QPR's Year in Review - November 2006

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NOVEMBER 2006

QPR's November: Three successive Wins brought a wave of optimism followed by two defeats...Off the Field: Graham Mackrell & Pennington Depart...Ugo Ukah is suddenly "discovered" to be back at Loftus Road (actually never to have really left)....Barclays and Deloitte & Touche Advise...Tim Breacker Joins Holloway...AKUTRs awaits the Paladini response...

ON THE FIELD
ON THE FIELD: QPR played Five Games during November: Winning the first three: Crystal Palace at home 4-2; Luton Away, 3-2; Cardiff Away 1-0; then lost at home to Coventry 0-1 and at home to Sunderland 1-2. Although the biggest on-the-field story came when Luton Manager, Mike Newell was quoted disparaging the role of women in officiating football. QPR won the "F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award" for their win at Cardiff At QPR, during the Sunderland game, a couple of bottles were thrown on the field, for which the FA has requested an "explanation" FA

PLAYERS:
PLAYERS OUT: November began with unconfirmed reports that STEFAN MOOREhad returned from Port Vale. This was never confirmed on either clubs' website, but by the end of the month, Moore was back (if he ever left) at Port Vale on loan. There were reports that Blackpool wanted to sign on-Loan Ian Evatt permanently; and Tommy Doherty remained on loan at Wycombe.

Chairman GIANNI PALADINI was quoted as saying he would want 10 million pounds to sell LEE COOK and various clubs were reported in the press as being interested in Cook (although no 10 million sum was mentioned). Paladini was also quoted as saying he might also be forced to sell RAY JONES unless he signed a contractcos of no new contract. Chelsea permitted JIMMY SMITH to remain at QPR an additional two months. Lee Cook, Jimmy Smith And Rehman were all included in the "teams of the week."

UGO UKAH "reemerges" at Lofus Road
Signed in the summer of 2005 by Ian Holloway and Gianni Paladini and announced in May 2006 as having "joined Italian outfit Nourese Calcio on a free transfer...[on] a three year contract..." Ukah - without any Official explanation - was suddenly back at QPR playing in a reserve game and then named on the back of the programme as being in the QPR First Team squad with the number #40 shirt. [The "Official" response as reported on the messageboard was that he had returned after failing fitness test. But tha t was not officially stated. Ukah

OFF THE FIELD DEVELOPMENTS: There Were Various Developments

Without any announcement (at least online), the club suddenly listed as its: "Financial Controller - Akin Yilmaz" and made no note of the seeming departure of QPR's Chief Financial Officer, Chris Pennington.

TIM BREACKER - after almost 300 days of paid Gardening Leave and several statements by Plymouth manager, Ian Holloway, Plymouth and QPR finally came to an agreement which led to Breacker joining Plymouth. Breacker

News about QPR's Chief Operating Officer (COO): GRAHAM MACKRELL:
In Mid-November, there were messageboard rumours about the departure of COO Graham Mackrell departure - less than three months after his arrival at Loftus Roald. These rumours went on for about a week without any club comment before Mackrell's departure was announced (but not explained) as part of a broader QPR announcement "Bank on US" in which QPR announced they were "delighted to announce that the club will be teaming up with Barclays Bank and Deloitte & Touche.... Following the departure of Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell, QPR will still have sound financial and business advice from two of the financial world's experts. QPR would like to thank Graham Mackrell for all of his hard work over the last few months....".

Prior to the statement by the club, there were unconfirmed (and unrefuted) stories in the Daily Mail and Sun saying Mackrell had been fired. The Daily Mail: "Mackrell sacked by QPR over compensation row - QPR have sacked chief operating officer Graham Mackrell following a row over compensation for former assistant boss Tim Breacker.
... Paladini has accused Mackrell of blundering over pay-off negotiations. ..."
While The Sun "QPR have sacked executive Graham Mackrell in the row over compensation for coach Tim Breacker. ...Paladini has accused Mackrell of bungling pay-off negotiations.... Paladini said: “I was unhappy with Graham’s involvement. “I believe the pay agreement is back in place but I didn’t feel I can work with Mr Mackrell" Mackrell

QPR's NEW BANK INVOLVEMENT
The official announcement of Mackrell's departure was placed within a broader QPR statement "BANK ON US" in which QPR announced " QPR are delighted to announce that the club will be teaming up with Barclays Bank and Deloitte & Touche.
Over the next 12 months the club will be working in collaboration with the two financial companies, who will provide professional advice on all financial matters relating to the club.
Deloitte will provide an independent review of the business and aim to work in partnership with the club to provide support and address the key business issues requiring resolution should there be any which need addressing.
Following the departure of Chief Operating Officer, Graham Mackrell, QPR will still have sound financial and business advice from two of the financial world's experts.
QPR would like to thank Graham Mackrell for all of his hard work over the last few months. The club would like to welcome Deloitte on board and look forward to working with them in the future." Bank on Us

AKUTRS PUBLISHED - WITHOUT PALADINI RESPONSE
The much-anticipated December issue of the fan magazine, AKUTRs came out - WITHOUT the expected response by Chairman Paladini. Paladini had been granted the right of an unedited response (along with a complete AKUTR apology and the withdrawal of the issue in question) in response to a number of assertions about which Paladini threatened legal action. No AKUTRs

On a separate note, tragedy at Train Station with police investigating Arrests