As I'm on holiday I decided to read Tony's book and thought I'd do a review. I did search to see if there was a thread, which there wasn't, though I'm sure we've discussed to some degree. Warning! Firstly This is a long read and secondly, if you're a Tony detractor, you probably won't enjoy this review. Final disclaimer. I do realise it is his book and the cynics will think, 'well he would say that' but I think this book genuinely reflects who the man is and that has implications for QPR today. He overcame the early death of his mother (who had bipolar disorder). She died while he was a border at Epsom College where he'd been sent because it had a heritage of producing medical students - a path both parents had chosen for him and against which he rebelled. Early on in life, due to good parenting, he adopted the philosophy that one always did the very best in whatever you were doing. It came as a surprise to him when he encountered players at QPR who were earning £50k per week and not applying themselves fully. A business colleagues described him as a 'man in a hurry' when he worked for Warner music and he was advised to slow down to achieve longer term success. Sounded familiar to me as I considered the history we've been through. Determination is a core feature of Tony's personality. For those who've read the Jack Reacher books, one of Reacher's characteristics is to push forward / attack when under threat or being attacked when a normal response might be to retreat. Tony is the same. Perhaps the greatest example is signing the purchase of AirAsia literally 48 hours before the twin towers came down. He has the same determination to see QPR succeed and a very strong theme in the book is that this guy is not a quitter! Similarly when air travel was threatened by SARS he pushed on with plans to expand which many thought was folly. Tony has been criticised by some on here for being on Twitter too much. His business model is based on openness, honesty, approachability but also accountability. He cites examples where any employee or passenger contacts him over an issue and, after due process, change for the better has been effected. I sense that is how he thought some of the running of QPR might work. However the respect found in Asian culture was definitely not there amongst some fans, especially when results were not going our way. His style of leadership is really well exemplified by the fact that the employees of Malaysian Airlines are members of 40 various trade unions and, indeed, the pilots of that airline try to recruit AirAsia's pilots into their fold. AirAsia has NO union members, purely by choice of the employees. If there is an issue, they talk to Tony or other senior person and work things out relationally. Personally I think that is a fantastic model though how it translates to a football club is harder to see. AirAsia now has 20 000 employees! He also believed that the CEO should know all about every job so has loaded baggage and served as cabin crew and sat at a flight simulator to get a feel for flying as well as dealing with front of house etc. Again, this reveals his open style of leadership which, I suspect, was taken advantage of by some that he has come into contact with during his time at QPR. He recounts the story of a kid who came from nowhere, joined AirAsia as a courier and worked his way up topass his pilots exams and fly as First Officer. TF is immensely proud of this though I chuckled to read the kid had to sit the entrance exam 11 times! I think I'd prefer a pilot who passed first time. It was, of course, merely a reflection of the catching up the fella had to do. I did not realise AirAsia sponsored Man United in 2005 for about three seasons I think. Suspect not major sponsor but still up there. That was until the 2007/8 crash when the Tony's wealth crashed from just under £200m to less than £2m! What did he do? Push through, determination. Never give up. AirAsia is now Airbus' biggest contract. Another business philosophy has been to put good people in place and trust them to do their job. When he took over at QPR, he made the massive assumption that because folk were there doing what they were doing that they knew what they were doing and doing it well. This was incorrect. He also makes the interesting point that with his flying business he can control every aspect but once QPR take to the field, he has no control for the duration of the game. He realised that he'd taken his eye off the ball while involved with AirAsia (always the core business), F1 and QPR. I remember that time thinking it signalled the end of his involvement with QPR because he had got bored with losing lots of money. Actually nothing could be further from the truth. Sport is part of Tony's DNA. He loves all sports and he really loves owning a football team. He states that he has had many prospective buyers asking if he'd like to sell but he states clearly that he is not selling because he loves it so much. Other interesting footie related information. A thinly veiled criticism of Kia Joorabchian in a rant about how agents need regulating and are ruining both players and the sport. No direct criticism of Hughes. Remains on good terms with Harry. I missed the fact that he gave Harry a special Caterham car after Wembley as a bonus / gift. Tony had the casting vote re FFP being instituted and voted for it. A grim irony there but he did so out of a wish to see more equality and opportunity in football. He states that only now does he feel has the right people, infrastructure and ethos in place to build for future success. Assuming that is true, I hope the determination that has brought AirAsia success finally rubs off onto QPR too. Overall this was a good read and I enjoyed it. Some will consider I am easily duped (is that better than being cynical - our national mentality?!) but I think not. Interested to hear what others think but after reading it, I'm clear that TF really is here for the long haul and not waiting for an opportunity to cut his losses and run. As we've commented on here previously, those who want him out should be careful what they wish for in my view. The AirAsia motto is pretty much 'Work hard, stay humble'. Tony has done just that and I found his life story (so far) quite inspirational. I know I sound like a Tony apologist, but those who criticise him severely ought to pause to reflect on all that he's achieved in life before they attack him with the keypad! COYRsss!
Cheers for that RTID, interesting. Really ironic as you point out that Tony could have vetoed FFP. If only there was a time machine.
Never doubted his heart is in the right place. Football is just one big nest of vipers and TF fell for the romanticised version trotted out by the PR machines. Simon Jordan summed it up perfectly a few weeks ago.
There was a period of time when us, Chelsea and Man City where in the same predicament. The Chelsea board sat down and Matthew Harding said '' Do we continue to be a alongside the likes of QPR or do we go for it? '' They went for it and got it right in quite a short space of time. FA Cup, FA Cup, Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. The City board did the same when the Arabs came in with all the cash and after a few attempts eventually got it right. We were in the same position as the above two but somehow ****ed it up. I'm not sure I'd want to be in the shoes of the aforementioned but I wouldn't mind us doing a Watford or a Bournemouth for the time being.
Morning and greetings from Kardamyli in Greece. Out of interest, why would you not want to be as successful as City or Chelsea?
I couldn't bear us to become a club of plastics, although I'd probably have taken it. Anyway it's never gonna happen now. Have a great holiday mate.
Why do new fans have to be plastic fans? I want to see QPR at the top tier. Inevitably the success will draw in new fans. Just because they were not here in the rough times does not make them plastic fans. If, however, they desert at the lean times, then they are plastic. I suppose out recent experience does indicate the plasticity of some fans!
How many new "fans" did Leicester get when they won the title, and how many do you think stayed loyal now they are a mid-table PL team? Supporting a club has changed for the younger generation, with a demand for instant, and constant, success. Clubs like ours just can't compete, and rules like FFP just make it harder. Branding and image have a large role to play, but ultimately it's results on the pitch that garner a larger fanbase, and we're a long way from fulfilling any potential on that front for a while.
Whilst I want my team to do well, part of my supporting QPR is the way they have bought cheap players and developed them. Think of the Gordon Jago / Dave Sexton side in 1974 / 1975 and the second place finish in 1976. The Gerry Francis Team that was London's top side. I think QPR as a while has been stung by journey man mercenaries and I would rather have a team of youngsters wanting to earn their stripes and winning. Whilst any money any rich benefactor could invest in the club, lately investments have been spent badly. If and when the club do move from Loftus Road, I could see the club going back to the Chelsea / Man Citeh formular of buying big name players but other things need to be in place first.
I don’t see many Koreans down at LR anymore, whereas a few years ago there were 100’s of them.....they are what I would class as plastic fans.
Really interesting read. Thanks RTID. If TF can look back at his experiences at QPR, the highs and the lows, and put that experience to good use, learn from it and really build a sustainable structure at the club I once again have hope for the future.
