Last week reps from QPR 1st, Justin, Tracy and Stuart met with John McGlashan and Bruce Powell, reps from the Bees United Supporters trust. The meeting took place at the headquarters of Supporters Direct (the Governing body of Supporters Trusts) with Brian Lomax and the case workers for both QPR 1st and Bees United, Matt Holt and Lee Shailer from Supporters Direct, in attendance. We apologise for the delay in publishing a resume from the meeting, a variety of circumstances had prevented us from doing so until now.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the events of the last few weeks and to investigate proposals for future co-operation between the two trusts.
The meeting proved to be pretty informal and a lengthy discussion firstly took place over the recent approach made to QPR 1st, by Bees United, as regards the groundsharing options/the bid for the Loftus Road ground made to the administrators of Loftus road plc by Brentford football club. After a frank discussion by all sides on the matter Brian Lomax suggested that everyone involved on both trusts had acted in good faith and it was agreed that a joint statement be issued by both trusts which you’ll be able to read, here on this website, in a couple of days time.
A lengthy discussion then took place about the entire Brentford situation, with John informing us that with it was seemingly inevitable that Brentford will have to move grounds in the near future in order for the club to flourish, the Bees United Trust have agreed with Mr Noades to accept his offer of a 51% shareholding in Brentford FC in order for them to find a solution as regards their ground dilemma. Subsequently talks have been on- going with their local council, the London borough of Hounslow.
John and Bruce then spoke of the Bees United business plan, and they reiterated how they do not have any plans written within it (at the moment anyway!) to propose a deal with QPR, or QPR 1st, to bid for the Loftus Road ground. We advised them that under the current circumstances, whilst Ron Noades is involved with Brentford, the idea would more than likely be an unworkable one to QPR fans on the whole but then also suggested that it may be workable in the future if it were to be a proper business proposal, maybe as a groundshare like the Fulham one with Brentford as tenants. Ideally Brentford fans would like to remain at Griffin Park until they have a new ground to move to, again, ideally within the Borough of Hounslow.
We certainly wish the Bees United trust all the best in their efforts with their business plan for the future of their club.
Due to recent rumour and speculation, QPR 1st call on Ron Noades to concentrate on the affairs of Brentford FC, and not those of QPR FC, as his actions are creating unnecessary antagonisms between two sets of supporters and two clubs that have previously had excellent relations.