QPR Boardroom Power Struggle? ...Dowie Facing Sack?...Paladini in Trouble?

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[UPDATE - According to messageboard posts, the parties met today; and it's back to business; no Board changes or departures..


[From The Sun and the Guardian re QPR Boardroom dispute/"Power struggle." Comment on Dowie, Briatore, Mittal or anything else on the QPR Report Messageboard. ]


The Guardian/David Hytner - QPR owners head for showdown as ticket price cut fans the flames
Queens Park Rangers were last night set for a power struggle which could reshape the club after the vice-chairman, Amit Bhatia, went public with a promise to reduce ticket prices but in doing so appeared to undermine the authority of the chairman, Flavio Briatore.
Supporters reacted with delight to an open letter from Bhatia - the son-in-law of and front man for Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fourth richest man, who took a 20% stake in the club at the end of last year - saying that the £50 and £40 category A and B tickets for matches at Loftus Road would be scrapped with immediate effect. Bhatia has styled himself as a populist with QPR fans.
- But Briatore, who with his fellow formula one magnate Bernie Ecclestone has control of QPR, is believed to be furious at Bhatia's declaration. He will seek urgent talks to clear the air and the collateral damage could include the sporting director, Gianni Paladini, who is Briatore's prime contact at the club. Paladini was fearful last night that he might lose his job.
- The manager, Iain Dowie, is already under pressure from Briatore, who is demanding that the club are promoted to the Premier League this season. There have also been suggestions that the Mittals might seek to buy out Briatore and assume full control of the club.
- Bhatia and Mittal have been infected by the football bug and they are also conscious of what Bhatia called the "tough economic times". "Many of you [the fans] don't need the added burden of higher ticket prices at select fixtures," he said. "Your despair was warranted and justified. So please be assured that with immediate effect and until the end of the season, we will have no category A or B fixtures and tickets for all home fixtures at Loftus Road will be category C. We stand corrected on the ticket price increases." The Guardian


The Sun/Dean Jones - Dowie in the mire at Rangers
IAIN DOWIE faces the axe at QPR.
Hoops owner Flavio Briatore is becoming increasingly hands-on — even wanting to pick the team himself.
His relationship with the manager is strained and despite just five months in the job, Dowie’s time may be near an end.
Rangers have won one of their last six.
QPR Holdings Ltd vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has told fans every game will now be a ‘cheap’ category C game to help them in the credit crunch.
But SunSport understands Briatore did not approve the idea.
Bhatia represents shareholder Lakshmi Mittal, the world’s fourth richest man." The Sun --- [See QPR Report Messageboard]


UPDATE: And from the Daily Mail (But just a summary of what's in the other papers)
Daily Mail - QPR owners set for showdown talks as Dowie's future hangs
in the balance at Loftus Road
The mega-rich owners of Queens Park Rangers are set for showdown talks over a ticket pricing row which could also decide the fate of beleaguered manager Iain Dowie.
Millionaire chairman Flavio Briatore is reported to be furious at vice-chairman Amit Bhatia - the son-in-law of and front man for Lakshmi Mittal - after he told fans he planned to reduce ticket prices.

Bhatia revealed publicly that the £50 and £40 category A and B tickets for Championship matches at Loftus Road would be scrapped with immediate effect.
'Many of you [the fans] don't need the added burden of higher ticket prices at select fixtures,' he said.
'Your despair was warranted and justified. So please be assured that with immediate effect and until the end of the season, we will have no category A or B fixtures and tickets for all home fixtures at Loftus Road will be category C. We stand corrected on the ticket price increases.'
But his declaration has infuriated Briatore who believes he has been undermined by his vice-chairman, according to The Guardian.
Bhatia works on behalf of Mittal - the world's fourth richest man, who owns a 20 per cent stake in the club.

Briatore, who along with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone have control of QPR, want to hold urgent talks with Bhatia which could reshape the club.
The Guardian claims Sporting director Gianni Paladini will be involved in the talks and is fearful he might lose his job.
Dowie's position is also thought to be under threat and will be discussed at the meeting.
The QPR boss is under pressure from Briatore to get them promoted to the Barclays Premier League but they have won just one of their last six games.

Renault F1 Briatore is even thought to want to pick the team himself and his relationship with Dowie is understood to have become extremely strained, reports The Sun. The Mail