Bump: Gianni Said It... (A Limited Compilation)

[QPR Report]

If you're getting tired of people bad-mouthing and disparaging Gianni Paladini. He needs the opportunity to have his own past words read without all this criticism and negative commentary.
So this thread is willing to take the plunge and so do.

And who knows, could also do it for others: There's been quite a lot said. Shame that some of these statements just slip into obscurity.

[QPR Report]

Just for starters since I already posted it today:
Gianni on the (Non) Ground Closures

Flashback Chairman Paladini...The Summer of 2006

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - QPR Chairman, Paladini Denies "Locked Out of Training Ground" Rumours-
July 31, there were assertions on QPR Fan Messageboards that players had been locked out of the club's (rented) Harlington training ground. There was a brief 'snippet' re this rumour in the July 31 Evening Standard.


Mirror August 1, 2006 - RANGERS RENT ROW MYSTERY
Paladini last night denied his players had been locked out of the training ground because the troubled Championship club had not paid the rent.
Several QPR players claimed they were turned away from their Harlington training HQ when the gates were locked in the latest apparent financial setback.
Rangers may be entrenched in debt, but Paladini stressed the rent was paid to Imperial College on July 18.
And he also insisted star defender Danny Shittu would not be sold before Saturday's kick-off - despite Wolves' £3million offer.
Paladini said: "We can prove the rent was paid and our manager Gary Waddock was there yesterday and allowed in.
"The players were simply given a day off and that is why they were not at the training ground yesterday.
"It's been a very difficult time for the club - the worst I can ever remember.
"As for Danny Shittu, we have had two offers but we are determined not to sell him. If we could not pay our rent then we would have sold him to Wolves a long time ago.
"There are about three or four clubs interested in signing him and we've had contact from Birmingham, West Brom and Norwich.
"If I can get a bid for £10m then we will listen, but if we don't get that sort of money then he'll start the season with us." Mirror


OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN, GIANNI PALADINI
Having just returned from the R's pre-season tour of Italy, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini can't wait for the big kick-off.
"The trip to Sorrento was a great success, providing the players and coaching staff with an opportunity for some intense training and team bonding.
"Despite the players staying in one of the town's grandest hotels, and having been fitted with brand new QPR tailor-made suits for every player, the trip paid for itself and the Club even managed to make a tiny profit from it.
"Gary, Macca and the coaching staff are now ready for the new season. I believe we have a much improved squad, with summer signings including Armel Tchakounte, Jamaican international defender Damion Stewart, Egutu Oliseh, Adam Czerkas and the much talked about Nicky Ward, and the important re-signing of Lee Cook for two more years.
"Many of last season's first team have improved over pre-season and it has been particularly pleasing to see Martin Rowlands back to full fitness. A number of the youth squad have made tremendous steps forward during pre-season and will be fighting for places in Gary's first team.
"It is frustrating that, despite all the hard work everyone has been doing during pre-season, a tiny minority of people seem intent on damaging team morale and destroying the Club in the run up to our important first game.
"Not only have they once again invented wholly false rumours about the state of the Club, but unfortunately a couple of journalists with a record of writing stories against QPR, and with links to some of the individuals intent on destabilising the Club, have blown up these rumours and made up stories from nothing.
"Last week it was suggested in some of the press that we were putting QPR up for sale. Unfortunately the journalists responsible for this story failed to even check the official statement from Antonio Caliendo, Chairman of Holdings, on the Club's official website, making clear the Board's continued commitment to QPR.
"I have always said if someone with QPR's best interests at heart wants to come along and buy out the existing Board we would not stand in their way. Nothing has changed and nobody has come forward. We will continue to seek out new investors to take the Club even further forward, but as Antonio made clear last week, we are committed to QPR.
"The Club is in a better financial position than it has been in for a number of years. Things are still tough, but we have reduced the annual debt by millions and intend to reduce it further. Yet ridiculous rumours still seem to be invented by a few people for reasons beyond me.
"The latest is the absurd rumour suggested on a message board that the players were locked out of the Harlington training ground, when in fact Gary Waddock had just given them the day off as they had only recently arrived back from a busy schedule in Italy.
"The same newspaper that had to apologise for a series of inaccurate stories about me last season, the Evening Standard, then chose to repeat this wholly false rumour as fact without even checking with me, the coaching staff, or even Imperial College - the owners of the training ground.
"In an article by a journalist named Wayne Vesey, under the headline 'Locked-out Rangers are unable to train' the Standard claimed that the Club was locked out of the training ground on Monday. Such a clearly false statement damages the reputation of the Club, and the morale of the players and supporters. I have been advised it is libellous and our lawyers will be contacting the Standard immediately to demand a retraction.
"QPR fans will ask themselves why should people invent such rumours? The purpose can only be to destabilise the Club and to injure the morale of players and fans just days before the season kicks off. The Club will not allow another season to be derailed by these people.
"The Board, Gary Waddock and the coaching staff, and the players and other members of staff, are all united in our focus to move this great club forward and to achieve success this season on the pitch. We believe we have the squad and the resources to do so. We will not allow a tiny group of people, driven by an agenda that has nothing to do with football, to destroy this Club.
"I urge all fans to treat such rumour-mongers with the contempt and scepticism they deserve. They have been claiming we would go into administration every week for the past year, and they never admit they are wrong when we don't.
"They claimed we were locked out of the training ground before and even that the groundsmen would not cut the grass at the stadium. They predicted we would spend all the Club's money on agents' fees when we have spent less than nearly any other club in this division. They predicted we would sell off Loftus Road and all our best players because we could not afford their wages.
"Just yesterday they claimed we were locked out of the training ground because we could not afford the rent; but today, as scheduled, our players are training at the training ground. On each and every occasion their rumours have been proven false.
"As I believe you say in England, when someone cries wolf so many times, people stop listening. But every time the rumour-mongers are proven wrong they invent another rumour, so desperate to be proven right and for the Club to fail.
"For the last time I say to those who's criticism of the Board has developed into an agenda to undermine the Club, if you know of a better alternative to take QPR forward with the necessary funding to support it, then please let us know. Otherwise stop pursuing a divisive and destructive agenda. The Board, the players and staff and the thousands of fans of QPR will not allow a small selfish group to ruin the season for the rest of us.
"I know most QPR fans will be sensible enough to take every rumour and press speculation with a hefty pinch of salt. We seem to be in the 'silly season' right now - only today I saw an article in the Mirror claiming I had rejected an offer of £3million for Danny Shittu from Wolves and would only sell him for £10 million.
"The story is, of course, rubbish. As I have said all along, we don't want to sell Danny, but if someone comes in with an offer of £3million or above it will be up to him to decide. Nobody has made such an offer and so Danny will be starting the season with us.
"So as we prepare for the opening game at Burnley on Saturday, and then two exciting home games against Leeds United and newly promoted Southend United, I cannot wait for the football to start and for the players to do the talking on the pitch."And I urge every single QPR fan to get fully behind Gary and the boys and help them to turn this into a glorious season. Come on You R's!'' Gianni Paladini
www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~875457,00.html


OFFICIAL SITE STATEMENT RE GROUND CLOSING
CLUB STATEMENT Queens Park Rangers Football Club would like to issue the following statement to clear the air over yet more wildly inaccurate reporting in the press and on various message boards.QPR staff were admitted to the training ground on Monday. No players were refused admittance to the ground yesterday. This is because no players turned up as it had been decided to give them an extra day off after their pre-season tour to Italy. The players are back at the training ground today (Tuesday) working hard for the opening match of the season at Turf Moor on Saturday. We can confirm that there was no Portsmouth player on trial with the Club either yesterday or today. It should also be noted that the items printed in the press had not been checked with either QPR or Imperial College before being published.And remember... www.qpr.co.uk is the R's official website - where all the breaking news comes first and fastest. QPR

Sunday Mirror 6 August 2006 LIVING IN FEAR
Contract killer threat forces QPR chairman to wear a bullet-proof vest GIANNI PALADINI EXCLUSIVE Anthony Clavane
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini is living in fear after a contract was legedly put out on his life.
Following advice by the police, the controversial Rangers chief now has to wear a bullet-proof vest.
In an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror Sport, Paladini hit out at fans opposed to his regime at Loftus Road, calling them the "enemy within".
Paladini said: "I find it incredible what's going on here. You have to fight against so many things. This must be the only club where the fans love to put s**t on their own club on the website."
Two weeks ago, a group of men were cleared of forcing Paladini to resign at gunpoint during a match against Sheffield United.
The Italian tycoon claimed he was surrounded by hired thugs, punched and slapped, and then warned he'd be killed if he refused to sign a letter of resignation.
But a judge threw out the case against the men. There is no suggestion that any of those men are involved in the alleged contract on Paladini.
Former agent Paladini invested £600,000 in the West London outfit in March 2004 and was initially employed as a consultant to bring in players.
Last year he ousted Bill Power as QPR chairman, removed chief executive Mark Devlin and claimed victory in a bitter struggle for control of the club.
But one of his strongest allies, former Brazil skipper Carlos Dunga, resigned from the board last week after his shock appointment as his country's new national coach.
Ever since Paladini became a director of the debt-ridden Championship club he has faced hostile criticism from a section of supporters.
The Italian tycoon was furious to discover an attempt to sabotage an interview with him on the QPR website after he returned from the R's pre-season tour of his home country.
He said: "I went mad. It's been cancelled now. They're trying to wind me up. I give up, I really do. I nearly got a heart attack when I saw it.
"They put the face of a fan up there, somebody is stirring things up.
"Sometimes I wonder why I got myself involved in this situation. Whatever you do, you can't win. Even if you win the league and get promoted, you'll still have people who criticise.
"I feel like a dartboard. People are always throwing darts at me.
"We have an enemy within. What kind of people do these things? How can you be a QPR fan when you put this s**t in?"
Paladini also suspected foul play when one newspaper reported last week that Rangers players were turned away from their training ground because the rent had not been paid.
He blasted: "This did not happen. I have a statement showing we paid Imperial College, who we rent the ground from, £32,250 on 18 July. How can they shut it for non-payment two weeks after paying the rent? It's insane.
"There were people from a QPR fan group outside the training ground at 7.20am, putting it out that the players had been locked out.
"But people were asleep at that time. The players didn't go in until 10am.
"They put out so much s**t, so much rubbish, that I just give up.
"Since I've come here there's been problem after problem after problem but now, thank God, it's all left behind. Now we will only concentrate on the football and take this club forward.
"With the players we've brought in and the new manager, Gary Waddock, we're looking forward to an exciting season.
"We've reduced the average age of the team and we've brought in players to give us stability for the next two or three years.
"It's been a very difficult time. But it's business as usual. I just carry on doing my job.
"In this game you need a lot of money. When I came here we were losing more than £500,000 a year but, by the end of next season, we should be out of debt.
"I'm lucky that the people with me they are prepared to put in money. This month, to pay the wages, they had to put in more money."
"When I came here we got promoted and we've been two years in the Championship. Look at clubs like Birmingham, who spend eight or nine million, or Wolves, Coventry, Leeds.
"They spend a fortune every year. They are on a very different level to us.
"Fortunately I've been involved in foot ball for the last 30 years and it's helped me a lot, because I1 can get certain players in." QPR

qprreport.blogspot.com/2006/12/qprs-year-in-review-august-2006.html

[QPR Report]

Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Interview with Gianni Paladini in The London Paper, March 14, by Matt Butler

"Face to Face: Gianni Paladini"

EXCERPTS

"QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini is not well. He says the stomach ulcer he has is due to the stress of running QPR...."

"....But he vows he will not walk away and leave the club in the lurch. Not because he loves the job, but because of his loyalty to his associates who have pumped in more than 8 million pounds...'I either have to carry on or go bust. The directors have put quite a lot of money into the club and without it we would have gone bust. Every single month the board is putting money in. Without this money, how was the club supposed to survive? When I took over at the club the losses were 4.5 million pounds - and now it is less than two [million pounds]. Next year we will probably break even and maybe even make a profit because the money from the players we sold this season will go into the budget for next year."

"It is not a nice thing to do to ask for people's financial help then jump ship.' But if someone came in with enough money to pay everybody off then I would do it tomorrow..."

[re John Gregory]:
"...If he doesn't keep us up then the fans won't be happy and...we'll have to look at that when the time comes..."

[re Former Press Secretary, Jackie Bass] "John told Jackie she wasn't allowed to go into the changing rooms. The players are in there walking around sometimes with no clothes on. It doesn't look right. Anyway she resigned, it's no big deal.."

re Tony Roberts: "The reason was that we had three goalkeepers and a coach. There may have been something else going on, but John's got his staff and he decides who he wants and who he doesn't.."

"...I have been called all sorts of things - Mafiaman, waiterman and pizzaman. I was called a W*nker recently by some supporters. I want to know, when the club had to borrow 10 million pounds to stay open, when they were out with a bucket raising money for players, whether they needed a W*nker like me. Because I am saving the club, they didn't. If every W*nker is like me, vive les W*nkers"

The World According to Gianni Paladini

On the Positives of Running a Club
"There is nothing good about being Chairman of a football club"

On his past life as an agent:
"I used to have a fantastic Lifestyle, being invited to functions all the time, living in a nice house in the Canaries with a boat and another one in Italy. But I am stuck here like an idiot, being called things like cannelloni man."

On His Relationship with Fans
"If you are doing badly, the manager and the chairman gets stick. When things go well the manager gets praise - and the Chairman is still a W*nker. I want them to see there is light at the end of the tunnel."

On the Stresses of Running QPR
"It affects your health. When I leve home I say to my wife: "I hope you don't get a phone call from the hospital telling you to pick me up feet first."
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/03/chairman-paladini-interviewedspeaks.html

[QPR Report]

Club Statement on QPR's Finances and Inaccurate Reporting
-
QPR Official Site - Club Statement - March 7, 2006
Gianni Paladini has issued the following statement following recent inaccurate reporting.

Once again this club has been subjected to a barrage of pitifully inaccurate reporting in the London Evening Standard - and once again I am left with no option but to set the record straight in order that you, our true supporters, know exactly how QPR's finances stand.
The article in last Friday's edition should be seen in the light of the previous negative and misleading articles by the same author for which they had to print an apology and pay our solicitor's costs.
The total value of the debt in the 2005 accounts (ie the sum of the current liabilities and the long term liabilities) is £18m.The total value of the same debt in the 2004 accounts was £18m.In other words no change, but this is definitely not the impression conveyed by the headline.
As most fans know the biggest item in the total debt is the £10m loan from the ABC Corporation which was entered into in 2002 several years before the current regime took over.
Current liabilities fell in 2005 as the debts to the Customs & Revenue were reduced and short-term loans to shareholders were repaid.
You should also be aware that £2.8m of the total "debts" is for income for the 2005/06 season that was banked before the 31st May 2005 and, in accordance with standard accounting practice, is included in current liabilities as deferred income.The bulk of this deferred income is for season ticket receipts, which is being released in the 2005/06 financial year.
This means that the high value of the early bird season ticket sales for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons have increased the "debt" at the club's financial year end.So rather perversely the increase in deferred income is a positive sign and not an indication of "misery" as heralded by the Evening Standard.
The Standard did state that losses for the year were £2.5m but neglected to mention that was an improvement of £1.8m on the two previous years.This improvement was all the more impressive as it was achieved despite losing the revenue from Fulham ground sharing deal. Running costs have been reduced and supply contracts have been renegotiated.
I know these figures are wrong because I am so intimately involved in both the day-to-day running of the club, and its financial strategy and support. Along with my trusted friend and chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, we have dug into our own pockets to pay off the debts we inherited when we took over - debts that, quite frankly, would have forced the club into liquidation if they had not been paid.
I need to say a few more words about Antonio at this point because the Standard has also intimated there is something dark and mysterious about his presence at the club. Antonio is chairman of our holding company, and I am chairman of the football club.
There is nothing murky or sinister about this two-man structure - it's exactly the same format that existed before we took over. We have no hidden agendas - if we did, we wouldn't have stuck around for so long, working so hard to get QPR's finances back on the straight and narrow.
The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years' results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs' net losses.However the Evening Standard states that the projected losses for the current season "could be as much as £4m" and will not be revealed until March 2007.
As the club has had no contact with the writer of this article we are left to ponder as to the both the source of his inaccurate statements and the motives behind them.
The club is currently working on its projections for next season and the board of directors are looking for further revenue opportunities and further cost savings as the club works towards a break-even situation.A more detailed update will be given to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM and a summary will then published on the QPR website. QPR Official Site

[QPR Report]

A compilation from three years re Paladini statements re finances (Got me banned from dot.org)

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Some Past Statements by Chairman Paladini Re QPR's Finances: Past, Current & Future
-
QPR's Accounts have now been published (For QPR Holdings and QPR Ltd).
The accounts for QPR Holdings can be viewed at Julia's Boardroom Blues site.
Julia's Summary Full Accounts

From the Minutes of the April 10. 2007 Fans Groups Consultative Meeting with the QPR Board (released on the Club Official site)
5. Accounts update
5.1 Why haven't the accounts been filed with Companies House? We were told they would be filed by 31st March 2007?
GP replied that the accounts for the year end May 2006 have been filed; that they'll be in the public domain soon; and that the AGM will follow, citing the 21 day period that has to be given to inform shareholders of the meeting.
5.2 What does the total loss for the year stand at as we speak?
GP said that the loss is about the same as the last year, saying that we'd had to bring in playing staff, which added to the budget. Fan Meeting

OFFICIAL SITE - STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN, GIANNI PALADINI - August 1 2006
Having just returned from the R's pre-season tour of Italy, QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini can't wait for the big kick-off. ...
"The Club is in a better financial position than it has been in for a number of years. Things are still tough, but we have reduced the annual debt by millions and intend to reduce it further. Yet ridiculous rumours still seem to be invented by a few people for reasons beyond me. QPR

Chairman Paladini Interviewed by Clive Whittingham/QPR Rivals - May 2006
Q:How much money will we lose this season and next?
A: This season, £1.7 million. Next season I hope we can break even, maybe if we only lose two hundred or three hundred thousand pounds I'd be a happy man. The playing budget was over by about a million this season. On the strength of last season we hoped to push on and Ian wanted this player and that player and we got them for him....
Q: You said earlier this season that the club is sailing in calmer waters financially. Do you stand by that?
A: Yes of course. Everybody has been paid or will be paid very shortly, we're hoping to go close to breaking even next season, we've reduced costs across the board. We're definitely heading in the right direction. QPR Rivals Interview


Eve of the AGM: - BBC - March 16, 2006
Paladini said: "Can anyone say QPR aren't in a better position than when I came in two years ago? "The losses are reduced and we are in a position to move forward. Everything is settled and we just want to get on with running the club. "This board have invested over £8m. Yes, some of that has been used to buy shares, but that is how much has been paid and that shows commitment."

March 7, 2006 - QPR - CLUB STATEMENT -
Gianni Paladini has issued the following statement following recent inaccurate reporting.
The total value of the debt in the 2005 accounts (ie the sum of the current liabilities and the long term liabilities) is £18m.The total value of the same debt in the 2004 accounts was £18m.In other words no change, but this is definitely not the impression conveyed by the headline.
As most fans know the biggest item in the total debt is the £10m loan from the ABC Corporation which was entered into in 2002 several years before the current regime took over.
Current liabilities fell in 2005 as the debts to the Customs & Revenue were reduced and short-term loans to shareholders were repaid.
You should also be aware that £2.8m of the total "debts" is for income for the 2005/06 season that was banked before the 31st May 2005 and, in accordance with standard accounting practice, is included in current liabilities as deferred income.The bulk of this deferred income is for season ticket receipts, which is being released in the 2005/06 financial year.
This means that the high value of the early bird season ticket sales for both the 2004 and 2005 seasons have increased the "debt" at the club's financial year end.So rather perversely the increase in deferred income is a positive sign and not an indication of "misery" as heralded by the Evening Standard.
The Standard did state that losses for the year were £2.5m but neglected to mention that was an improvement of £1.8m on the two previous years.This improvement was all the more impressive as it was achieved despite losing the revenue from Fulham ground sharing deal. Running costs have been reduced and supply contracts have been renegotiated.
I know these figures are wrong because I am so intimately involved in both the day-to-day running of the club, and its financial strategy and support. Along with my trusted friend and chairman of QPR Holdings, Antonio Caliendo, we have dug into our own pockets to pay off the debts we inherited when we took over - debts that, quite frankly, would have forced the club into liquidation if they had not been paid.
...The accounts for 2005 show a vast improvement on the previous years' results and the current projections for 2006 show that there will be another sizeable reduction in the clubs' net losses.However the Evening Standard states that the projected losses for the current season "could be as much as £4m" and will not be revealed until March 2007.
As the club has had no contact with the writer of this article we are left to ponder as to the both the source of his inaccurate statements and the motives behind them.
The club is currently working on its projections for next season and the board of directors are looking for further revenue opportunities and further cost savings as the club works towards a break-even situation.A more detailed update will be given to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM and a summary will then published on the QPR website. QPR

HAPPY NEW YEAR GREETINGS - December 29, 2005 QPR OFFICIAL SITE
"Thanks to some huge efforts in renewing its organization and bringing in some new investments, QPR are now sailing in safe waters. "We are optimistic when looking ahead for the New Year and for the whole of 2006, ...."Our hope and aim is that QPR will never again have to struggle against organizational confusion and financial distress that have badly hit the good name of our glorious club. "A special mention must go to Ian Holloway, who has shown his passion and devotion to the club and as someone who gives us positive hopes for promotion. "We are proud of our players and we are confident that we can continue to strengthen our team with some new arrivals at the beginning of the next year. QPR

QPR Official Site - Chairman Paladini December 6, 2005
Where do you see QPR in three years time?
First of all we need to clear our debts; we only took over from the October 1 and we found out we owed more than we originally thought. You need solid foundations, I'd love us to go up this year or next year, but we have to be realistic and budget accordingly.
When we first took over there was a big outstanding tax bill and Caliendo and I had to go down to Brighton to stop us going into Liquidation. We had to give our personal guarantee that the bill would be paid.
When we found out you can imagine our panic. The first thing you have to do as a company is pay the tax man as they can wind you up. .......
Is it true we are behind with our payments?
We are paying people. In October we paid out £1.2 million. When we took over we found that many of our suppliers hadn't been paid since May. There is a backlog but we are putting a new structure in place. Instead of writing cheques out every day of the week, we will pay our suppliers on the 30th of every month. Therefore they know when they will get paid and we can also budget better.. QPR

(QPR Official Site Q&A December 2005)
"We are arranging a new loan with the Lloyds TSB. The directors will give their personal guarantee on the loan. We hope to get an interest rate between 5.75% to 6%. Depending on the final interest rate we will save between £400-425k per year.....We are bringing the loss down every year and within a few years we hope to break even. Then we can really move forward" QPR

See: Also QPR Net Interview from last 2005
"...Next month I’m at the AGM, we will send the letter out soon and it will be held in February. I have to sit down with all the shareholders face to face and tell them what we’ve done and show them the books, the actual books, not the rubbish that people who think they know more than me come up with. The books will show that since I’ve been here the loss will go down from £4.5 million to £2.5 million. Next year it will go down again to £1.5 million and that’ll be with better players earning better wages. Don’t judge me now, wait till you see it because it will all be there in black and white. ... - QPR Net Interview


qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/05/some-past-statements-by-chairman.html

[QPR Report]

Gianni Paladini Interviews & Statement Thread

And past interviews with Paladini:


QPR Net December 2005? Q&A With Gianni Paladini
qprnet.com/interviews/paladini.shtml


Clive Whittingham "Rivals" Q&A With Paladini - April 2006
www.clubfanzine.com/QPR/v2.showNews.php?id=7644


WATRB's September 2007 Q&A With Paladini
qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/09/qpr-chairman-paladini-interviewed.html


And Tracy Stent's Trial Report
www.alfretontownfc.com/qprcourttrial.pdf


March 2010 SM Interview and audio of Paladini on JNet
qprreport.blogspot.com/2010/03/gianni-paladini-interviews-two.html


Additional Past Questions + Past Q&A With Gianni Paladini
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=11272&page=1



Potential Questions to Paladini
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=11852


qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=11873&page=1

[QPR Report]

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Gregory and Paladini and Ainsworth on QPR and Forthcoming Changes
-
Ben Kosky/Kilburn Times - Carry on John

JOHN Gregory has been given the green light to strengthen his squad for next season after QPR ensured their place in the Championship.

Gregory's relegation-haunted team finally clinched survival with a 1-0 win over Cardiff last weekend and the manager immediately signed a new two-year deal to stay at Loftus Road.

Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini told the Times: "It's up to John what players he wants to bring in. He knows the budget for next season and I will back him 100 per cent.

"It's not easy to find the right replacement when you change managers after five years and we believed Gary Waddock was the right one and gave him the chance to sign the players he wanted.

"Unfortunately it didn't work out, but we asked John to come in and I'm completely confident that QPR have a bright future with him as manager.

"If you look at our form in the last two months, that's what we're capable of doing. There will be a big clearout and, if we have the right players next season, we can be much higher up the table."

qprreport.blogspot.com/2007/04/gregory-and-paladini-and-ainsworth-on.html

[QPR Report]

QPR OFFICIAL SITE - September 30, 2005 - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH-

GIANNI Paladini today began legal action against the London Evening Standard after the paper published yet another libellous and factually inaccurate article about QPR.
The QPR Chairman has instructed one of the country's top libel firms, Carter-Ruck, to commence legal proceedings immediately by formally requesting an immediate apology and retraction of damning statements made by the paper.
Paladini will also be writing to the Press Complaints Commission, urging them to conduct an immediate inquiry into the unprofessional way the Standard has conducted its so-called investigation.

"I held detailed talks with Carter-Ruck yesterday," Paladini confirmed. "It is their belief I have been libelled by the paper and on that basis I have instructed them to commence legal action. This will be on a strictly no-win, no fee basis so it will have no financial impact on the club.
"I am demanding an immediate apology - not just for me, but for everyone who works for, and who loves, QPR.
"I am deeply saddened that this is happening but enough is enough. The Standard has chosen to mount a witch-hunt against QPR and are clearly being fed a string of deceitful lies, inaccuracies and misleading information by individuals who have their own axe to grind against the club and me.
"These individuals cannot possibly be true fans - how could they harm us by pedalling such rubbish?"
Once again, the Standard is falsely claiming the FA are investigating how much QPR has paid agents to bring players into the club.

Paladini added: "Let me state this clearly and categorically. I have spoken to the FA and there is no probe or investigation into our finances - or how much we have paid agents. Yes, they ask to be kept informed of how the club is being run - as they do with all clubs.
"That is right and proper and we have always co-operated. But we have nothing to hide and there is nothing that has caused them any concern. I have their assurance that we are not under suspicion.
"Anyone reading the Standard right now would think QPR is being run by the mafia. Let me tell you the only crime being committed at the moment is by the Standard. Every club, no matter how big or small, has to deal with agents - there's nothing I can do about that.

"If I tried to by-pass them, players would simply refuse to come to QPR. Is that what the Standard wants? A club with no players? What would our fans think of that?
"The Standard has made me look like someone out of the Godfather and that's why I will also be writing to the Press Complaints Commission, urging them to launch their own investigation into the journalistic standards of this paper.
"Not only have they printed lies about the club, their columnist David Mellor has launched a particularly nasty and deeply personal attack on me - even though we have never met.
"It is my belief the Commission will want to seriously reprimand this paper for the way they are conducting themselves."
QPR Official Site


QPR statements on the QPR Official Site
[Have to find the links that still work)

30 Sept: 2005 "The Real Story - No investigation, no probe and nothing but nonsense from the Evening Standard

23 Sept 2005 "No FA Probe" - Gianni Paladini tells qpr.co.uk that the FA are NOT investigating Queens Park Ranger

22.09.2005 Latest ANGER & DISTRESS Gianni Paladini has reacted with anger and distress regarding allegations made in the press on Thursday

December 7, 2005 -
QPR OFFICIAL SITE "Today the Evening Standard issued an apology to QPR Chairman Gianni Paladini.

[QPR Report]

Flashback: Caliendo/Paladini - QPR Not Going Bust
Dec 17, 2009,

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three years ago

QPR RESPONSE TO DAILY EXPRESS
QPR Official Site: Official Club statement by Antonio Caliendo and Gianni Paladini.
We owe it to QPR fans to respond to the allegations made in the Daily Express on Saturday in an article entitled "Are Rangers Going bust?"
The article was misleading in many respects and we can assure our many supporters that there is no possibility of QPR going bust whilst we remain on board.
We have seen too many attacks on QPR in the press that simply don't reflect the reality of today's situation. It seems there is always someone who wants to discredit our club.
Our goal remains the same as always: to take QPR to the highest position in English football. Despite injuries and recent results, we believe John Gregory will be able to take QPR back to the position it was in when he played for the Club.
We accept that talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. We will only ever prove our critics wrong by taking the Club forward, and we are 100 per-cent committed to continuing with that.
Finally, we would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of the staff and fans of QPR a very happy Christmas and a successful New Year.
Antonio Caliendo - Chairman of QPR Holdings
Gianni Paladini - Chairman of QPR FC QPR Official Site QPR


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And this was the article they were responding to

Daily Express- Saturday, December 16 - By Tony Yorke
Are Rangers going bust?; -Even Club's Accountants Have Fears for Future
Accountants at debt-ridden Queens Park Rangers have warned the club that they may ha ve broken the law in their desperate attempt to avoid going bust.
The Daily Express has discovered the amazing confession in financial documents filed last month at Companies House - the government agency reporting directly to the Department of Trade and Industry.
Recording debts to the tune of GBP 19million, an annual income of just GBP 8.5m and losses that are running at GBP 4.32m, auditors Rothman Pantall & Co have chosen to paint a very bleak future picture of the struggling Championship club, who are run by colourful chairman Gianni Paladini.
They expose the current accounts of Queens Park Rangers Football & Athletic Co - the company who run the football side of the QPR business - as being worthless because there is no "evidence" to back up the club's claims.
And they say the club's financial statements - lodged with the DTI an incredible 16 months late - may have been prepared improperly. If true, this would be a clear breach of the Companies Act and regarded as a criminal offence.
"We have had problems and the accounts have been a mess, " Paladini said yesterday. "But the issues we have faced have not been of my making.
"They are the results of the actions of the club's former directors. I am simply the man who has been left to pick up the pieces - which has included raising 6m [pounds[ since September 2005 so we can pay our way.
"Without that money, we would have been forced to call in the administrators because our losses have simply been so great. But we have not been insolvent, I guarantee that." But Paladini's reassurances may not have the desired effect on officials from the Football League and the DTI.
They will be very concerned by the claim that evidence provided by the club's board - including current and past directors - cannot not be relied upon, particularly over the club's assertion that they are a "going concern" and have not traded while bust.
And their own accountants have delivered a damning indictment on the business credentials of the club's board.
"We planned our audit so as to obtain all of the information and explanations considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable reassurance that the financial statements are free of material mis-statement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error, " say the accountancy firm.
"But the evidence available to us to confirm appropriateness of preparing the financial statements on the going concern basis was limited. This is because the company have not prepared any profit or cash flow projections for the appropriate period subsequent to the balance sheet date." As a result, they say, they have been "unable to form a view" as to whether the club are a going concern. They also could not offer an opinion as to whether the statements gave a true and fair state of the company's affairs or if they had been properly prepared.
Senior sources within the game's top brass and the DTI suggest they may be forced to act. "We are monitoring the QPR situation very closely and have spoken to the club about the restructuring of their debts, " said a Football League spokesman. "If we find out that Rangers have broken the rules then we will act." It is difficult to assess just how bad Rangers' financial affairs are because the figures released by the club on November 15 relate to the period ending May 31 2004 and are hopelessly out of date.
However, a well-placed finance director at a Premiership club who has seen the Rangers accounts, said:
"There is a golden rule when it comes to football finances - you must avoid getting in over your heads at all costs.
"It goes to another level when your own accountant reports publicly that there is no evidence to back up important financial claims - and that the club may have breached the Companies Act.
"If that was to happen at my club, we would expect to be under formal investigation by the DTI and the League." Regardless of what might happen with the League and the DTI, Paladini has pledged to ensure things are done by the book in future.
"I have had professional people around me and relied on them to do things properly and on time, " he said. "That hasn't always happened. But you have my word that it will do now. From now on our accounts will be sorted out on time." (Daily Express, December 16)


[Immediately after the article was published - before the Official Site denial, on the .org messageboard, the club's then (unpaid) legal advisor, Nico (Nicholas) De Marco posted this response to the Express story:]

"More rubbish I am afraid.
The only thing this story in the Daily "Dianni Inquiry was a cover up" Express proves is that a few sad people continue in their attempts to try and attack QPR.
I was warned of this story earlier this week. It is not a serious story at all, and the main claim that accountants warned the club 'that they may have broken the law in their desperate attempt to avoid going bust' is rubbish as the independent auditors (to which they mean) I am sure can testify.There was no 'amazing confession in financial documents', just the fact (as I understand it) that because very old accounts of the Club (financial year ending April 2004) were filed late the auditors could not sign the "going concern" part, as evidence of this would have to be deduced from current projections the Club was still working on and the Club did not want to wait for these to be done and thus risk filing the old accounts even later. Nor is there anything from the auditors accusing the club of preparing coounts "improperly" - at least I have seen nothing in the document (the audited accounts) which this freelance journalist sent and based this story on.
The article is about late, old accounts of the football club. Says nothing about the current financial state of the football club company and absolutly nothing about the accounts of the Holding Company which is the body which actually keeps the FC co, and the club afloat.
A complete non-story. I am afraid there will be a few who will revel in it as they do in any attack of this sort, but we have more to worry about with injuries for today's game than anything in this story. As usual with all these stories, anyone doubting will see time will tell. (QPR.org Messageboard

[QPR Report]

AN APOLOGY
Posted on: Fri 27 Oct 2006


The Editor and proprietor of the fanzine 'A Kick Up The R's' today agreed to publish the following retraction and apology to QPR Chairman, Gianni Paladini:

In the September edition of the newsletter 'A Kick Up the R's', we published a series of articles by Cos Atiolis about Mr Paladini, the Chairman of Queen's Park Rangers football club.

In these articles we falsely suggested that Mr Paladini was involved in fraud, corruption, malpractice and dishonesty, and made a number of other serious false, misleading and defamatory statements about him.

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We now fully accept that there is no truth whatsoever in these allegations and we are extremely sorry for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.

The newsletter containing the articles has been withdrawn from sale and we have offered Mr Paladini a full right of reply to the articles, which will appear in the next edition.

Paladini said: "I am delighted that the fanzine has withdrawn the untrue and unfair allegations it made against me, and that it was possible to resolve this without legal action.

"Although everyone has a right to free speech, and I welcome constructive criticism, I take my professional reputation very seriously and will not stand by whilst I am accused falsely.

"I find these allegations distressing, not just because they damage me, but also because of the distress they cause to my family and to QPR fans.

"I would never want to fall out with any of our fans. The way to move this club forward is to be united.

"Fortunately, AKUTRs has accepted there was no truth to the serious allegations it published and has retracted them. I will be exercising a full right to reply in the December edition, and I hope that is then the end of the matter."

CHAIRMAN SPEAKS
Posted on: Sat 10 Dec 2005



Gianni Paladini has spoken about comments made by Harold Winton about Ian Holloway in the press last week.

The honorary Life President made his feelings towards the Rangers manager known in a national newspaper last week, but Paladini has staunchly defended Holloway.

He said: "Harold is QPR through and through and he is entitled to his opinion but he shouldn't have gone to the press. Harold is not part of the board, he is not involved in the running of the club."

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The QPR Chairman is only too pleased with the manager who has taken Rangers to within four points of the play-off places.

"Ian Holloway has got two and a half years left on his contract and we are talking about extending it.

"He is the most fantastic human being I have met in my life. He has had a very difficult time with everything going behind the scenes.

"I was at the training ground with Ian the other day sorting out our new scouting system. We are looking to get the best young players from the UK, France, Spain and all over the world."

Paladini was also pleased to confirm a new member to the board.

"We are delighted to announce that Franco Zanotti has now joined the board and he is representing Wanlock. He joins myself, Antonio Caliendo, Carlos Dunga and Olga Paladini."

The Rangers chairman this afternoon also spoke about season ticket prices for next season.

"We are looking at the financial viability of various season tickets prices for next season. We will pay particular attention to junior and student prices. I have members of staff working on this now and we will present proposals to the board in January."

YOU CAN SEE PALADINI'S WHOLE INTERVIEW ON QPR WORLD

[funky]

Riverting Report

[QPR Report]

Is "Riverting" a combination of Riveting and Diversion?

While some may engage in distortions and "revisionist history", I believe "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"

[Lonegunmen]

These are what the man has said and done, no fabrication, just the non colourful facts and his defence is? He saved the club and he found Faurlin???

[eastpaddoknutta]

someones been busy mike

[finney]

don't forget the insider mike he had his fair share of stories as well .

[QPR Report]

April 26, 2006 BBC Gossip/Independent
QPR chairman Gianni Palladini has made it clear he expects Rangers to make the play-offs next season. (Independent)


April 26, 2006 - Sporting Life - PALADINI AIMING HIGH
QPR chairman Gianni Paladini has demanded caretaker-boss Gary Waddock take the team into the play-offs next season.
Waddock is expected to be given the job permanently once an agreement is reached with former manager Ian Holloway, who was sacked in February.

But even though Waddock could struggle to hang onto some of his most valuable assets, Paladini has set his sights on a top-six finish in next year's Championship table.
"We will be looking to end next season in the top six," Paladini said. "I've told Gary it is what I'm expecting, and I have every faith in him.
"Our original three year plan was reached: promotion to the Championship, and then survival. Now, however, it's time to raise the bar.
"We want a strong, young, fast side who are hungry and can help get us where we want to be and play the kind of football that people are happy to watch."

[QPR Report]

And if people prefer, they can sign on to the Paladini Appreciation Society on Facebook - www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23727673525

[QPR Report]

May 06, 2007 - QPR Official Site - FROM THE BOARDROOM

QPR's Board of Directors Assess Season and Look Forward-

In the final 'Hoops' matchday programme of the season, the Board of Directors thanked you - the fans - for your continued support.

Dear Friends,

QPR has now had three seasons in the Championship and we look forward to football in the second tier of English football again next season.

The last two seasons have had their difficulties; changes in the management of the team always create problems. But in John Gregory we now have a Manager we believe can take us forward.

From being at the foot of the league table when he took over, with his astute signings and tactical experience, John has transformed QPR into a respected team in this division.

Our last few results, if repeated throughout the season, would have seen us in the play-off's. John, along with the players and the fans, has also helped create one of the best spirits amongst the team and dressing rooms we have ever seen.

We are committed to support John in building and developing his squad and taking us to the next level.

QPR fans have played a key part in our recent successes and relegation survival.

The support and contribution of the fans in recent games, home and away, has been invaluable. The players have been strongly moved by your support, and we have seen one of the best atmospheres at Loftus Road in recent years.

As a Board, we have played our part too. We have continued to invest in the Club and have supported John in bringing in the players he wants.

We are delighted to have agreed a new two year contract with John.

We have also launched a new campaign to fill Loftus Road, and have for the first time in years reduced season ticket process by 10 per-cent across the board.

We would like to thank all of our supporters, every player and member of staff and John Gregory for their contribution in securing Championship football for our great Club again.

Finally, we wish to address special greetings and thanks to our new non-executive directors Nick De Marco, Kevin Steele and Jason Kallis, with whom we will work to continue to take our Club forward next year.

We thank you all for your support this season and look forward together to the next campaign.

Antonio Caliendo
Gianni Paladini
Franco Zanotti
QPR Holdings

[QPR Report]

CHAIRMAN SPEAKS
Posted on: Sat 10 Dec 2005

Gianni Paladini has spoken about comments made by Harold Winton about Ian Holloway in the press last week.

The honorary Life President made his feelings towards the Rangers manager known in a national newspaper last week, but Paladini has staunchly defended Holloway.

He said: "Harold is QPR through and through and he is entitled to his opinion but he shouldn't have gone to the press. Harold is not part of the board, he is not involved in the running of the club."

The QPR Chairman is only too pleased with the manager who has taken Rangers to within four points of the play-off places.

"Ian Holloway has got two and a half years left on his contract and we are talking about extending it.

"He is the most fantastic human being I have met in my life. He has had a very difficult time with everything going behind the scenes.

"I was at the training ground with Ian the other day sorting out our new scouting system. We are looking to get the best young players from the UK, France, Spain and all over the world."

Paladini was also pleased to confirm a new member to the board.

"We are delighted to announce that Franco Zanotti has now joined the board and he is representing Wanlock. He joins myself, Antonio Caliendo, Carlos Dunga and Olga Paladini."

The Rangers chairman this afternoon also spoke about season ticket prices for next season.

"We are looking at the financial viability of various season tickets prices for next season. We will pay particular attention to junior and student prices. I have members of staff working on this now and we will present proposals to the board in January."

YOU CAN SEE PALADINI'S WHOLE INTERVIEW ON QPR WORLD

[funky]

Do you have any quotes from your secret meeting with Bill Power Report, we all know what happened that day as you sat and plotted the future of the club from America's capital?

[QPR Report]

Apr 29, 2010 11:20:57 GMT @funky said:

Do you have any quotes from your secret meeting with Bill Power Report, we all know what happened that day as you sat and plotted the future of the club from America's capital?

Thanks Funky

By secret meeting, you are of course referring to a series of posts spewed out by Pete on WATRB, after he and Scott returned from a meeting with Gianni. (After that same meeting, Scott claimed there was a Club File on QPR Report. )

Not exactly for the first time in his posting career, Pete got his facts wrong and made claims which were not accuerate.

[haqpr1963]

Would that be the secret meeting that everyone seems to know about?

[QPR Report]

Apr 29, 2010 11:48:29 GMT @haqpr1963 said:

Would that be the secret meeting that everyone seems to know about?

As opposed to other meetings (and perhaps phone conversations/emails) involving other people that we all speculate about!

Of course after those keeping file allegtations, I did contact the club to query whether this was true. Gianni Paladini denied that anyone at the club had done any file keeping.

[funky]

Now come on Mike you know the meeting that I am refering to the well organised meet with Bill Power in Washington.

Many people have said that you were the "king maker" with relation to Bill then getting the position as club chairman.

We will never know what really happened during that meet of high powered QPR fans who then began to hatch a plan that would send shock waves around the streets of Shepherds Bush.

I think we all know from your silence that we will never ever find out what discussed in the meeting, but suffice to say it's up there with the training ground closure in terms of interest of the entire fan base.

In fact I would suggest that you write a detailed report of exactly what happened to stop these rumours getting out of control.

[QPR Report]

[Macmoish]

Ah....Bump

[Macmoish]

I'll bump again