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Financial Times/Emiliya Mychasuk and Emiko Terazono - February 13
Loftus Road blues for Mittal
-Dust may fly between motor racing magnate Flavio Briatore and his friend and steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal over their ownership of Queens Park Rangers.
- Since they and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone took control of the Championship club about two years ago, QPR has gone from being a contender for Premiership promotion to relegation candidate.
- As the main shareholder at QPR, Mr Briatore has a hands-on role with a series of brushes with the team's managers - six have come and gone in the short time he has been connected with the club.
- QPR are now searching for the next incumbent, with speculation mounting that German football legend Lothar Matthaus might be the next in line.
- Mr Mittal has kept a distance, leaving it to son-in-law Amit Bhatia to liaise with chairman Briatore in his capacity as vice-chairman on the QPR board. But Mr Mittal - who, in his steel interests, places great store on management stability - has been unimpressed at Mr Briatore's handling of club affairs, although the Indian billionaire is saying nothing publicly.
- Mr Mittal could of course choose to sell his QPR stake and perhaps seek an investment in another UK club. An idea that could appeal is Sc*n*horpe United, another Championship team.
- Scunthorpe, nicknamed the Iron, play in the shadow of one of the UK's biggest steel works and used to boast no less a luminary than Kevin Keegan as a star player"
Financial Times

Newcastle Official Site - Routledge To Shelve Respect For Sousa
By Craig Hope- WAYNE Routledge admits that he will shelve his respect for former Queens Park Rangers boss Paulo Sousa when Newcastle United go looking for a swift return to winning ways at Swansea City this weekend.
The former Portugal international, now in charge at the Liberty Stadium, was the reason Routledge signed for the capital outfit just over 12 months ago.
But the pair's stay in W12 was not to last and, by April, Sousa was sacked. Routledge, meanwhile, was headed for the Loftus Road exit doors some nine months later with St.James' Park his chosen destination.
The livewire winger has since caught the eye at Gallowgate only for a successful start to be marred somewhat slightly by the midweek defeat at Derby County.
And that is why, despite harbouring an admiration for Swans chief Sousa, Routledge is determined to get one over on his former boss on Saturday lunchtime.
"Paulo was the reason I signed for QPR," revealed the 25-year-old, "I sat down and had a talk with him and his football philosophy is amazing.
"Everything revolves around football with him and I enjoyed working with him.
"He's doing well at Swansea now and is getting results.

"He's got a good side and they are bound to play good football, so it will be a difficult game... Newcastle


The Sun/Chris Kamara - Paulo’s one hell of a geezer
WHEN Paulo Sousa followed Roberto Martinez into the Swansea hotseat, it looked as if he was jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Wigan-bound Martinez was one of the most popular men in the club's recent history, after going up from League One and playing some outstanding football in his two-year reign.

After an ill-fated five months in charge of QPR, no one could have blamed Sousa if he'd packed his bags and headed back to his native Portugal.

But he still had unfinished business - convincing a cynical footballing world that he had what it took to be a smash hit as a manager in the English game.

Well, this morning Sousa can allow himself a smug smile at proving that point, with the Swans in the play-off slots and still playing the beautiful game.

I first met Paulo when he arrived at QPR, and it was clear from the start that he knew football inside-out.

Even though he was coming to a league which was totally unknown to him, he swiftly came to terms with what was required.

Sadly his Loftus Road career never got off the ground and he was sacked after five months - although the fact there have been FIVE managers since he left speaks volumes.

But there was a fortunate twist in the tale for Paulo when Martinez headed to the JJB.

It would have been easy to go back to Portugal, where he had worked alongside national boss and ex-Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz.

But Sousa believed in himself, and after eight months at the Liberty Stadium, there are plenty of others of the same opinion.

He has an incredible desire to be successful and once told me how Sven Goran Eriksson remoulded his career.

When Sven was at Benfica, he turned Sousa from a striker-winger into a midfield playmaker, and he went on to incredible success at Sporting Lisbon, Juventus and Inter Milan.

Now Paulo is looking to take Swansea to new heights - and he is making a good job of it.

To win the crowd over totally, you'd think he has to take them into the play-offs, which would be terrific given his lack of funds.

I must admit before the season started, I thought he'd be do well to keep Swans in the Championship.

But, like Martinez before him, the success is based on good football, with just 20 goals let in and 16 clean sheets.

The only thing missing is a prolific striker. With money so tight, it's not easy to pull a rabbit out of a hat, so Paulo will have to be content with his lot. Mind you, as lots go, it ain't a bad one! The Sun

- Swansea Eye Club Record for Clean Sheets