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- Next: QPR vs Stoke - Past Results/Played for Both/Old Photo
- On This Day: Six Year Flashback: QPR Announcement re Season Ticket Prices
- The Guardian Series: The Gallery - Christopher Samba |
- John Gregory on Last Night's QPR's London Call-In (Watch/Watch Again)
- Next Season: EVERY Premier Game shown on American TV!
Club-Fan Meet re Season Tickets IanJTaylor
Pleased to report a very productive focus
group meeting with fan groups tonight, talking all things Season
Tickets ahead of next season
QPR1st
- Constructive meeting with
- very short report! Club still considering various options so asked we didn't say much at this stage. LSA Indys Disabled us - no firm decisions made so still opportunity for fans to let us knw what they think so can pass onto club UPDATE - QPR 1st Meeting regarding Season ticket pricing
- A representative from QPR1st was invited to
attend a discussion with management and staff from QPR as well as those
representing other fans groups- the LSA, the Indys and QPR’s Disability
Supporters Organisation. This informal meeting focussed entirely on the
issue of season ticket prices next season. It was a very constructive
and positive meeting which enabled an honest and open exchange of views.
- Because the Club is still considering its options, it has asked us and the other attendees not to publically reveal the specifics of any proposals, as this might give the false impression that decision had already been made. We intend to honour that request. - Nevertheless whilst matters remain unresolved there is still an opportunity for fans to make their thoughts known to us via email and social media and we will of course ensure that your views are reflected in any continued dialogue with the Club. - We would like to take this opportunity to thank Phil Beard, Ian Taylor, Andy Rees and the rest of the QPR team for facilitating an opportunity for genuine and purposeful consultation which we hope will be mutually valued as the way forward for the future. - QPR1st TELEGRAPH/JEREMY WILSON - QPR face a major rebuilding job if they are relegated Should they lose against Stoke City on Saturday, and all the relegation-threatened sides currently above them in the table win over the weekend, QPR’s descent back to the Championship would be confirmed with fully four weeks of the season remaining. The financial impact on a club that have consistently outspent their natural resources will be vast. This is a business that, at the last count, was £89 million in debt and running at an annual loss of £23 million. Since that accounting period, QPR have taken out a £15 million loan with Barclays Bank that is secured against Loftus Road and spent heavily on the likes of Loïc Rémy, Christopher Samba, Júlio César, Esteban Granero, Ji-sung Park and Robert Green. They also made a costly change of manager, replacing Mark Hughes with Harry Redknapp. None of this has had a dramatic impact on the fortunes of the team and the stark reality is that, even with a £16 million parachute payment, they now face an annual loss in revenues of around £40 million. Comparisons with Portsmouth have become frequent but there are crucial differences. For a start, it can be argued that QPR’s football failure has been greater. Portsmouth, after all, did at least enjoy some brief on-field benefit and their fall basically coincided with the loss of committed owners. QPR have managed to go backwards while their spending has gone upwards and it is difficult to see them mitigating that situation by selling many of their squad at a profit. What appears far more positive for QPR, however, is both the ambition and potential safety net provided by the owners. Much of the existing debt is owed to Sea Dream Limited, a company controlled by the Mittal family who also own 33 per cent of QPR. The Mittal family feature regularly in the Forbes list of the world’s richest people. Aside from the new Barclays loan, it is understood that the remaining debt is to Tune QPR Sdn Bhd, a company owned by chairman Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and Ruben Gnanalingam. This is not an inexperienced group of businessmen and their longer-term plans should not be dismissed. Yes, relegation is a massive immediate setback but not definitively game-changing in the context of their overall strategy. Fernandes revealed on Wednesday that the Barclays loan was for a new stadium and, according to sources, it is on this project rather than QPR’s immediate place in the Premier League that the club’s long-term success is likely to depend. QPR are looking at new sites in west and north-west London and the ambition can hardly be overstated. There is the 40,000 football stadium but, when chief executive Phil Beard talks of “a wider entertainment destination with good transport links”, this is fundamental to understanding QPR’s dream. Beard was one of the architects behind making the O2 Arena – previously the Millennium Dome – an unexpected success. It is no coincidence that he has been identified and appointed by Fernandes and the Mittal family. It is also no coincidence that they have chosen to invest in a club that is in a different part of London to the regeneration already provided in the east by the O2 Arena and the Olympic Park. There is further significance in the fact that all this is happening at the same time as the Crossrail project, which could significantly transform the transport links to the west and north-west of London. There is the belief that a new sports, leisure and entertainment complex – alongside a thriving Premier League club – could create enough revenue to eventually wipe out the current debts and actually make their QPR investment both profitable and successful. There are huge challenges, of course. Finding the right site will not be easy. There were hopes, after all, of a detailed stadium announcement last year. It would be mistaken, however, just to ignore the underlying plan. Many of those involved have a history of delivering in business – if not football – and Fernandes has remained relentlessly bullish. It also explains the new loan. Despite their collective wealth, QPR’s owners would seem unlikely to want to meet the collective cost of a new stadium and training ground, for which they hope to gain planning permission next week and build within a year. The current plan is also to repay the £15 million loan quickly, potentially within four months. None of this is to detract from the dangers and challenges ahead. New financial regulation in the Football League means that relegated clubs who make losses of more than £8 million in 2013-14 face either a transfer embargo or a fine of up to £10 million. It is difficult to see how QPR will avoid this fate without immediate and wide-scale restructuring. Rémy will be sold but there is still a desire to keep Samba. The obvious wider problem will be finding a home for players whose contracts have exceeded their actual contribution. Huge change is certain this summer. Beyond that and QPR’s future will hinge on the staying power – and wealth – of the investors. For all their mistakes, there is no sign yet that the club’s impending relegation has decisively sapped those particular reserves. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footbal....r-the-club.html | ||||
Paul Warburton/Fulham Chronicle
Forgotten midfielder eyes QPR return
Apr 18 2013
ALI Faurlin would be delighted to return to QPR in the summer – but does not fancy his chances of doing so if Harry Redknapp stays in charge.
The Argentine midfielder was sent on loan to Serie A Palermo in January after failing to impress Rs’ second manager of the season.
However, Faurlin, whose controversial transfer was set to scupper Hoops’ Championship win in 2011 until a last-day reprieve from the FA, is wondering whether he too may get a second chance at Loftus Road.
Palermo’s trigger-happy chairman has got through three managers this season, including rehiring Gian Piero Gasperini in February a month after sacking him, and Faurlin has featured only twice since arriving in Italy.
His agent, Lucas Cominelli, said: “We intend to let the season play out and meet with QPR in the summer to find out what they want to do next.
“I think it would be difficult for Ali if Harry Redknapp is there. After all, he wasn’t giving him much chance after he took over. But Ali loves London and he loves QPR, where he would be delighted to return if they want him.
“He has a year left on his contract, and he wants to go somewhere where he can play regularly. It’s all about playing games for him.”
Palermo signed Faurlin with a view to a permanent move, but they are favourites for relegation and the Rangers midfielder had not featured since the 2-0 win over Roma on March 30.
Cominelli insists other Italian clubs are interested in his client, but reminded everyone at Loftus Road the ball is in their court, especially if they are looking to offload far more expensive stars, should Rs also take the plunge.
The agent said: “If there is a place for Alejandro because QPR have a change of heart we would want to explore all options.”
Fulham Chronicle
KEY 2013/14 DATES
Assuming QPR will be playing in the Championship next season...
- The 2013/14 Fixtures are released June 19
- The First Game of the season is August 3rd
- Queens Park Rangers have bought only failure in their survival spending spree
