QPR's Boardroom "Coup" - One Year Later

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A Year ago, today, QPR's Boardroom "Coup" took place.

Some days after "The alleged Incident" at Loftus Road before the Sheffield United game, Dunga controversially flew in...The Board met...Bill Power and Mark Devlin went home...and Bill Power was controversially voted out and Mark Devlin was made redundant. But this was just the start of quite a year.

BBC- Power is removed as QPR chairman

Gianni Paladini has taken control at Loftus Road

Queens Park Rangers chairman Bill Power has been removed and chief executive Mark Devlin sacked.

Director Gianni Paladini, backed by Monaco-based groups that bought shares in Rangers last year, moved to oust Power at a board meeting on Wednesday.

Power, who was a close ally of the Italian before their relationship turned sour, was voted out and Devlin told he was being fired.

But Power and his supporters are likely to challenge the legality of the move.

Both Power and the Monaco groups were keen to increase their shareholding.

Power's camp were undone by former Brazil captain Carlos Dunga unexpectedly flying in from Japan to vote with Paladini.

Dunga represents one of the Monaco groups but little has been heard of him since he was made a director last summer.

Wednesday's board meeting was the first the World Cup winner has attended.

Power and Paladini joined forces to topple the previous board 14 months ago, but there have been bitter divisions since.

Paladini is now in control at Loftus Road and is likely to take over Devlin's duties.

A new chairman is expected to be named shortly.

BBC


QPR Official Statement - August 25, 2005

TATEMENT
The Board of QPR Holdings Ltd has decided that Mr Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive Officer is to be made redundant with immediate effect.

Mr Bill Power is no longer Chairman of the Board but remains as a Director.

Mr Gualtiero Trucco has been appointed interim Chairman of the Board.

Bill Power and Director Kevin McGrath do not recognise the validity of these decisions which were taken at yesterday's Board meeting in their absence.

They are currently seeking legal advice with regards to these decisions
QPR OFFICIAL SITE

SPORTING LIFE - QPR POWER STRUGGLE GOES ON

QPR manager Ian Holloway has attacked the boardroom chaos threatening to derail the club - and admitted his future is uncertain.

Bill Power and Mark Devlin were ousted as Rangers chairman and chief executive respectively in a boardroom coup earlier this week, allowing director Gianni Paladini to seize effective control of the club.

Power continues to fight his demotion and is expected to mount a legal challenge, but manager Holloway could now be under pressure - former Rangers player and Aston Villa manager John Gregory was in the directors' box for Friday's home match against Sheffield Wednesday.

"We've had two bad results [at Coventry and Northampton], but whether I remain here is another matter," Holloway said.

"If they want me, great, if they don't then that's life.

"Hopefully the people in the boardroom can sort our their squabbles. They need to sort it out. They are directors - they need to direct the club."

Paladini attracted two Monaco-based groups of investors to the club when it was in dire financial straits last summer and one of their number - fellow Italian Gualtiero Trucco - has been installed as interim chairman.

Holloway led Rangers to 11th place in the Championship last term following their promotion from the old Division Two the previous season.

But Holloway has had to deal with boardroom instability throughout his reign - and he hinted he was growing tired of it.

"The supporters don't know the facts," he told BBC London 94.9 FM.

"It's not a nice situation to be in. I've been through three boards since I've been here and I'm not happy about that.

"We don't want to wash our dirty linen in public. QPR is a baton that's been handed around.

"When the board get fed up, when the supporters get fed up, they can get someone else."

Sporting Life


The Guardian -
Rangers raise a point despite boardroom chaos
"Arindam Rej at Loftus Road
Saturday August 27, 2005
The Guardian


Trouble is mounting at QPR. A boardroom power struggle has unsettled the club to such an extent that this result was peripheral for their fans. The sooner they find out who their next chairman is, the better.
Not that focusing on this point would have cheered them up. They failed to overcome a Wednesday side who picked up three injuries in 51 minutes and were reduced to 10 men for the final 15.
Bill Power is expected to mount a legal challenge after his removal as chairman, during a board meeting this week in which the chief executive Mark Devlin was also sacked. Rangers' director Gianni Paladini has taken control, with Gualtiero Trucco as the interim chairman.
Background worries are not unusual but this month the events have been scarcely believable. Paladini, whose long-held ambition is to run a football club, had his resignation demanded when he was threatened with a gun before the game with Sheffield United.

The club was further startled by this week's news. Power and Paladini had worked together to bring down the previous regime 14 months ago but relations have deteriorated to such an extent that Power, despite remaining a director, has lost his job. More bizarrely Power still claims he is chairman....
Guardian


QPR OFFICIAL SITE - August 30, 2005 -

BRIGHT FUTURE

Gianni Paladini has promised a bright future for Queens Park Rangers following the changes at Boardroom level last week.

Bill Power is no longer Chairman and Mark Devlin's position as Chief Executive was made redundant following a Board meeting at Loftus Road.

But the Director insists that the decisions taken were made with only the Club's interest at heart and he has played down suggestions of turmoil at the highest level.

"I am still friends with Bill. We go out for lunch and we talk on the phone every day. I have no problem with Bill.

"This is not about individuals or personalities, it is about the future of this great Club and all of us - Bill included -want nothing more than to see QPR continue to grow and improve."

Paladini is also sympathetic with supporters who may have been worried about the situation.

He appreciates that the supporters are concerned and has stressed that their feelings are at the forefront of his mind.

"The supporters are what makes this Club great and from the moment I arrived at Loftus Road I have been overwhelmed by their passion and devotion.

"All supporters will worry when they see change and I can understand that. But I believe that change was necessary for long term stability.

"The investors and directors are ambitious - I am ambitious - but we are not turning things upside down. We are going to make sensible steady progress and take Rangers back to where we belong - the Premiership."

Paladini also believes that the root of stability lies with the manager and that is why he hopes to sit down with Ian Holloway this week to discuss a new contract.

"Ollie is responsible for so much that has happened here during the past few years. Our successes on the pitch are down to him and he should be rewarded accordingly."

QPR

BILL POWER STATEMENT, QPR OFFICIAL SITE - September 1, 2005

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 OFFICIAL STATEMENT - GIANNI PALADINI

Gianni Paladini has been appointed Chairman of Queens Park Rangers Football Club and QPR Holdings Ltd.

Interim Chairman Gualtiero Trucco has stepped down and the Board of Directors have unanimously chosen Paladini to take on the role on a full-time basis.

The changes were agreed at a Loftus Road Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon and Paladini is delighted by the honour of this 'challenging but exciting' role.

"The Monaco investors have recommended that I be appointed Chairman and I am deeply honoured that the Directors have allowed me this opportunity.

"I hope now that after a period of instability we can all look forward to the brightest of futures at Loftus Road.

"We have a wonderful manager, an exciting and improving squad and a real opportunity to push for a place in the play-offs and even the Premiership.

"I believe these are wonderful times to be a QPR supporter and I just want to play whatever part I can in bringing both success and stability to this Club.

"I fully appreciate that supporters will have been a little bewildered by recent events and I wish that so much of what has happened could have happened differently.

"But I believe we now have the right people in place, both on the pitch and behind the scenes, to take this club forward.

"I would like to thank every single fan for their continued, passionate support for QPR and I would also like to pay tribute to all the staff here.

"Life hasn't been particularly easy for them recently either but every single one continues to work as hard as ever for the benefit of this club.

"It has never been clearer to me that, both in the stands and behind the scenes, this is a wonderful place full of very special people."

QPR

The Evening Standard offered this minute-by-minute account of the August 24 Board Meeting