One Year Anniversary of QPR Takeover..."On This Day:" First Game on Plastic...Ray Wilkins Axed...Chairman Power Resigned...Mullery's QPR Anfield Draw

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One year ago today, QPR's Takeover by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone was completed and officially announced. [In the lengthy official document accompanying the announcement, it was said "QPR is one of the best supported football clubs in the Championship with attendance at home games averaging approximately 20,000, in the 2006/2007 season." (Actually, QPR ranked 19th in Championship Attendance Figures with average gate of 12,936.]


QPR Official Site- CLUB STATEMENT Sat 01 Sep 2007
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have made a recommended offer for the Club.
Mr Gianni Paladini will remain as Chairman of QPR and Mr Flavio Briatore, Mr Bruno Michel and Mr Alejandro Agag will be invited to join the Board.
Mr Antonio Caliendo and Mr Franco Zanotti have agreed to resign from the Board of QPR.
Speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk today, Briatore said: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the Board of QPR for our bid for the Club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team.
"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fan base that it has; we are therefore totally committed to bringing future success back to the Club.
"Gianni, Bernie and I are all determined to see the Club return to the Premiership as soon as possible."
Paladini added: "This Offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the Club forward, which in turn, we are sure, will be translated into positive results on the pitch.
"I am delighted that Flavio and Bernie have asked me to remain on the Board of the Club, and hope to play a large part in the future success of QPR Football Club."
*The Club will be making no further comment at this stage, as our focus today remains on celebrating the life and times of Ray Jones, who tragically died in a motor accident last weekend.
*Details of a press conference will follow in due course. QPR

The full (lengthy) announcement "THE DEAL: IN DETAIL
1 September 2007
RECOMMENDED CASH OFFER FOR QPR HOLDINGS LIMITED ("QPR" OR THE "CLUB")
BY SARITA CAPITAL INVESTMENT INC ("SARITA CAPITAL") Summary and Highlights....
Complete Official/Legal "The Deal in Detail"


AP -Ecclestone, Briatore set to buy Queens Park Rangers after board recommends bid
Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and Renault team principal Flavio Briatore are set to buy Queens Park Rangers after the English soccer club's board recommended the pair's offer.
QPR, which plays in the second-tier League championship, announced the move Saturday.
The takeover has been mooted at 30 million pounds (US$60.5 million; ?44.4 million) by British papers and should mean the west London team can now plan without the threat of financial administration.
QPR has struggled since relegation from the Premier League in 1996, at one point dropping into the third tier for three seasons, and also owed tax to Britain's Inland Revenue.
Had the club entered financial administration - continuing operations without selling off assets to pay debts - it would have had 10 points automatically deducted from its league total under Football League rules.
Gianni Paladini will carry on as chairman, with Briatore, Bruno Michel and Alejandro Agag joining the board in place of Antonio Caliendo and Franco Zanotti.
"This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward, which in turn, we are sure, will be translated into positive results on the pitch,'' Paladini said.
QPR was a regular in English soccer's top division and was a founder member of the Premier League in 1992. Winner of the League Cup in 1967, the closest QPR ever came to winning the English championship was in 1976, when it came within one point of edging powerhouse Liverpool.
"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fan base that it has,'' Briatore said. "We are therefore totally committed to bringing future success back to the club.''
Ecclestone had been linked with a move for Arsenal, but his chances of buying into the Premier League powerhouse seemed to end Thursday when former vice chairman David Dein sold his 14.58 percent stake to a consortium led by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. AP

BBC - F1 magnates to take over at QPR
QPR have confirmed that Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have made a recommended offer for the club.
Gianni Paladini will remain as chairman but Antonio Caliendo and Franco Zanotti have agreed to resign from the board.
Briatore told the club website: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the QPR board for our bid for the club.
Paladini said: "This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward." BBC

Guardian - Ecclestone and Briatore take control of QPR
QPR have confirmed that Formula One magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have "made a recommended offer" for the Coca-Cola Championship club. Briatore, head of the Renault F1 team, and Ecclestone will now take control of the club although current chairman Gianni Paladini will remain in position.
Briatore told the club's official website http://www.qpr.co.uk: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the board of QPR for our bid for the club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team. We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fanbase that it has and are totally committed to bringing future success back to the club."
Paladini said: "This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward which will be translated into positive results on the pitch. I am delighted that Flavio and Bernie have asked me to remain on the board and I hope to play a large part in the future of QPR."
The news was announced prior to the Championship clash with Southampton at Loftus Road, where all 11 Rangers players donned shirts carrying Ray Jones' name on the back. The 18-year-old striker was killed last weekend in a car accident and the club confirmed that no further comment on the takeover would be made today.
A statement said: "The club will be making no further comment at this stage, as our focus today remains on celebrating the life and times of Ray Jones, who tragically died in a motor accident last weekend." Guardian


PA Sport, Tom Rostance - ECCLESTONE IN AT QPR
QPR have confirmed that Formula One magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have "made a recommended offer" for the Coca-Cola Championship club.
Briatore, head of the Renault F1 team, and Ecclestone will now take control of the club although current chairman Gianni Paladini will remain in position.
Briatore told the club's official website www.qpr.co.uk: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the board of QPR for our bid for the club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team.
"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fanbase that it has and are totally committed to bringing future success back to the club."
Paladini said: "This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward which will be translated into positive results on the pitch.
"I am delighted that Flavio and Bernie have asked me to remain on the board and I hope to play a large part in the future of QPR."
The news was announced prior to the Championship clash with Southampton at Loftus Road, where all 11 Rangers players donned shirts shirts carrying Ray Jones' name on the back.
The 18-year-old striker was killed last weekend in a car accident and the club confirmed that no further comment on the takeover would be made today.
A statement said: "The club will be making no further comment at this stage, as our focus today remains on celebrating the life and times of Ray Jones, who tragically died in a motor accident last weekend." Sporting Life


SKY - F1 Bosses Take Over QPR
QPR have confirmed that Formula One magnates Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone have "made a recommended offer" for the club.
Briatore, head of the Renault F1 team, and Ecclestone, who runs Formula One, will now take control at Loftus Road.
Current chairman Gianni Paladini will remain in position.
Briatore said: "Bernie and I were delighted to receive a recommendation from the board of QPR for our bid for the club and we look forward to working alongside Gianni Paladini and his team.
"We are fully aware of the history of QPR and the loyal fanbase that it has and are totally committed to bringing future success back to the club."
Paladini said: "This offer provides much needed investment and an excellent opportunity to move the club forward which will be translated into positive results on the pitch.
"I am delighted that Flavio and Bernie have asked me to remain on the board and I hope to play a large part in the future of QPR." Skynews


Also one year ago, today, John Gregory's QPR lost 0-3 at home to Southampton: QPR's team: Camp, Curtis, Stewart, Mancienne (Cullip 84), Barker, Rowlands, Leigertwood, Bolder, Ephraim, Blackstock (Nygaard 69), Sahar (Nardiello 69). Subs Not Used: Cole, Bignot. - Match Reports After 3 games, QPR had one point.


On This Day...Nostalgia Flashback!-

September 1, 1981 - First Game on Plastic -
27 Years Ago, QPR Made English Football History: The First Game on Plastic!
RANGERS "CONTROVERSIAL" PLASTIC PITCH
September 1, 1981: Terry Venables QPR played Luton Town at Loftus Road, for their first home game of the season. (The previous Saturday, QPR won their season opener with a 3-1 win at Wrexham.) Andy King put QPR 1-0 before Luton scored twice to win it.
QPR's plastic was so controversial that originally the FA was not going to allow games to be played at Loftus Road. That never fortuitously didn't occur since that was the season that QPR went on to the FA Cup Final.
In ensuing seasons, following Rangers' example, Preston, Oldham and Luton itself followed suit. But the plastic fields were very controversial, with the claim that they gave an unfair advantage to the home teams, and supposedly players getting certain injuries. Also the bouncing ball off the surface, etc. And the term "controversial" came into almost newspaper match report of QPR games. Within a few years, the clubs had all given up their plastic.
QPR's Team for that opening game at home to Luton.
Burridge - Fenwick Hazell Roeder Gregory - Waddock Francis King - Allen Stainrod Flanagan
(A couple of years later, when QPR qualified for the UEFA Cup, their Plastic pitch was not permitted in Europe, so they had to play at Highbury.
Ironically, a few years earlier, Terry Venables had co-authored the book "They Used to Play on Grass"


Twelve Ago Today, Ray Wilkins Axed/"Resigned"
The Departure of Ray Wilkins
September 1, 1996: QPR having beaten Oxford and Portsmouth and drawn at Wolves; and lost Kevin Gallen through a terrible injury, played promotion-challenging Bolton at Loftus Road (and lost 2-1)
For newly-relegated QPR still under the managership (player manager) of Ray Wilkins and Frank Sibley and under the new ownership of Chris Wright...The QPR Board met with Wilkins, and ostensibly he left because he wanted to continue playing. But there were strong suggestions he was axed, even though Chris Wright and others denied that.
It was such a change from the less than two years previously, when Wilkins returned to QPR after Gerry Francis moved on to Spurs and in his first season, guided QPR to 8th. The following season, QPR sold Ferdinand and made some not-so great purchases: Zelic, Osbourne, Hately, Sommer.
And as a player, signed by Don Howe, in a deal arranged by axed Trevor Francis, Wilkins joined QPR on a free from Glasgow Rangers and made an immediate, brilliant impact on QPR. And for the next several seasons, was QPR's brilliant midfielder. There was a slight irony, since QPR under Dave Sexton in 1974/75 had tried to sign Wilkins as an 18 year old from Chelsea.
So Wilkins left and instead appointed Stuart Houston and Bruce Rioch (instead of Venables, George Graham or Alan Curbishly who were three names that were strongly touted.) And over the next year, Houston spent lavishly )approaching 8 million pounds + high wages) on John Spencer, Gavin Peacock, Steve Morrow, Lee Harper, Matt Rose, and finally....Mike Sheron. See QPRNet Q&A With Ray Wilkins


Bill Power's QPR Departure: Three Years Ago: QPR OFFICIAL SITE - SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 - BILL POWER
Today following advice from my doctor and after lengthy discussions with my family and each member of the board I am confirming my departure as chairman of QPR.
I am well aware of the feelings of supporters having received literally hundreds of goodwill messages. But I must be selfish and think of my own health and also the health of two family members, both lifelong R's - my beautiful mum and my lovely father-in-law, who are both in hospital and not in the best of health.
I have been in discussions for the last two months with my fellow board members regarding who could, should or would 'pick up the baton'. I have told Gianni that he should become chairman with immediate effect to help focus everyone on going forward and I have advised him to meet with the supporters groups as quickly as he can.
As I write this, I have just enjoyed a day talking and having lunch with Gianni and on the phone with Ollie discussing possible new signings and things that we thought could take the club forward. I hope, and am sure, that those discussions and my advice will be acted upon and that we all see the benefits for ourselves .
In all honesty, and perhaps selfishly again, I must say it was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders having previously known that a decision I might make as Chairman could affect the hopes and dreams of so many fellow R's. Now it is time to let another friend push us forward. I am not leaving, just taking a well earned rest.
Words fail to express how much I have enjoyed my tenure as chairman, living every fan's dream of helping the club they love. I'm sure I will think of dozens of things I should have said, so for now I will just say a big thank you to everyone I have met and wish you all well.
Once again I ask you to get behind Gianni, Kevin, Ollie and the boys. I know that when we all pull together we are unstoppable.
Come on you R's. QPR


QPR's Draw at Liverpool: September 1, 1984: Liverpool 1 QPR 1
Wayne Fereday scores as Alan Mullery's QPR drew 1-1 at Liverpool.
QPR's Team: Hucker - Neil Wicks Fenwick Dawes -Fereday Fillery Gregory Mickelwhite - Bannister Stainrod


September 1, 1990: Don Howe's QPR drew 1-1 at home to Chelsea. Roy Wegerle. Roberts Bardsley Mcdonald Channing Sansom -Wilson Parker Wikins Sinton -Falco Wegerle


September 1, 1973: Gerry Francis Makes Full First Division Debut
Francis made his First Division full debut, scoring in QPR's 1-2 loss at Manchester United.(Francis had came on as a 16-old sub in QPR's 2-1 home loss against Liverpool in March, 1969. Barry Bridges scoring for QPR). QPR's team (managed by Gordon Jago)against Manchester United: Parkes - Clement Mancini Hazell Watson - Francis Venables Leach -Thomas Bowles Givens.


Ex-QPR, Keith Rowlands Turns 37! (Born September 1, 1971)
Rowlands was signed by Ray Harford from West Ham in 1998 (along with Ian Dowie, in a part exchange for Trevor Sinclair.) Rowlands replaced Rufus Brevett who was sold on to Fulham. Rowlands played a relatively small number of QPR as full back and wing. He joined Luton in 2001. Rowlands


It's also Golden Foot Award today (September 1): Former QPR Holdings Chairman Antonio Caliendo's World Champions Club and Monaco's Golden Foot Award. Last year's winner was Del Piero. The 2006 winner was Ronaldo. Players Nominated (and how many of the current or future nominees will end up playing for QPR?!" David BECKHAM - Gianluigi BUFFON - Fabio CANNAVARO - Luis FIGO - Ryan GIGGS - Thierry HENRY - RAUL Gonzalez - ROBERTO CARLOS - Francesco TOTTI - David TREZEGUET - See Golden Foot Awards