Representatives from QPR 1st met on Thursday night with Clive Taylor, who together with Richard Thompson has submitted a bid. Our understanding is that it falls well short of the bid tabled by Andrew Ellis – which in itself falls well short of the renewed interest tabled by the Lord Razzall Consortium.
Talks between ourselves and Clive were informal and concentrated more on the conceptual role of supporters in the future of a successful QPR than the actual details of their bid. In that sense, it was a positive meeting – with Clive, a QPR fan from the days of chartered trains and European ties played at Highbury, acknowledging that the game had moved on in the last few years, and greater partnership between the board and the fans was the way forward for the club.
The consortium consists of himself and Richard Thompson. It seems he met Richard nine years ago through QPR. He told us very little of himself. He and Richard Thompson want to purchase QPR and Loftus Road. They have no intention of moving the club away from Loftus Road. He doesn’t like rugby, and feels Chris Wright’s biggest mistake was in floating us and bringing the rugby on board. They have a five-year plan in which they hope to get us back to the Premiership. They intend to run the club as Jim Gregory did. They will give Ian Holloway a chance, but feel the club needs a fresh start all round.
“And George Graham?” we asked. “No comment,” came the reply.
Clive could not or would not answer any financial questions. The subject of fans playing a greater role in the running of clubs was talked about at length. Clive wanted to know more about QPR 1st. We explained the concept of supporters trusts and how the face of football is changing. He assured us that meetings would not be a problem. Supporter representation at board level was broached and although he didn’t count this out, he was cautious and said how an element of trust would be needed by all concerned.
Clive pressed his case well with certain lines, like “we’ll keep the club at Loftus Road for the foreseeable future”, but we don’t think he understood fully what QPR 1st is about, despite meeting for two hours. He did though make all the right noises – “sound financial management”, “five-year plan to get back to the Premiership”, “family club with family tradition”.
At the start he seemed to see us almost as a fund-raiser for QPR. He seemed anxious when he asked about our intentions to gain a seat on the board. He talked about inviting QPR 1st members to sit in the directors box at games occasionally and to have the chance to meet Richard Thompson and go and meet everyone after. We explained that QPR 1st is about building a business-like relationship, not a “gesture” (as he put it) that Richard Thompson would be “happy to make”. He also effectively said that trust needs to be built up before we can take any role in the running/marketing of the club.
We discussed marketing. He talked about the amount of cash that Richard Thompson used to generate from boxes. As for his plans, Clive said a bid had been tabled and proof of funds proffered. He says he will be hands-on and full-time chairman. He will run Rangers at a loss and make up for that by returning it to its old status as a selling club, generating players through the youth system and selling them on.
QPR 1st will continue with efforts to talk with other interested bidders.