Thank you Neil Warnock
The dismissal of Neil Warnock as QPR manager is regrettable but, given recent results, not surprising. Over the last few weeks fans have been watching the same mistakes and the same weaknesses in the team appear time and again. The decline in our league position reflects this. Few managers, no matter what their experience and the respect in which they are held, will survive such a depressing run of results.
It would have been wonderful for Neil Warnock to have the fairy tale ending to his career he wanted with Rangers’ safety in the Premier League assured and the opportunity to select his own successor on his retirement. Unfortunately fairy tales rarely happen in football. However, nightmares do and we will never forget Neil Warnock for his work in waking QPR from the nightmare of the last four years under the previous owners. His work and experience restored Rangers to the Premier League after 15 long years , turned Adel Taarabt from a liability to a hero, gave us two legends in Derry and Hill, showed why Paddy Kenny was so poorly treated by his previous club, unearthed an international footballer in Jamie Mackie, and took the pressure off the team by his positive and relaxed statements to the press.
The final legacy of Ecclestone and Briatore’s reign was Warnock being left high and dry in the close season and having to make do with free transfers and not his first choice targets. We concur totally with Warnock’s comments in his farewell statement. Once again we hope that the next manager will be given time in the role and the resources to prove himself.
The Four Year Plan documentary
The Four Year Plan offers an incredible insight behind the scenes at Queens Park Rangers Football Club and would be of interest to all football fans, but confirms many of our worst fears in terms of the way the club was being governed during this period.
The club hope the current owners learn from the mistakes covered in The Four Year Plan and that more professional conduct and measures are put in place to allow us to prosper. It’s clear from this documentary that we lacked the foundations to grow properly and at times, despite the best intentions, the club was treated like a playground for rich people and that communication between internal departments at the club was poor, let alone communication with the fans.
The appointment of Neil Warnock was crucial to the club and his experience within football and his character allowed us to find the success we craved when it seemed unlikely. The board deserve credit for identifying Mr Warnock as the right man for the job, but it took far too long to reach that consensus and the strategy to hire a strong and experienced character when they could have done that from the outset.
And while Mr Amit Bhatia deserves credit for supporting Mr Warnock and allowing him to do his job properly, it’s evident that the lack of footballing expertise on the board was a hindrance overall, and we urge our current owners to engage more regularly with their supporters and ensure there is a greater understanding of our expectations and that healthy and mutually beneficial relationships are developed both internally between different departments and externally with the fans.
You can read reviews of The Four Year Plan at LoftForWords and QPR Today.
Gianni Paladini’s departure
Gianni Paladini will be remembered as one of the QPR’s most influential and flamboyant figures, but it is also difficult to think of anyone involved in the Club’s management who has attracted so much controversy and heated debate.
In the end his departure will be seen by many fans as drawing a line in the sand and an opportunity for us to move on with a greater sense of unity and shared vision.
QPR1st welcomes the purchase of the club by Tony Fernandes
We are delighted that the club can now move forward after months of uncertainty. The Trust is pleased to welcome back Amit Bhatia as vice-chair and that the Mittals have maintained their stake in the club. Having listened to and read Mr Fernandes’ initial media interviews we are glad that we have an owner who it appears will take a long term view of the club and wants to build the infrastructure and the management team.
OSC Secretary’s resignation sparks rumours of mass walkout
QPR1st understands Linda Favell has resigned from her position as Secretary of the Official Supporters Club. It is understood that other members of the OSC Committee have followed suit and stepped down.
The committee is currently made up of the following: Karen Hampshire, Zach Hampshire, Brian Ahearne, Linda Favell, Rebecca Favell, Brian Patterson, Simon Patterson and Ian Stenning. It’s unclear at this stage, who the others are who have resigned, but if true, we presume elections will be arranged by the Club to create a new committee.
Call for Club Merchandise boycott
QPR1st acknowledges the statement made by the LSA on Monday and at present shares similar communication issues with the club. QPR1st has always believed that the best way in which we can communicate fans views to the Club is through face to face meetings with the directors of the Board or their representatives and in the past this has occurred on a regular basis. We very much regret that the Club currently is reluctant to continue this practice.
Fans Demand Season Ticket Holders Meeting
QPR1st has been informed that a written request has been received by the secretary of the Official Supporters Club undersigned by thirty members calling on the Club to call an Extraordinary General Meeting, as per section 3.8 of the Queens Park Rangers Official Supporters Club Constitution and Rules. The OSC is now consulting with the Club as to how such a meeting could take place.
Saturday: Fans voice their feelings
QPR1st has been informed that fans are intending to meet at South Africa Road, this Saturday from noon onwards. It is understood that this is an informal gathering which is intended to be a peaceful expression of fans’ disaffection regarding the ticket prices for next season and other developments within the Club.
This follows the submission by the LSA to the Directors of the Club of a letter expressing their concerns. QPR1st agree with the points made in the letter and are united with the LSA on asking the Board to meet with representatives from fans organisations.
We fully endorse the call by John Reid, the Chairman of the LSA for fans groups to present a united front and have written to him to ensure him that the LSA, for which we have the greatest respect, can rely on our support. We are keen to receive any feedback from fans on what you think should be the most appropriate course of action for us to now take, please do so by emailing us at info@qpr1st.com.
We shall also be writing to the Supporters Trusts at Newcastle United and Manchester United regarding their campaigns to find out if there are any lessons to be learnt for us.
QPR1st Trust Board
QPR1st Supporters Trust
Amit Bhatia
The QPR1st Supporters Trust wishes to express our sadness at the news of Amit Bhatia’s resignation. Amit had a very clear vision of QPR as a Club that should respect and listen to supporters’ views. He was keen to work in partnership with independent supporters groups and sought to ensure that the views and aspirations of the fans were taken into account by the Board of Directors.
Changes in QPR Directors
There have been various changes in the Board of Directors of both QPR Holdings and QPR Football and Athletic Club.
Ecclestone’s inclusion on both boards shows his increased influence as the majority stakeholder in the Club. Whilst Briatore remains a director, the removal of his associates Michel and Rapini reflect the fact that his stake in the Club is now nominal. Bhatia’s inclusion on the Board of the Football and Athletic Club is in line with his recent statement that his family have a continued interest in maintaining their stake in the Club. The termination of Paladini’s directorship of QPR Holdings suggests he will play a less direct role in the business side of QPR. Ali Russell’s exit reflects his decision to move onto pastures new.
QPR Holdings Ltd
New Appointment (17/02/11):
Bernie Eccelstone
Appointments terminated (16/02/11)
Gianni Paladini
Ali Russell
Bruno Michel
Marco Rapini
Current directors are:
Bernie Ecclestone
Amit Bhatia
Flavio Briatore
QPR Football and Athletic Club
New Appointment:
Bernie Eccelstone
Appointments terminated:
Ali Russell
Bruno Michel
Current directors are:
Bernie Ecclestone
Flavio Briatore
Gianni Paladini
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