Post by QPR Report on Oct 23, 2008 0:20:04 GMT
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The Guardian
QPR owners head for showdown as ticket price cut fans the flames David Hytner The Guardian, Thursday October 23 2008
Queens Park Rangers were last night set for a power struggle which could reshape the club after the vice-chairman, Amit Bhatia, went public with a promise to reduce ticket prices but in doing so appeared to undermine the authority of the chairman, Flavio Briatore.
Supporters reacted with delight to an open letter from Bhatia - the son-in-law of and front man for Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fourth richest man, who took a 20% stake in the club at the end of last year - saying that the £50 and £40 category A and B tickets for matches at Loftus Road would be scrapped with immediate effect. Bhatia has styled himself as a populist with QPR fans.
But Briatore, who with his fellow formula one magnate Bernie Ecclestone has control of QPR, is believed to be furious at Bhatia's declaration. He will seek urgent talks to clear the air and the collateral damage could include the sporting director, Gianni Paladini, who is Briatore's prime contact at the club. Paladini was fearful last night that he might lose his job.
The manager, Iain Dowie, is already under pressure from Briatore, who is demanding that the club are promoted to the Premier League this season. There have also been suggestions that the Mittals might seek to buy out Briatore and assume full control of the club.
Bhatia and Mittal have been infected by the football bug and they are also conscious of what Bhatia called the "tough economic times". "Many of you [the fans] don't need the added burden of higher ticket prices at select fixtures," he said. "Your despair was warranted and justified. So please be assured that with immediate effect and until the end of the season, we will have no category A or B fixtures and tickets for all home fixtures at Loftus Road will be category C. We stand corrected on the ticket price increases."
From The Sun
Dean Jones - Dowie in the mire at Rangers
IAIN DOWIE faces the axe at QPR.
Hoops owner Flavio Briatore is becoming increasingly hands-on — even wanting to pick the team himself.
His relationship with the manager is strained and despite just five months in the job, Dowie’s time may be near an end.
Rangers have won one of their last six.
QPR Holdings Ltd vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has told fans every game will now be a ‘cheap’ category C game to help them in the credit crunch.
But SunSport understands Briatore did not approve the idea.
Bhatia represents shareholder Lakshmi Mittal, the world’s fourth richest man."
The Guardian
QPR owners head for showdown as ticket price cut fans the flames David Hytner The Guardian, Thursday October 23 2008
Queens Park Rangers were last night set for a power struggle which could reshape the club after the vice-chairman, Amit Bhatia, went public with a promise to reduce ticket prices but in doing so appeared to undermine the authority of the chairman, Flavio Briatore.
Supporters reacted with delight to an open letter from Bhatia - the son-in-law of and front man for Lakshmi Mittal, the world's fourth richest man, who took a 20% stake in the club at the end of last year - saying that the £50 and £40 category A and B tickets for matches at Loftus Road would be scrapped with immediate effect. Bhatia has styled himself as a populist with QPR fans.
But Briatore, who with his fellow formula one magnate Bernie Ecclestone has control of QPR, is believed to be furious at Bhatia's declaration. He will seek urgent talks to clear the air and the collateral damage could include the sporting director, Gianni Paladini, who is Briatore's prime contact at the club. Paladini was fearful last night that he might lose his job.
The manager, Iain Dowie, is already under pressure from Briatore, who is demanding that the club are promoted to the Premier League this season. There have also been suggestions that the Mittals might seek to buy out Briatore and assume full control of the club.
Bhatia and Mittal have been infected by the football bug and they are also conscious of what Bhatia called the "tough economic times". "Many of you [the fans] don't need the added burden of higher ticket prices at select fixtures," he said. "Your despair was warranted and justified. So please be assured that with immediate effect and until the end of the season, we will have no category A or B fixtures and tickets for all home fixtures at Loftus Road will be category C. We stand corrected on the ticket price increases."
From The Sun
Dean Jones - Dowie in the mire at Rangers
IAIN DOWIE faces the axe at QPR.
Hoops owner Flavio Briatore is becoming increasingly hands-on — even wanting to pick the team himself.
His relationship with the manager is strained and despite just five months in the job, Dowie’s time may be near an end.
Rangers have won one of their last six.
QPR Holdings Ltd vice-chairman Amit Bhatia has told fans every game will now be a ‘cheap’ category C game to help them in the credit crunch.
But SunSport understands Briatore did not approve the idea.
Bhatia represents shareholder Lakshmi Mittal, the world’s fourth richest man."
