Fernandes insists heâs here for the long-haul ⦠I'm firmly committed to the club. I'm not someone who's going to run away from things." Tony Fernandes QPR CHAIRMAN Tony Fernandes has hit back at rumours suggesting he could leave Loftus Road if the Râs bid to beat the drop is unsuccessful. Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that the Râs head-honcho could walk away from the club, but the 48 year-old â speaking exclusively to www.qpr.co.uk â insists he is here for the long haul. "Come what may, in May, we'll still be here,â he said. "I'm firmly committed to the club. I'm not someone who's going to run away from things. "There are still a lot of good things happening. The training ground is well on track and the stadium plans are progressing. We're hopeful of getting category two status in the Academy. "There's no change to our off-the-field strategy. There are lots of good things going on.â He added: "We inherited a club that needed a hell of a lot of work and we'll continue to progress with our short, medium and long term goals. "I'm a strong character who has been through a hell of a lot in life. The aviation business isn't for those with a weak heart. "But I've got to say, the run of results - before Harry came in - really affected me. It's been really tough. "I'm the leader and it's a great shame that after so much honest effort we're where we are in the table.â Saturdayâs victory against Fulham lifted Rangers off the foot of the Barclays Premier League table, extending the Râs unbeaten run under Harry Redknapp to four matches. And whilst the Râs remain five points adrift of safety, Fernandes is confident Redknapp can turn the tide in W12. "Harry is a special manager,â he said. "If he wasn't available, I would probably have persevered with Mark, but Harry is a fantastic manager. "I've known him for years going back to when he was at West Ham. Harry being available swung it for us.â He added: "We're all in this together. No shirking. Let's see what Harry and the boys do. "It's up to the 11 guys on the pitch to make it happen for us now. "If we can pick up a couple of more wins before the New Year, we're back to where we were this time last year. "Coming off a win and three draws, there's a bit of renewed confidence about the place now.â
Nice to hear from Uncle Tony that he remains committed to the club. Although, I did find it slightly strange that he only said that he'll be here "come what may, in May" rather than "next season"... (any ideas CB?) But I'm probably guilty of reading too much into that..
Agree, TIMK. He's saying - I don't run away from things, I can assure fans I'll be here in May. And he doesn't mention "long haul". Those are the journalist's words. In short, the article and the quotes don't take us much further, except he's honest about the Harry/Ukraine thing.
Yeh, was it 4 times he gave public backing to Hughes? It maybe very normal for Chairman to back their Managers and then sack them, but it don't do much for their credibility.
Dont get the "if you say so" CB...he has just stated "I'm firmly committed to the club. I'm not someone who's going to run away from things"...why do you believe differently?
Absolutely Goldie. All I can can say to that is thank God 'Arry was available! Otherwise we'd still be stuck with Lesley, and would still be hearing those tweets about him having the board's full backing and promising everyone that the first win was just around the corner.
What a stupid statement. Although I think TF was wrong to back Hughes as long as he did I understand why he did it; he invested a lot in him financially and wanted to give every chance to make it work. Hughes ended up being more useless then anyone one could possibkly have conceived and after Southampton someting had to give. Dont get why some on here feel the need to bite the hand that feeds. We're lucky to have someone like TF at this club. All the negatives this season are based on Hughes and the pointless and unhelpful digs at a man who has helped bank roll this club far beyond our means are unjustified. To question his credibility is beyond a joke
TF was outvoted, it was not his choice to his credibility is intact..well apart from the fact he wanted to stick with Hughes in the 1st place. He made a mistake but it was his 1st ever appointment and even then, none of us could realise how bad Hughes would be, even me and I never wanted him in the 1st place.
Great that he "feeds" us. But you got to be pretty gullible to take these public statements as truth and nothing but! He may well be around after May, but then he said before Hughes would be too.
I honestly don't know what else people want or expect from an owner. He has invested a significant part of his fortune, he has initiated long overdue infrastructure projects and his every statement talks of loyalty and enthusiasm for the club. His loyalty to Hughes - while overdone in the end - was a refreshing change in such a cynical world. It may still all go pear shaped - he may run out of money or not get enough support from his backers - but for sure it won't be for want of trying. Critics of TF are critics of QPR IMO.
I've heard of reading between the lines, but this is ridiculous. There are some on here who like to read between the words and the letters as well in order to try and make things fit their doom and gloom scenario.
It's like an episode of '3,2,1' TF says he is 'commited' to the club. Is he hinting that he wants to be 'commited' as is to a mental hospital, which in rhyming slang is 'radio rental'. That of course could mean he has HIRED a new coach as in HR to get the JOB done. But to get the job done would mean that we stay up.....to stay up he had to get rid of Hughes so what did he do.....he 'binned' the old manager.....so what does it all mean....Yep you got it..... TF IS DUSTY BIN..... 3,2,1
I am a supporter of TF. I've defended him many times when Hughes was failing. I hope he doesn't go anywhere. But I do sense there's some tussling at board level, and the Fernandes and Mittal camps are not a perfect fit. In many ways, it would be naive to think they would be. We're dealing with businessmen used to having control and getting their own way. If things aren't going well with the business - and they sure weren't under Hughes - it stresses the relationship further. Amit's recent statement of intent was qualified with something along the lines of "but obviously I'll move on in due course". Now Tony commits...until May. It's perfectly reasonable for fans to speculate about what's going on behind closed doors imho.
Spot on. Some brilliant posts on this thread,revealing the depth of people's sixth senses and insider knowledge, wish I had this. In Tony's shoes I would definitely highlight the training ground, academy and stadium plans as I planned to jump ship in a few months, smart thinking. FFS. And if anyone can tell me exactly what the Mittals contribute to the club I would love to know. Honestly.
Yeah, alright Tony, famous last words, eh? We'll see what happens - until the US Fiscal Cliff slams the financial markets all over the world in 2013 and everything and everybody does a runner
I read between Amit's words last time and stick by my feelings of him being cagey. TF doesn't seem that at all. He's licked his wounds and is coming back as enthusiastic as ever. Nothing to see here - move along.
