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- Jeff Powell/Daily Mail - No Old Trafford tribute for Baroness Thatcher... Shame on football for snubbing the lady who rescued our game from tribal hooligans
- Guardian/James Riach -Ken Bates faces calls for FA disrepute charge after Ofcom report• Ofcom found that Leeds fan's privacy had been infringed• Leeds United Supporters' Trust chairman demands action
Four Years Ago Today: Sousa Axed
April 9, 2009
- QPR Official Site:
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today (Thursday) had to terminate Paulo De Sousa's employment with the Club with immediate effect.
- It came to the Club's attention that Mr De Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information. The Club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position.
- Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth will take Caretaker charge on a temporary basis, from now until the end of the season.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1622139,00.html
MIRROR
Mirror/Alan Nixon - QPR sack manager Paulo Sousa for leaking information
Paulo Sousa is ready to fight QPR for a pay-off - after being sacked last night following a row over leaks about the club's affairs
- The Portuguese coach was axed in a letter to his home yesterday following weeks of speculation about his future.
- Sousa was questioned by club bosses about claims he had told supporters about trouble behindthe-scenes in the past few weeks.
- The former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund star strenuously denied those allegations and was stunned by the sacking - although he was aware Rangers were going to bring in a new man above him for next season.
- A sources close to Sousa said: "Paulo is a very dignified man and a professional. He would not go round telling tales about club affairs to fans." Rangers will promote Gareth Ainsworth to the role of boss for now.
The Times - QPR sack manager Paulo Sousa
Queens Park Rangers have sacked Paulo Sousa after just five months in charge.
- Flavio Briatore, the club's ambitious millionaire chairman and co-owner insisted that Sousa had been dismissed for “divulging highly confidential information” rather than because the club are languishing in tenth place in the Coca-Cola Championship, with little chance of reaching the play-offs this season.
- A club statement read: “Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today had to terminate Paulo Sousa‘s employment with the club with immediate effect.
- “It came to the club‘s attention that Mr Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information
- “The club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position.”
- The former Portugal midfielder, 38, took over at Loftus Road in November after Iain Dowie was axed but won just seven of his 26 games at the helm.
- The writing appeared to be on the wall after Sousa revealed at the weekend that top-scorer Dexter Blackstock had been loaned to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- His predecessor Dowie lasted just 15 games before he was dismissed after clashing with Briatore over team selection and the Italian owner of the Renault Formula One team is now looking for his seventh manager since taking over the club a year and a half ago.
- John Gregory, Luigi De Canio and caretakers Mick Harford and Gareth Ainsworth have also been dispensed with. Ainsworth, who has remained on the coaching staff, will be back in charge for the rest of the season, starting with Saturday’s trip to Burnley, while Paul Ince and Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson have been linked with the role. The Times
Daily Mail's "Hatchet Man" take
Same old storyline at QPR as Sousa becomes the latest to star in a brief encounter
So Paulo Sousa has been axed by QPR after just 26 games. No-one saw that coming did they?
The fact that it came about after alleged leaks gives the departure an unexpected twist but the manager's job at the club remains a short-term deal under the current ownership.
The club have now gone through five managers since Flavio Briatore and co took the reins. Who would want to take that job now?
The qualifications for the role seem to be as much to do with putting up with the alleged meddling of the owners and having a good lawyer to ensure a lucrative exit when it inevitably comes before the contract expires as anything to do with the sport.
Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, the key QPR investors, have become the Axemen of the Championship and Loftus Road is set to remain a bloody and painful place for some time.
It will probably stay like that until they move on, in fact, and when big money moves out of a club after such disjointed management, the sequel of the current production could well be Apocalypse Now.
SkySport - Paladini in plea to fans - QPR standing by decision to dismiss Sousa
- Queens Park Rangers sporting director Gianni Paladini has urged supporters to 'stay behind' the club after the sacking of Paulo Sousa.
- Former Portugal international Sousa was dismissed by the Championship club on Thursday evening, just five months after taking on the job.
- Sousa was sacked by the Rs for 'divulging confidential and sensitive information' without authority following the recent board decision which saw Dexter Blackstock join Nottingham Forest on loan.
- Sky Sports News understands that Sousa 'strenuously denies' the allegations, but Paladini insists the club are standing by their decision.
- In a statement released to Sky Sports News, Paladini called on the fans to put their trust in the club's board.
- "Paulo Sousa has parted company with the club and the club is sticking with the decision made," said Paladini.
- "The people running the club want it to go forward.
- "Supporters must stay behind the club and those who are running it. I ask them to do that. Skysport
QPR 1st QPR1st annoucement
- QPR1st appreciate that the Club feels unable to comment further on the reasons for terminating Paulo de Sousa’s employment .Yet we are dismayed that yet again the Club has proved unable to retain a manager long enough for him to build the foundations for future success and yet again the Club has been plunged into a period of uncertainty and instability.
- Four managers and two caretakers in a year and a half is an appalling record and increasing evidence that managers are not being allowed the autonomy and support they require in order to carry out their role raises serious questions about the way this Club is being run. It is difficult to envisage that any managers or players would wish to work under such a regime.
- We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr de Sousa and wish him the best for the future. - www.qpr1st.com [Posted on LoftforWords
BBC - QPR axe Sousa after just 26 games
- Sousa leaves QPR nine points adrift of the play-offs
Queens Park Rangers have sacked Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa after just 26 games in charge claiming he divulged sensitive information.
- In a club statement, QPR said they took legal advice before acting to "protect its position".
- Sousa, 38, took charge in November, but won just seven games as the side have idled to 10th in the Championship.
- QPR chairman and co-owner Flavio Briatore has now had four managers and two caretakers in a year and a half.
- Sousa's departure comes after coach Bruno Oliveira had his contract at Loftus Road terminated on Monday.
- Player coach Garth Ainsworth will take charge of the side for the rest of the season, starting with a visit to Burnley on Saturday.
- Sousa revealed at the weekend that top-scorer Dexter Blackstock's loan move to Nottingham Forest had been agreed without his knowledge.
- "It is a decision for the board and only they can answer it. I'm not frustrated, I said from the first day I have to adapt and try to do my best with the players I have," he said after his side's goalless draw with Crystal Palace
- Sousa's predecessor Iain Dowie's 15-match spell with the west London side came to an end after he clashed with Briatore, who is also Renault's Formula 1 boss, over team selection.
- John Gregory and Luigi De Canio have had short-lived managerial stints during Briatore's 18 months at the helm after the Italian bought the club with a group of friends, including F1's billionaire supremo Bernie Ecclestone in September 2007.
- Ainsworth and Mick Harford have also failed to persuade the Italian to promote them to full-time roles whilst filling caretaker positions.
Ealing Gazette/Yann Tear - Sousa axed by Rangers
- Paulo Sousa has become the latest victim of QPR's managerial Tourette's - having been shown the door after just 26 games in charge at Loftus Road.
- Although the Portuguese coach took charge of training this morning (Thursday), he was later told his services would no longer be required and Gareth Ainsworth has been entrusted with first team affairs for the rest of the season.
- The increasing impatience of the owners to hit on a winning formula has now led them to show the door to John Gregory, Luigi Di Canio, Iain Dowie and Sousa in the two and a bit years they have been in control – not to mention caretaker bosses Mick Harford last season and Ainsworth five months ago when he had his first spell in charge as caretaker.
- Although Sousa recently brought an end to a winless streak of nine games with back-to-back home wins over Swansea City and Bristol City, the damage had been done to the team's play-off hopes. Hailed as a bright young prospect when he was first unveiled by chairman Flavio Briatore, he was no longer in favour.
- A run of one goal in six games along with home defeats by Ipswich Town in front of Sky cameras and then by Norwich City may have embarrassed Briatore into looking for a way out.
- And they found one when Sousa made it clear he had nothing to do with the departure of top scorer Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.
- By hinting he had been undermined, he would have infuriated the hands-on owner, who may also have picked up on internet message board claims that Sousa was allegedly indiscreet in telling a fan that the players at his disposal were not quite up to the task.
- But equally, his attempts at educating the players to formations alien to their English footballing habits may have made his task harder.
- This morning, sporting director Gianni Paladini was claiming he knew nothing of an imminent departure of the two-times European cup winner, but behind the scenes, the axe was ready to drop.
- Rangers planned to review Sousa’s position at the end of the season and decided that his right-hand man, Bruno Oliveira, should initially carry the can for the club’s failure to reach the play-offs.
- But having been given that stay of execution, Sousa was left to decide whether he wanted to carry on in light of Oliveira’s sacking.
- Sousa's reign was not helped by ill fortune on the injury front. Several key players have not been at his disposal at various times since his arrival in November last year. Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine, Martin Rowlands and Patrick Agyemang have all been sidelined.
- But in all probability, only reaching the play-offs would have spared him a similar fate to his predecessors. Ealing GAzette
Telegraph - Queen's Park Rangers sack Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa
- AMBITIOUS English Championship side Queen's Park Rangers sacked Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa today, the seventh manager to leave the London club in the last 18 months.
- A club statement said: "Queen's Park Rangers Football Club has today had to terminate Paulo Sousa's employment with the club with immediate effect.
- "It came to the club's attention that Mr Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information. The club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position."
- Sousa, who replaced Iain Dowie in November, won just seven of his 26 games in charge and his future with the club looked in doubt after top scorer Dexter Blackstock was loaned to rivals Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- Dowie lasted just 15 games before he was dismissed after clashing with club owner Flavio Briatore, the Renault Formula One team boss.
- The next manager will be the eighth man in charge since Briatore took over the club 18 months ago. Telegraph
More re the Sousa Axing and what led up to it
- QPR Official Site:
- Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today (Thursday) had to terminate Paulo De Sousa's employment with the Club with immediate effect.
- It came to the Club's attention that Mr De Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information. The Club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position.
- Player / Coach Gareth Ainsworth will take Caretaker charge on a temporary basis, from now until the end of the season.
http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1622139,00.html
MIRROR
Mirror/Alan Nixon - QPR sack manager Paulo Sousa for leaking information
Paulo Sousa is ready to fight QPR for a pay-off - after being sacked last night following a row over leaks about the club's affairs
- The Portuguese coach was axed in a letter to his home yesterday following weeks of speculation about his future.
- Sousa was questioned by club bosses about claims he had told supporters about trouble behindthe-scenes in the past few weeks.
- The former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund star strenuously denied those allegations and was stunned by the sacking - although he was aware Rangers were going to bring in a new man above him for next season.
- A sources close to Sousa said: "Paulo is a very dignified man and a professional. He would not go round telling tales about club affairs to fans." Rangers will promote Gareth Ainsworth to the role of boss for now.
The Times - QPR sack manager Paulo Sousa
Queens Park Rangers have sacked Paulo Sousa after just five months in charge.
- Flavio Briatore, the club's ambitious millionaire chairman and co-owner insisted that Sousa had been dismissed for “divulging highly confidential information” rather than because the club are languishing in tenth place in the Coca-Cola Championship, with little chance of reaching the play-offs this season.
- A club statement read: “Queens Park Rangers Football Club has today had to terminate Paulo Sousa‘s employment with the club with immediate effect.
- “It came to the club‘s attention that Mr Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information
- “The club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position.”
- The former Portugal midfielder, 38, took over at Loftus Road in November after Iain Dowie was axed but won just seven of his 26 games at the helm.
- The writing appeared to be on the wall after Sousa revealed at the weekend that top-scorer Dexter Blackstock had been loaned to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- His predecessor Dowie lasted just 15 games before he was dismissed after clashing with Briatore over team selection and the Italian owner of the Renault Formula One team is now looking for his seventh manager since taking over the club a year and a half ago.
- John Gregory, Luigi De Canio and caretakers Mick Harford and Gareth Ainsworth have also been dispensed with. Ainsworth, who has remained on the coaching staff, will be back in charge for the rest of the season, starting with Saturday’s trip to Burnley, while Paul Ince and Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson have been linked with the role. The Times
Daily Mail's "Hatchet Man" take
Same old storyline at QPR as Sousa becomes the latest to star in a brief encounter
So Paulo Sousa has been axed by QPR after just 26 games. No-one saw that coming did they?
The fact that it came about after alleged leaks gives the departure an unexpected twist but the manager's job at the club remains a short-term deal under the current ownership.
The club have now gone through five managers since Flavio Briatore and co took the reins. Who would want to take that job now?
The qualifications for the role seem to be as much to do with putting up with the alleged meddling of the owners and having a good lawyer to ensure a lucrative exit when it inevitably comes before the contract expires as anything to do with the sport.
Briatore, Bernie Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal, the key QPR investors, have become the Axemen of the Championship and Loftus Road is set to remain a bloody and painful place for some time.
It will probably stay like that until they move on, in fact, and when big money moves out of a club after such disjointed management, the sequel of the current production could well be Apocalypse Now.
SkySport - Paladini in plea to fans - QPR standing by decision to dismiss Sousa
- Queens Park Rangers sporting director Gianni Paladini has urged supporters to 'stay behind' the club after the sacking of Paulo Sousa.
- Former Portugal international Sousa was dismissed by the Championship club on Thursday evening, just five months after taking on the job.
- Sousa was sacked by the Rs for 'divulging confidential and sensitive information' without authority following the recent board decision which saw Dexter Blackstock join Nottingham Forest on loan.
- Sky Sports News understands that Sousa 'strenuously denies' the allegations, but Paladini insists the club are standing by their decision.
- In a statement released to Sky Sports News, Paladini called on the fans to put their trust in the club's board.
- "Paulo Sousa has parted company with the club and the club is sticking with the decision made," said Paladini.
- "The people running the club want it to go forward.
- "Supporters must stay behind the club and those who are running it. I ask them to do that. Skysport
QPR 1st QPR1st annoucement
- QPR1st appreciate that the Club feels unable to comment further on the reasons for terminating Paulo de Sousa’s employment .Yet we are dismayed that yet again the Club has proved unable to retain a manager long enough for him to build the foundations for future success and yet again the Club has been plunged into a period of uncertainty and instability.
- Four managers and two caretakers in a year and a half is an appalling record and increasing evidence that managers are not being allowed the autonomy and support they require in order to carry out their role raises serious questions about the way this Club is being run. It is difficult to envisage that any managers or players would wish to work under such a regime.
- We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr de Sousa and wish him the best for the future. - www.qpr1st.com [Posted on LoftforWords
BBC - QPR axe Sousa after just 26 games
- Sousa leaves QPR nine points adrift of the play-offs
Queens Park Rangers have sacked Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa after just 26 games in charge claiming he divulged sensitive information.
- In a club statement, QPR said they took legal advice before acting to "protect its position".
- Sousa, 38, took charge in November, but won just seven games as the side have idled to 10th in the Championship.
- QPR chairman and co-owner Flavio Briatore has now had four managers and two caretakers in a year and a half.
- Sousa's departure comes after coach Bruno Oliveira had his contract at Loftus Road terminated on Monday.
- Player coach Garth Ainsworth will take charge of the side for the rest of the season, starting with a visit to Burnley on Saturday.
- Sousa revealed at the weekend that top-scorer Dexter Blackstock's loan move to Nottingham Forest had been agreed without his knowledge.
- "It is a decision for the board and only they can answer it. I'm not frustrated, I said from the first day I have to adapt and try to do my best with the players I have," he said after his side's goalless draw with Crystal Palace
- Sousa's predecessor Iain Dowie's 15-match spell with the west London side came to an end after he clashed with Briatore, who is also Renault's Formula 1 boss, over team selection.
- John Gregory and Luigi De Canio have had short-lived managerial stints during Briatore's 18 months at the helm after the Italian bought the club with a group of friends, including F1's billionaire supremo Bernie Ecclestone in September 2007.
- Ainsworth and Mick Harford have also failed to persuade the Italian to promote them to full-time roles whilst filling caretaker positions.
Ealing Gazette/Yann Tear - Sousa axed by Rangers
- Paulo Sousa has become the latest victim of QPR's managerial Tourette's - having been shown the door after just 26 games in charge at Loftus Road.
- Although the Portuguese coach took charge of training this morning (Thursday), he was later told his services would no longer be required and Gareth Ainsworth has been entrusted with first team affairs for the rest of the season.
- The increasing impatience of the owners to hit on a winning formula has now led them to show the door to John Gregory, Luigi Di Canio, Iain Dowie and Sousa in the two and a bit years they have been in control – not to mention caretaker bosses Mick Harford last season and Ainsworth five months ago when he had his first spell in charge as caretaker.
- Although Sousa recently brought an end to a winless streak of nine games with back-to-back home wins over Swansea City and Bristol City, the damage had been done to the team's play-off hopes. Hailed as a bright young prospect when he was first unveiled by chairman Flavio Briatore, he was no longer in favour.
- A run of one goal in six games along with home defeats by Ipswich Town in front of Sky cameras and then by Norwich City may have embarrassed Briatore into looking for a way out.
- And they found one when Sousa made it clear he had nothing to do with the departure of top scorer Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.
- By hinting he had been undermined, he would have infuriated the hands-on owner, who may also have picked up on internet message board claims that Sousa was allegedly indiscreet in telling a fan that the players at his disposal were not quite up to the task.
- But equally, his attempts at educating the players to formations alien to their English footballing habits may have made his task harder.
- This morning, sporting director Gianni Paladini was claiming he knew nothing of an imminent departure of the two-times European cup winner, but behind the scenes, the axe was ready to drop.
- Rangers planned to review Sousa’s position at the end of the season and decided that his right-hand man, Bruno Oliveira, should initially carry the can for the club’s failure to reach the play-offs.
- But having been given that stay of execution, Sousa was left to decide whether he wanted to carry on in light of Oliveira’s sacking.
- Sousa's reign was not helped by ill fortune on the injury front. Several key players have not been at his disposal at various times since his arrival in November last year. Akos Buzsaky, Rowan Vine, Martin Rowlands and Patrick Agyemang have all been sidelined.
- But in all probability, only reaching the play-offs would have spared him a similar fate to his predecessors. Ealing GAzette
Telegraph - Queen's Park Rangers sack Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa
- AMBITIOUS English Championship side Queen's Park Rangers sacked Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa today, the seventh manager to leave the London club in the last 18 months.
- A club statement said: "Queen's Park Rangers Football Club has today had to terminate Paulo Sousa's employment with the club with immediate effect.
- "It came to the club's attention that Mr Sousa had, without authority, divulged highly confidential and sensitive information. The club, with legal advice, responded in this way to protect its position."
- Sousa, who replaced Iain Dowie in November, won just seven of his 26 games in charge and his future with the club looked in doubt after top scorer Dexter Blackstock was loaned to rivals Nottingham Forest without his knowledge.
- Dowie lasted just 15 games before he was dismissed after clashing with club owner Flavio Briatore, the Renault Formula One team boss.
- The next manager will be the eighth man in charge since Briatore took over the club 18 months ago. Telegraph
More re the Sousa Axing and what led up to it
Herald Scotland Former QPR chief executive appointed managing director of Edinburgh rugby
Tuesday 9 April 2013
Former London Wasps and Queens Park Rangers chief executive David Davies has been appointed managing director of Edinburgh Rugby.
Davies takes over the running of the Murrayfield club from Craig Docherty, who will complete a transition into his new role as Scottish Rugby's head of retail and product licensing.
Scottish Rugby director of commercial operations, communications and public affairs, Dominic McKay, said: "We're delighted to welcome such an experienced operator as David Davies as the new managing director of Edinburgh Rugby.
"David has a huge amount of knowledge and experience gained from delivering countless world class events in and outside of the sport and has a proven track record of driving up interest and revenues in a very impressive career. I'm sure he will make a big impact on Edinburgh Rugby's off-field operation."
Davies' most recent posting was as chief executive responsible for running the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand's biggest indoor stadium and host of four 2011 Rugby World Cup pool matches.
He moves to the capital with 28 years of international leisure, events and sports management experience, and as well as his time with Wasps and QPR, also boasts a stint as the chairman of British Ice Hockey on his CV.
He enjoyed a four-year spell as chief executive at Loftus Road with the then npower Championship side before switching to rugby for a further three influential years as chief executive of then Heineken Cup champions Wasps.
He established the club in their new Adams Park home in High Wycombe and played a key role in the creation of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Davies said: "I'd like to thank Craig Docherty and his team for all the hard work that pre-dates my appointment, and look forward to working with them in the coming seasons to build on their successes.
"I feel privileged to get this opportunity as there is a huge amount of potential in the club from which a very bright future can be shaped. It's a very exciting time for the club and I'm delighted to be part of it."
Davies will start in the post full-time on Monday, April 15, and will be introduced to supporters in the coming weeks after shadowing Docherty for a period.
Docherty said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as the club's MD and believe that David takes the reins of Edinburgh Rugby at a very exciting time, with more fans than ever before, a vastly improved match-day experience and a growing commercial income stream thanks to improved partnerships with the city's business community.
"I now look forward to a new chapter in my career, combining my retail experience with that of the professional game to support the Scottish Rugby commercial team continue to grow commercial revenues.
"I wish David and the club every success and will remain as one of the club's biggest fans in the seasons to come."
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/rugb....by. 1365507737?
thread=35674&page=1#319662#ixzz2PydWZVcv
TELEGRAPH -
Queens Park Rangers facing financial woe if relegated from Premier League
Queens Parks Rangers are facing the urgent prospect of having to restructure their finances if they are relegated to the Championship or be punished by either a future transfer embargo or a huge fine
By Jeremy Wilson
11:00PM BST 08 Apr 2013
The Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations come in to full force from the 2013-14 accounting year and it was confirmed yesterday that relegated clubs will definitely not be given additional time to adjust.
There had been debate about whether demoted top-division clubs should be given an extra year’s grace but they will be subject to the same rules as the other ChamÂpionship clubs from the next Âfinancial year.
The basic principle is that clubs should not spend more than they earn but the Football League will allow an “acceptable deviation†of £3million as well as shareholder equity of up to £5million in 2013-14. This means that losses, excluding money spent on infrastructure, cannot exceed £8million.
In their most recent accounts, for the year 2011-12, QPR posted a loss of £22.6 million and a wages-to-revenue ratio of 90 per cent. The belief is that QPR’s costs and losses will have only increased over the last year, during which time Loïc Remy, Christopher Samba, Julio César, Esteban Granero, Ji-Sung Park and Rob Green have joined. If relegated, they would also have to cope with an annual deficit of around £25million between the parachute payment and their guaranteed Premier League income.
Although 2013-14 will be the first period that is scrutinised, the sanctions would not apply until after the figures have been assessed in December 2014. If clubs who are adjudged to have broken the rules are still in the Championship, they will be subject to an immediate transfer embargo. If a club has been promoted, they will be fined up to £10million, depending on their overspending.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has said the club are in a “fantastic position†financially and on course to meet regulations.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal....ier-League.html
Queens Park Rangers facing financial woe if relegated from Premier League
Queens Parks Rangers are facing the urgent prospect of having to restructure their finances if they are relegated to the Championship or be punished by either a future transfer embargo or a huge fine
By Jeremy Wilson
11:00PM BST 08 Apr 2013
The Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations come in to full force from the 2013-14 accounting year and it was confirmed yesterday that relegated clubs will definitely not be given additional time to adjust.
There had been debate about whether demoted top-division clubs should be given an extra year’s grace but they will be subject to the same rules as the other ChamÂpionship clubs from the next Âfinancial year.
The basic principle is that clubs should not spend more than they earn but the Football League will allow an “acceptable deviation†of £3million as well as shareholder equity of up to £5million in 2013-14. This means that losses, excluding money spent on infrastructure, cannot exceed £8million.
In their most recent accounts, for the year 2011-12, QPR posted a loss of £22.6 million and a wages-to-revenue ratio of 90 per cent. The belief is that QPR’s costs and losses will have only increased over the last year, during which time Loïc Remy, Christopher Samba, Julio César, Esteban Granero, Ji-Sung Park and Rob Green have joined. If relegated, they would also have to cope with an annual deficit of around £25million between the parachute payment and their guaranteed Premier League income.
Although 2013-14 will be the first period that is scrutinised, the sanctions would not apply until after the figures have been assessed in December 2014. If clubs who are adjudged to have broken the rules are still in the Championship, they will be subject to an immediate transfer embargo. If a club has been promoted, they will be fined up to £10million, depending on their overspending.
QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has said the club are in a “fantastic position†financially and on course to meet regulations.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal....ier-League.html
Business
Times
Silver lining for Tony Fernandes' Queens Park Rangers?
AirAsia boss said his QPR interest is a lifelong commitment. -BT
Michelle Quah
Mon, Apr 08, 2013
The Business Times
With Queens Park Rangers (QPR) flirting with the possibility of relegation, the question of what this will mean for the hefty investment placed in the Premier League football club by AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes has come to the fore.
Mr Fernandes bought a 66 per cent stake in QPR, together with fellow Malaysian businessmen Kamarudin bin Meranun and Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, in August 2011 for a reported £35 million (S$66.6 million).
The remaining stake is held by the Mittal family, one of the richest in the world.
The team has since spent almost £70 million on new signings, and there are plans to build a larger stadium to replace Loftus Road.
AirAsia is a shirt sponsor and airline partner of the club, and Mr Fernandes' Caterham F1 team - born out of his Lotus Racing team - is also a strategic partner.
"When, alongside my business partners, I purchased a majority shareholding in August 2011, my goal was to turn QPR into an established Premier League club," Mr Fernandes - who is also the club chairman - has said.
"This remains my focus . . . Under the guidance of our new manager Harry Redknapp, we are hopeful that the club will secure their Premier League status."
But what happens if they don't?
QPR was promoted to the top flight after emerging as Football League Championship champions at the end of the 2010-2011 season; it is now second from the bottom in the Premier League for the current season, with seven games to go, ahead of Reading only on goal difference.
Each season, the top two teams in the Football League are promoted, while the next four compete in playoffs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. The bottom three teams of the Premier League are relegated to the Football League.
The numbers show just how much this proverbial fall from grace can hurt. Relegation from the Premier League, in financial terms, means substantially less money in television rights, though newly relegated clubs get "parachute payments" to ease the pain.
The Premier League has broadcast revenue of some £1.2 billion. Each of the 20 clubs in the league take home about £28 million a year on average, with the top of the table teams getting more.
Football League teams, on the other hand, stand to gain just £1 million a year.
The "parachute payments" do not make up for the shortfall. These payments are what the Premier League distributes - out of its television revenue - to clubs that are relegated. Starting with the 2006-2007 season, these payments are in the amount of £6.5 million over the club's first two seasons in lower leagues.
When asked what relegation would do to QPR's finances, Mr Fernandes told BT: "They pay less."
But it is not just TV money; the massive loss of visibility also affects stadium attendance and fan support and, by extension, sponsors' interest in relegated teams.
For a club like QPR, whose revenue grew from £16 million to £64 million after it made the top flight, but whose debt also ballooned from £56 million to £89 million, relegation would be quite a concern indeed.
Despite the increase in revenue, QPR suffered a £22.6 million loss last season.
The club spent £25 million on new players last season and another £30 million in the last two transfer windows - bringing in players such as Christopher Samba and Loic Remy.
Its 2011-2012 wage bill, which does not include the latest signings, doubled from £27.6 million to £58.5 million - resulting in a wages-to-revenue ratio of 90 per cent.
When asked if relegation would cripple the club, Mr Fernandes said: "No, I don't think so. If we went down, we would just have to come back up. I've been in the airline business where we have had (to deal with) Sars, bird flu, earthquakes, and an oil crisis - so relegation is just another thing that would have happened. And we learned. We know what we need to do and we've put the right foundations in place."
Cutting the wage bill has been key to helping most relegated clubs avoid financial hardship; a fair number, however, do not - either because they cannot get buyers for their underperforming players, or they are gambling on being promoted back straightaway.
In QPR's case, Mr Fernandes has said that the club would offload players in the summer even if they remain in the top flight.
"We will have to sit down with Harry and discuss who we want to keep and who would go. Obviously, there will be players that'll go regardless of if we stay up or go down. We want players who can give a lot to the club for a long time."
As for the impact of QPR's fate on his investment in the club, that is understood to be less significant.
While it has never been revealed exactly how much was paid for the 66 per cent stake, The Guardian has put the sum at around £35 million - what Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore are estimated to have pumped into the club, in shares and loans, since taking over in 2007, and from whom Mr Fernandes bought his stake.
Mr Fernandes, whose net worth has been estimated at $615 million by Forbes magazine, has made it clear that he does not intend to bankroll the club with his own millions every year, preferring to bank on the Premier League's vast TV income.
He has, however, since admitted that the difficulties in making the club profitable have surprised him.
"It's hard - much harder than I thought . . . but hopefully next year there is a lot of TV money, hopefully we are still in the Premier League and that will give us a good chance."
As for whether relegation would mean pulling out of QPR, Mr Fernandes has said: "This is not a one-year or two-year project at QPR. This is a lifelong commitment."
michquah@sph.com.sgSingapore
http://www.asiaone.com/print/A1Business/News/Story/A1Story20130407-414178.html
Silver lining for Tony Fernandes' Queens Park Rangers?
AirAsia boss said his QPR interest is a lifelong commitment. -BT
Michelle Quah
Mon, Apr 08, 2013
The Business Times
With Queens Park Rangers (QPR) flirting with the possibility of relegation, the question of what this will mean for the hefty investment placed in the Premier League football club by AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes has come to the fore.
Mr Fernandes bought a 66 per cent stake in QPR, together with fellow Malaysian businessmen Kamarudin bin Meranun and Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, in August 2011 for a reported £35 million (S$66.6 million).
The remaining stake is held by the Mittal family, one of the richest in the world.
The team has since spent almost £70 million on new signings, and there are plans to build a larger stadium to replace Loftus Road.
AirAsia is a shirt sponsor and airline partner of the club, and Mr Fernandes' Caterham F1 team - born out of his Lotus Racing team - is also a strategic partner.
"When, alongside my business partners, I purchased a majority shareholding in August 2011, my goal was to turn QPR into an established Premier League club," Mr Fernandes - who is also the club chairman - has said.
"This remains my focus . . . Under the guidance of our new manager Harry Redknapp, we are hopeful that the club will secure their Premier League status."
But what happens if they don't?
QPR was promoted to the top flight after emerging as Football League Championship champions at the end of the 2010-2011 season; it is now second from the bottom in the Premier League for the current season, with seven games to go, ahead of Reading only on goal difference.
Each season, the top two teams in the Football League are promoted, while the next four compete in playoffs, with the winner gaining the third promotion spot. The bottom three teams of the Premier League are relegated to the Football League.
The numbers show just how much this proverbial fall from grace can hurt. Relegation from the Premier League, in financial terms, means substantially less money in television rights, though newly relegated clubs get "parachute payments" to ease the pain.
The Premier League has broadcast revenue of some £1.2 billion. Each of the 20 clubs in the league take home about £28 million a year on average, with the top of the table teams getting more.
Football League teams, on the other hand, stand to gain just £1 million a year.
The "parachute payments" do not make up for the shortfall. These payments are what the Premier League distributes - out of its television revenue - to clubs that are relegated. Starting with the 2006-2007 season, these payments are in the amount of £6.5 million over the club's first two seasons in lower leagues.
When asked what relegation would do to QPR's finances, Mr Fernandes told BT: "They pay less."
But it is not just TV money; the massive loss of visibility also affects stadium attendance and fan support and, by extension, sponsors' interest in relegated teams.
For a club like QPR, whose revenue grew from £16 million to £64 million after it made the top flight, but whose debt also ballooned from £56 million to £89 million, relegation would be quite a concern indeed.
Despite the increase in revenue, QPR suffered a £22.6 million loss last season.
The club spent £25 million on new players last season and another £30 million in the last two transfer windows - bringing in players such as Christopher Samba and Loic Remy.
Its 2011-2012 wage bill, which does not include the latest signings, doubled from £27.6 million to £58.5 million - resulting in a wages-to-revenue ratio of 90 per cent.
When asked if relegation would cripple the club, Mr Fernandes said: "No, I don't think so. If we went down, we would just have to come back up. I've been in the airline business where we have had (to deal with) Sars, bird flu, earthquakes, and an oil crisis - so relegation is just another thing that would have happened. And we learned. We know what we need to do and we've put the right foundations in place."
Cutting the wage bill has been key to helping most relegated clubs avoid financial hardship; a fair number, however, do not - either because they cannot get buyers for their underperforming players, or they are gambling on being promoted back straightaway.
In QPR's case, Mr Fernandes has said that the club would offload players in the summer even if they remain in the top flight.
"We will have to sit down with Harry and discuss who we want to keep and who would go. Obviously, there will be players that'll go regardless of if we stay up or go down. We want players who can give a lot to the club for a long time."
As for the impact of QPR's fate on his investment in the club, that is understood to be less significant.
While it has never been revealed exactly how much was paid for the 66 per cent stake, The Guardian has put the sum at around £35 million - what Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore are estimated to have pumped into the club, in shares and loans, since taking over in 2007, and from whom Mr Fernandes bought his stake.
Mr Fernandes, whose net worth has been estimated at $615 million by Forbes magazine, has made it clear that he does not intend to bankroll the club with his own millions every year, preferring to bank on the Premier League's vast TV income.
He has, however, since admitted that the difficulties in making the club profitable have surprised him.
"It's hard - much harder than I thought . . . but hopefully next year there is a lot of TV money, hopefully we are still in the Premier League and that will give us a good chance."
As for whether relegation would mean pulling out of QPR, Mr Fernandes has said: "This is not a one-year or two-year project at QPR. This is a lifelong commitment."
michquah@sph.com.sgSingapore
http://www.asiaone.com/print/A1Business/News/Story/A1Story20130407-414178.html
QPR OFFICIAL SITE - Waddock on Thursday's London Call-In
Ex player and manager joins us live in the studio this Thursday!
GARY WADDOCK is our special guest this Thursday evening as he joins us live in the studio for QPR’s official phone-in show London Call-In, which is brought to you in association with EQ8.
Waddock represented the R’s as both player and manager, so will have plenty to talk about as he reflects on his time at Loftus Road.
He will also be answering YOUR questions so make sure you send them in by tweeting using hashtag #londoncallin or e-mail londoncallin@qpr.co.uk
As ever, we will be discussing all-things Rangers as we look back on that heart-breaking draw against Wigan on Sunday. Have you ever known a more difficult game to get over?
It is YOUR views we want to hear. Last week there was an incredible feeling of positivity from the R’s fans who got in touch, regardless of the division we may find ourselves in next season.
Will it be the same this week?
It’s YOUR show, so YOU set the tone!
So tweet us using #londoncallin or e-maillondoncallin@qpr.co.uk
Alternatively, pick up the phone this Thursday evening between 7pm – 8pm and give us a call on 07557 435 710.
To watch the show, visit our official Ustream channel.
If you have any feedback on the show, please email us HERE.
