 20, 2004: Leeds 6 QPR 1 - QPR's Team:
QPR Day, Bignot, Shittu, Santos, Rose (Padula 11), Ainsworth, Bircham, Gallen, McLeod (Cook 45), Furlong, Cureton (Bean 45). Subs Not Used: Branco, Miller. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/live/reports/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/04/11/20/SOCCER_Leeds.html