QPR Deal: Done and Dusted! - Tony Fernandes (and Associates) along with Amit Bhatia in...Amulya (Ground) Loan Assumed by Fernandes and Bhatia
QPR Official Site
EXCLUSIVE: FERNANDES SEALS TAKEOVERPosted on: Thu 18 Aug 2011
Malaysian business tycoon Tony Fernandes CBE has completed his takeover of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
Fernandes' company Tune Group have bought a majority stake in the Club, buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.
The 47 year-old founder of AirAsia, who is also the team principal of Formula One's Team Lotus, and his business partners, have a controlling stake of 66 per-cent and will work alongside the Mittal Family, who have retained their 33 per-cent stake.
Speaking exclusively to
www.qpr.co.uk, Fernandes said: "I lived in Uxbridge Road for many years and grew up around the area.
"Everyone knows I've followed West Ham all my life, but I've always had a soft spot for QPR.
"Rangers were one of the first teams I watched as a child at Loftus Road."
F
ernandes - who will take the role of Chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd and be joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Mr Kamarudin Bin Meranun, one of Malaysia's most successful business tycoons -added: "The opportunity to get involved with the Club was mentioned to me by the previous owners and here I am.
"I've always wanted to be involved in football and the appeal of a London Club, like QPR, was too good an opportunity to turn down.
"It's funny how life has a way of spinning things round. It goes full circle sometimes.
"QPR is a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning it into a diamond."
Amit Bhatia, who will resume his position as Vice Chairman of the Club, told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I'm very excited to welcome Tony to QPR and having spent considerable time with him, know that we share the same vision and values."We have discussed in great detail how to restore pride at the Club and I'm very pleased with the outcome of these discussions.
"It was a very difficult decision to resign from the board when I did, so I'm thrilled to be back and would like to thank all those who supported me and my family and look forward to serving the Club to the best of my abilities again.
"Tony and I will work alongside each other to try and make this season as exciting and successful as possible. I love this Club and this is a very happy day for me."
Fernandes added: "I have ambitions in the long term.
"I could easily say we're going to win the Champions League and the Premier League, but that's really not my style. I don't want to make big promises I can't guarantee.
"I want the fans to be proud of what we're doing and be involved as much as we can. The fans pay good money and are stakeholders, so whatever we do, I want the fans to be proud. We'll do it in style and with integrity.
"I'm keen to create a good Academy, so that there's a constant supply of players. We're in a fantastic part of London and we should be bringing kids through.
"The third aspect is to be a strong partner in the community and to make a difference in the community.
"Of course you don't go into anything in the sporting world and not want to be the best, but these things take time and I'd rather let the results speaks for themselves."
*The Club will be making no further comment at this stage.www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2424165,00.html
QPR Official Site
WARNOCK: ‘A MOMENTOUS DAY’Posted on: Thu 18 Aug 2011Neil Warnock couldn't contain his excitement, as the Club announced Tony Fernandes' takeover of QPR at a Loftus Road press conference this afternoon (Thursday).
Flanked by Fernandes and Amit Bhatia - who will also resume in his position of Vice Chairman - the R's gaffer was all smiles, as the trio fielded a whole host of questions from the local, national and international press from 2pm.
"It's a momentous day," Warnock told
www.qpr.co.uk. "To get Tony on board and listen to his ideas and plans for the Club is exciting - not just for the First Team but for the whole Club.
"I think everyone connected with QPR should be excited about the whole prospect.
"The Club needs the stability and expertise that Tony has got to take it to the next step.
"We've got to the Promised Land and we want to stay there and build a Club for the future - that doesn't happen overnight.
"We have to put bricks in place to build that foundation - everything about today is positive."
Bhatia - as most R's fans will remember - played a major role in bringing Warnock to W12 last March. The 62 year-old continued: "It only seems like yesterday when I came through the door.
"Everybody knows why I came here - Amit was instrumental in me doing so.
"I'm as excited today as I was when I came and shook Amit's hand to take the job last year.
"I told him then that we'd get up next year, and I don't think he quite believed me when I told him that!"
There are just 12 days until the summer window slams shut and Warnock admits that he'll be working tirelessly to bring in further additions to his squad.
He added: "Fortunately for me, we've still got time to bring in targets that we need at the Club, to take us to where we want to be.
"We'll all be working very hard in the coming days and weeks to bring in those players who I think we need to compete at the level we're talking about.
"We learnt so much last year to get to where we are now and we've got to learn quickly again to take the Club forward.
"Now we've got the people now on board, it's within our capabilities to do that."
QPR Official Site - Fernandes "Soundbites" (Before the Press Conference!)
EXCLUSIVE: TONY TALKS
Posted on: Thu 18 Aug 2011
Soundbytes from our exclusive interview with QPR's new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes ...
*TF ... on Neil Warnock"I feel very good about Neil. He has similarities to me.
"He's very impulsive. He says what he believes, without maybe thinking of the consequences sometimes, but I'm famous for that in my country.
"He's honest and transparent and a very excitable person.
"I love his passion and that word is key in my psyche.
"Money can get you so far, but passion can get you a lot, lot further.
"From what I've seen in my short time here, he has the passion and the hunger to make this a success.
"My gift is analysing people and there is something special with Neil."
*TF ... on transfer funds"Without doubt there will be funds made available.
"It won't be crazy money though, because having watched football for a long, long time, I don't think our squad is too bad.
"We've got some special players. The front-line looks as strong as many in the Premier League.
"We need to strengthen and I've spoken to Neil. I think two or three good players could make a big difference.
"Neil will identify the players. He's living the dream and this has been his life for so long now.
"What I will do is give confidence that when he comes to me with a name and I'll say 'yeah, okay, let's try it.'
"I think he was shocked earlier this week when he mentioned some of the names and I backed him and said let's go for it.
"The first name I said to him he just laughed at me. Twenty-four hours later he rang me and said 'are you serious?'
"He came back and I said 'well, if we do it, save a chapter in your next book for this.'
"We're not going to spend £30 or £40 million but if a player is identified and he fits in, it's penny wise, pound foolish not to do it."
*TF ... on the short-term"I'm excited and nervous.
"My ambition this year is just to stay up and build a good structure and solid foundation to grow for the future.
"Obviously there'll be nerves after 15 years away from the top-flight, but there's always up and downs and that's something I've lived with for all my business life."
*TF ... on the Mittal Family
"I think it will be a good relationship with the Mittal Family that we can build on over the years.
"I don't know them that well, but we share a common passion.
"They're very passionate. Amit is extremely passionate and that's why I wanted them to be involved.
"Money is easy, power is easy - passion is something that can't be bought.
"That attracted me more to the Club than anything else really, that the partner I'd be working with shared the same passion as me.
"I pride my whole life on passion. You've got to be passionate and love what you do - the rest becomes easier if you're hungry."
*TF ... on commitment to the cause"Talk is easy, but I'm either zero or 100 per-cent and I am going to put my maximum into this.
"I'm very excited. Whether we win or lose, even if it's four or five one week, I'll still be there to the end.
"We all share the same common goal - and that's QPR."
*TF ... on the opening day defeat to Bolton"I think the boys did fantastically against Bolton.
"Ninety-nine per-cent of people will probably say that's a tainted view, but for 45 minutes I thought we made Bolton look very ordinary.
"I'm encouraged by the squad we've got."
*TF ... on his ambitions"I don't really want to talk about long-term ambitions.
"I could easily say we're going to win the Champions League and the Premier League, but that's really not my style.
"I have ambitions in the long term.
"I want the fans to be proud of what we're doing and be involved as much as we can. The fans pay good money and are stakeholders, so whatever we do, i want the fans to be proud. We'll do it in style and with integrity.
"I'm keen to create a good Academy, so that there's a constant supply of players. We're in a fantastic part of London and we should be bringing kids through.
"The third aspect is to be a strong partner in the community and to make a difference in the community.
"Of course you don't go into anything in the sporting world and not want to be the best, but these things take time and I'd rather let the results speaks for themselves than make big promises I can't guarantee."
*TF ... on sponsorship"Sponsorship isn't a top priority to be honest.
"Obviously there's maybe a little bit of pride involved that we're the only Club without a sponsor, but we could get a sponsor tomorrow, but at what price?
"My top priority is to make sure we survive in the Premier League; to give the Manager and the management my support to go out there and do their best job without an overhang from any of the shareholders. And to create a development Academy for the future.
"If worse comes to worse, I'm sure I can persuade Air Asia or Malaysian Airlines to come on board and sponsor us!"
*TF ... on the Loftus Road loan"The loan against Loftus Road is a shareholders loan. It's been transferred to me and the Mittal Family.
"It's nothing to worry about."
www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~2424172,00.html
Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVwabDY6Aug 18, 2014 at 3:04am
"It's nothing to worry about." QPR
GIANNI PALADINI
Dave McIntyre - West London Sport - Paladini’s six-year reign is over
Gianni Paladini is no longer QPR chairman and the club’s new-look board are to discuss his future in the coming days.
Paladini was Rangers’ longest-serving chairman since Jim Gregory, having held the position since 2005.
Tony Fernandes was on Wednesday confirmed as company chairman and majority shareholder at Loftus Road, with Amit Bhatia returning to the post of company vice-chairman.
Paladini’s position as club chairman has not been affected by a number of changes to the company board in recent years, but this time around he has not survived the cull.
Fernandes is this week taking soundings from Bhatia with a view to announcing a restructure of the club in the near future.
But the decision has already been taken to strip Paladini of the title he has held since prevailing in a boardroom coup six years ago.
Paladini, who is still under contract, has always been seen by the Mittal family as someone with a contribution to make because of his experience in the game.
But disagreements between the controversial Italian and Bhatia’s trusted friend Ishan Saksena caused acrimony prior to Saksena being removed as company chairman and managing director in May.
He will also no longer be used as a bridge between the manager and board, which became his primary job under the Flavio Briatore-led regime.
Paladini’s function as a meeter and greeter, which he has retained by virtue of being the only QPR director who attends every match, also hangs by a thread, with a number of alternatives for the role already being considered.
The Fernandes-led restructure will include the appointment of Philip Beard as chief executive.
Beard, a senior member of the successful London 2012 Olympic bid team and former CEO of The O2, will formally start work once Premier League approval is received. West London Sport
Paul Warburton-Fulham Chronicle - Gianni Paladini set to leave QPR
CONTROVERSIAL chairman Gianni Paladini is set to leave QPR with a two-year pay off.
The current Rangers club supremo was the focal point for fans' ire when he was deemed to have made mistakes over the transfer of midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.
As a result, the FA at one stage threatened a points deduction that would have derailed Hoops promotion hopes last season - only lifted on the morning of the final match against Leeds.
After the game, the Italian was roundly booed when answering questions over the loudspeaker system. But the man born in Naples in 1946 was seen as a saviour when he rescued Rangers from administration in 2003" Fulham Chronicle
Evening Standard -Tony Fernandes axes Gianni Paladini on his first day in charge
Tony Fernandes has sacked chairman Gianni Paladini in his first act as Queens Park Rangers' new owner and taken on the role himself.
Fernandes moved swiftly after his company, Tune Group, took on a 66 per cent stake in QPR buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.
Paladini, who sold his stake in the club in 2007, is disappointed by the move but it is believed the 65-year-old feels he has reached an age where he is happy to free himself from the stress of helping to run the club.
In 2005, Paladini was held up at gunpoint at Loftus Road shortly before a home game but seven men were later cleared of charges of conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and gun possession.
Paladini has bought two seats in the directors' box and is expected to attend QPR's home games regularly as a fan.
Paladini has enjoyed a close working relationship with Neil Warnock but the manager has warmly welcomed the arrival of Fernandes, with the deal also seeing Amit Bhatia rejoin the board, three months after he quit.
QPR were hammered 4-0 by Bolton on the opening day of the Premier League season but Warnock now hopes to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes on August 31.
"It is so exciting," he said. "It is going to be hard work because we need to find the right players and do our business in a short space of time, but this will give us a fighting chance.
"To have Amit back on board is great because he is the reason I joined the club as manager in the first place.
"Tony and Amit have got the same vision and it is not short-term - it is long term but this is the best thing regarding the fans and I am sure they will be delighted.
"Tony and Amit know that I'm looking to bring a number of players in and they will do all in their power to get my targets. We have a number of transfer targets in every position and we are looking to strengthen. I have backups in place in case we can't get my first choice. The most important thing is to get the right players in by the end of the window."
Fernandes, the founder of AirAsia and boss of Team Lotus, has high hopes for his new club and said: "QPR are a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning them into a diamond. I am thoroughly impressed with Warnock's passion and enthusiasm." Standard
Talksport/Ian Cruise - Exclusive - Curle: 'QPR can now go shopping at Harrods
Can Listen to Audio
* Exclusive - Curle: 'QPR can now go shopping at Harrods'
Keith Curle has told talkSPORT Neil Warnock can now ‘go shopping at Harrods’ after Tony Fernandes’ takeover of the Loftus Road club.
The Malaysian tycoon secured a 66 percent stake in the west London club on Thursday and immediately pledged there would be money to spend.
And, although he insists he won’t be splashing out crazy money on new signings, Rangers’ fans can look forward to some new arrivals before the close of the transfer window.
“Tony’s come in and it’s changed the focus. We’re now shopping at Harrods rather than lesser shopsâ€Keith Curle
And assistant manager Keith Curle admits the club can begin to focus on targets towards the top end of the market rather than the bottom.
Curle told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “We had a meeting with Tony last week to talk about some targets. You can tell by the acquisitions we’ve made, they’ve been frees, that we’ve been scouring the market for value for money.
“Now Tony’s come in and it’s changed the focus. We’re now shopping at Harrods rather than lesser shops.â€
QPR started their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 thrashing at home to Bolton, and Curle admits they have to wise up.
He added: “The lads didn’t deserve a 4-0 hammering but we’ll be looking for a response on Saturday [at Everton]. We need to be more ruthless and professional . Kevin Davies nearly reffed the game [last week] and we need to be more street wise.†Talksport
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-friday-takeover-compilation.htmlRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVwBT09F"It's nothing to worry about." QPR
GIANNI PALADINI
Dave McIntyre - West London Sport - Paladini’s six-year reign is over
Gianni Paladini is no longer QPR chairman and the club’s new-look board are to discuss his future in the coming days.
Paladini was Rangers’ longest-serving chairman since Jim Gregory, having held the position since 2005.
Tony Fernandes was on Wednesday confirmed as company chairman and majority shareholder at Loftus Road, with Amit Bhatia returning to the post of company vice-chairman.
Paladini’s position as club chairman has not been affected by a number of changes to the company board in recent years, but this time around he has not survived the cull.
Fernandes is this week taking soundings from Bhatia with a view to announcing a restructure of the club in the near future.
But the decision has already been taken to strip Paladini of the title he has held since prevailing in a boardroom coup six years ago.
Paladini, who is still under contract, has always been seen by the Mittal family as someone with a contribution to make because of his experience in the game.
But disagreements between the controversial Italian and Bhatia’s trusted friend Ishan Saksena caused acrimony prior to Saksena being removed as company chairman and managing director in May.
He will also no longer be used as a bridge between the manager and board, which became his primary job under the Flavio Briatore-led regime.
Paladini’s function as a meeter and greeter, which he has retained by virtue of being the only QPR director who attends every match, also hangs by a thread, with a number of alternatives for the role already being considered.
The Fernandes-led restructure will include the appointment of Philip Beard as chief executive.
Beard, a senior member of the successful London 2012 Olympic bid team and former CEO of The O2, will formally start work once Premier League approval is received. West London Sport
Paul Warburton-Fulham Chronicle - Gianni Paladini set to leave QPR
CONTROVERSIAL chairman Gianni Paladini is set to leave QPR with a two-year pay off.
The current Rangers club supremo was the focal point for fans' ire when he was deemed to have made mistakes over the transfer of midfielder Alejandro Faurlin.
As a result, the FA at one stage threatened a points deduction that would have derailed Hoops promotion hopes last season - only lifted on the morning of the final match against Leeds.
After the game, the Italian was roundly booed when answering questions over the loudspeaker system. But the man born in Naples in 1946 was seen as a saviour when he rescued Rangers from administration in 2003" Fulham Chronicle
Evening Standard -Tony Fernandes axes Gianni Paladini on his first day in charge
Tony Fernandes has sacked chairman Gianni Paladini in his first act as Queens Park Rangers' new owner and taken on the role himself.
Fernandes moved swiftly after his company, Tune Group, took on a 66 per cent stake in QPR buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.
Paladini, who sold his stake in the club in 2007, is disappointed by the move but it is believed the 65-year-old feels he has reached an age where he is happy to free himself from the stress of helping to run the club.
In 2005, Paladini was held up at gunpoint at Loftus Road shortly before a home game but seven men were later cleared of charges of conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and gun possession.
Paladini has bought two seats in the directors' box and is expected to attend QPR's home games regularly as a fan.
Paladini has enjoyed a close working relationship with Neil Warnock but the manager has warmly welcomed the arrival of Fernandes, with the deal also seeing Amit Bhatia rejoin the board, three months after he quit.
QPR were hammered 4-0 by Bolton on the opening day of the Premier League season but Warnock now hopes to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes on August 31.
"It is so exciting," he said. "It is going to be hard work because we need to find the right players and do our business in a short space of time, but this will give us a fighting chance.
"To have Amit back on board is great because he is the reason I joined the club as manager in the first place.
"Tony and Amit have got the same vision and it is not short-term - it is long term but this is the best thing regarding the fans and I am sure they will be delighted.
"Tony and Amit know that I'm looking to bring a number of players in and they will do all in their power to get my targets. We have a number of transfer targets in every position and we are looking to strengthen. I have backups in place in case we can't get my first choice. The most important thing is to get the right players in by the end of the window."
Fernandes, the founder of AirAsia and boss of Team Lotus, has high hopes for his new club and said: "QPR are a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning them into a diamond. I am thoroughly impressed with Warnock's passion and enthusiasm." Standard
Talksport/Ian Cruise - Exclusive - Curle: 'QPR can now go shopping at Harrods
Can Listen to Audio
* Exclusive - Curle: 'QPR can now go shopping at Harrods'
Keith Curle has told talkSPORT Neil Warnock can now ‘go shopping at Harrods’ after Tony Fernandes’ takeover of the Loftus Road club.
The Malaysian tycoon secured a 66 percent stake in the west London club on Thursday and immediately pledged there would be money to spend.
And, although he insists he won’t be splashing out crazy money on new signings, Rangers’ fans can look forward to some new arrivals before the close of the transfer window.
“Tony’s come in and it’s changed the focus. We’re now shopping at Harrods rather than lesser shopsâ€Keith Curle
And assistant manager Keith Curle admits the club can begin to focus on targets towards the top end of the market rather than the bottom.
Curle told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “We had a meeting with Tony last week to talk about some targets. You can tell by the acquisitions we’ve made, they’ve been frees, that we’ve been scouring the market for value for money.
“Now Tony’s come in and it’s changed the focus. We’re now shopping at Harrods rather than lesser shops.â€
QPR started their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 thrashing at home to Bolton, and Curle admits they have to wise up.
He added: “The lads didn’t deserve a 4-0 hammering but we’ll be looking for a response on Saturday [at Everton]. We need to be more ruthless and professional . Kevin Davies nearly reffed the game [last week] and we need to be more street wise.†Talksport
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-friday-takeover-compilation.htmlRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVwBT09FIt's takeover announcement day (Hopefully!)
- David Conn/The Guardian
- Sporting Life
- The Telegraph
- Glenn Moore/The Independent
- Mail
- Express
SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TAKEOVER
As QPR fans await today's Official takeover Announcement/Confirmation and Press Conference with purportive new QPR (latest) owner, Tony Fernandes; a few questions which hopefully will be answered/clarified today:
- What Percentage of shares will Tony Fernandes now own?
- What percentage will Amit Bhtia now own? Did he want to buy more?
- Do Bernie Ecclestone, Bernie Eccelstone or anyone else continue to own any shares (especially over 1%?)
- Is there any consortium or any set of individuals behind (or alongside) Fernandes? (Update: It's been reported it's a three man-Malaysian consortium)
- Do Ecclestone and Briatore have any right of refusal (or right to buy back) Fernandes's shares if he decides to sell? Are there any prohibitions on his right to sell any (or all shares) to Bhatia or Lakshmi Mittal, if he so decided?
- Has the number of shares issued changed in any way as a result of these transactions? Has the share structure changed in any way? (e.g., voting vs. non-voting)?
- Where's he getting money? Is it loans? Will they be added to the club debt? Are Ecclestone or Briatore in any way funding this takeover (loaning any of the money?)
- What about the replacement-to-the-ABC Loan, the Amulya loan (held by Briatore and Bhatia) (with it's "hold" over the Stadium): Is that still in existence? Is there any agreement on its fate?
- If Fernandes fell off that proverbial bus, who would then own the club?
- What level of involvement will Ecclestone or Briatore have in the running or financing of QPR?
- Who will be in charge of contracts/contract negotiations, etc?
- Will you be appointing someone hands-on to "assist" in the running of the club, or to sit on the board?
- What is the true debt of the club? How do you intend to pay it back? How do you intend to pay the sizable annual loss this club makes? How do you intend to stop the loss?
- Are QPR going to appoint a CEO or (powerful) Club Secretary for day-to-day financial oversight of the club?
- Who will be responsible for settling any outstanding issues with Messrs. Dunga and Caliendo?
- What is the future of QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini?
- Any plans to change (lower) ticket prices this season(or freeze them for next season) ?
- Will you/your companies be sponsoring the club?
- Is the club going to run at a loss?
- With the smallest stadium/ground capacity in the Premiership, what is the future of Loftus Road? Are you committed to QPR staying in the local area?
- Why QPR? How did you decide to get involved? What was the process? After your interest in West Ham and Norwich? How committed are you to QPR? If West Ham became available for sale, would you try and buy them?
- Will you commit to regular meetings with Independent Fan groups/fan representatives which have become none-existent. (The last fan forum was some four and a half years ago)
- QPR are the only club in the Premiership without an Academy? Do you intend to rectify it?
- How strong is your commitment to manager Neil Warnock? Are you prepared to back Neil Warnock and (within a budgetary limit) permit him to make the player signing decisions?
- How much money will Neil Warnock be given (now and in January)?
- How intimately familiar are you with the developments at Loftus Road, on and off the field, over the last five, seven, ten years?
- How many times do you plan to see QPR during a season?
- The Briatore-created Club Crest is much disliked by a fair number of fans: Will you restore the earlier crest?
Just for starters... If anyone has any additional questions, please contact at qprreport@hotmail.com or post on QPR Report Messageboard.
DAVE MCINTYRE Blog -
No time for humble pie No time for humble pie
Very interesting to see Sky Sports News reporting tonight that Tony Fernandes has agreed a deal to buy two thirds of QPR with Amit Bhatia owning the rest.
Even with that outcome there are still many questions to be answered. But if Fernandes has genuinely become a major shareholder, I will have been proved wrong in a big way because even in the face of people at Rangers telling me he was on course to do so, I never believed it would happen.
It’s not just that Rangers have previous when it comes to alluding to non-existent takeovers, but that the sheer financial commitment involved in clearing out Ecclestone and Briatore, taking on the club’s debt and then investing is so monumental, I’ll be very interested to hear how it’s being done.
That’s even before you take into account the issue of the stadium, which Briatore effectively owns by way of the loan he facilitated to pay off the infamous £10m ABC loan.
There’s a press conference at Rangers tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it because I can’t claim to be a know-it-all on this one at all and will turn up not knowing the full story. I know very little about what’s been going on compared to past takeovers and other major events.
I’ve spent the last couple of months buried in the website I recently created – West London Sport. More on that another time.
For about 20 hours a day for the last few weeks I’ve been up against it solidly, dealing with all sorts; web development issues, advertising, staffing, logistics – you name it. I’ve done everything bar be a journalist.
So the irony is that I’ve set up a website covering west London sport at a time when I’ve never known less about what’s actually happening – as proved by the fact I found out about the apparent Fernandes takeover from the TV.
I’m hoping things will settle down. I’m also hoping for the sake of every Rangers fan’s sanity that the club that refers to a “new era†roughly every three months really are about to enter a new, stable era.
I’ve been too busy to know myself whether the takeover’s gone through. But last I knew the details were still being trashed out, and Fernandes was due to meet with Bhatia. So reports of a deal that involves the two of them makes sense.
Bhatia’s involvement will delight many fans and rightly so. I can’t say I’ve bought into whole Mittals legend, but I wouldn’t dispute that he’s a good egg whose intentions are honorable and who’d run the club well. He’s the kind of figurehead Rangers have lacked for most of the last two decades.
He’s certainly surprised me this summer, both by resigning when he did and by seemingly hanging in there to get the increased stake in the club he’s always wanted.
Back in May, when I mentioned on this blog that discussions were about to take place and the end result could be an increased Mittal involvement, I didn’t think that would happen.
I didn’t regard Bhatia as all mouth and no action, because for starters that would do a disservice to his work on behalf of the QPR in the Community Trust.
But if he has won the day and ended the Briatore era once and for all, he’ll have proved me wrong as I’ve spent most of the summer barely listening to those who’ve been insisting he’d prevail in the end. I didn’t believe he’d deliver.
If he has, I’d certainly eat humble pie if I had the time to. Blog
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-thursday-takeover-day.htmlRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/35180/flashback-year-fernandes-takes-over#ixzz3AizqIaGXRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVvwSyaCAs posted on QPR Report over those days,
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.htmlAUGUST 25
QPR Report Thursday: (August 25) Ray Jones (RIP)...Fernandes: 4 0r 5 Playerss
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-thursday-ray-jones-ripjoey.htmlAUGUST 21
QPR Report Sunday (August 21) Fernandes on Possible Loftus Road Move
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-sunday-everton-go-down-to.htmlAUGUST 20
QPR Report Saturday: (August 20) QPR Report Saturday: Everton Play...Warnock Speaks...Fernandes Plans...QPR Chase!
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-saturday-everton-playwarnock.htmlAUGUST 19
QPR Report Friday August 19- Takeover Compilation: Exuberance...
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-friday-takeover-compilation.htmlAUGUST 18
QPR Deal: Done and Dusted! - (August 18) Tony Fernandes (and Associates) along with Amit Bhatia in...Amulya (Ground) Loan Assumed by Fernandes and Bhatia...
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-deal-done-and-dusted-tony-fernandes.htmlQPR Report Thursday (August 18) (Takeover Day?) -
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-thursday-takeover-day.htmlAUGUST 17
QPR Report Wednesday: (August 17) Fernandes Wants Mittal Shares
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-wednesday-bullard-to.htmlAUGUST 16
QPR Report Tuesday Update (August 16) Fernandes Takeover?...P...
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-tuesday-update-fernandes.htmlAUGUST 15
QPR Report Monday (August 15) QPR Fernandes Takeover Update.....
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-monday-qpr-fernandestakeover.htmlQPR Report Sunday: Bolton Loss (!5,195 Attend)...Q...
www.qprreport.blogspot.com/2011_08_01_archive.htmlRead more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVvmA4x3 Tony FErnandes -
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=21&v=a0oZty0ZZEoqprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-deal-done-and-dusted-tony-fernandes.html
And
QPR Report Friday Takeover Compilation: Exuberance, Euphoria, Relief
- qprreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/qpr-report-friday-takeover-compilation.html
Read more:
qprreport.proboards.com/thread/25381/aug-2011-tonyfernandes-completes-takeover?page=1#ixzz5OVveDjiH