Whispers inside Loftus Road suggest a takeover may be brewing........................

Whispers inside Loftus Road suggest a takeover may be brewingNeil Warnock’s position could be under more threat should the QPR board sell up

Combine the wealth of their three owners and they are the richest club in world football, but the Queens Park Rangers board could be preparing for a bid from a Russian investor this week.

Sources inside the club suggest a Russian billionaire, believed to be worth more than Roman Abramovich, is preparing a bid to take over the west London club and considering the lack of transfer activity by the current board, there’s a distinct possibility they will sell if the price is right.

QPR was brought by Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone for £14m back in 2007 for a 69 per cent stake and the family of Lakshmi Mittal purchased a 20 per cent share in the club from Briatore four months later.

At the time QPR were in a perilous financial condition and fans of the club were optimistic that their new owners would inject a much-needed cash boost to the club, but while the new owners have stabilised the club’s finances, no significant funds have been invested as of yet.

Promotion to the Premier League was expected to be the catalyst for a series of high-profile signings but the board have remained quiet in the transfer market and with the business interests of Ecclestone and Briatore at heart, a sale is more than possible.

It’s hard to value a Premier League club but Randy Lerner brought Aston Villa for £62m in 2006 and Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley failed to find a buyer for Newcastle at £100m in 2009 having brought a 41 per cent share in the club for £55m in 2007.

Loftus Road is the sticking point in a deal for QPR and the size of the stadium means QPR’s valuation will be a lot lower than both Villa and Newcastle, but Messers Briatore, Ecclestone and Mittal would all come out with a tidy profit having seen the club promoted to the Premier League.

Like many of the transfer rumours we’ve heard this morning, a potential buy-out could just be hearsay but should QPR receive an offer for the club, there’s every chance the board will sell.

2011/12 Premier League relegation odds,Premier League odds,QPR odds
All posts by this author http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/author/robbie


http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football....ent_068381.html

 

Well, its always interesting supporting QPR isn't it North!

 

Indians?... Arabs?... Now Russians..... All sounds to me like wild guess work, desperately looking for complex reasons behind the complete lack of transfer activity this summer.. There is a reason for this of course, sadly though it's a very simple one; our owners are tighter than the proverbial gnat's cuff... End of.

 

Yep, could be!
Prefer the Mittals(sorry Eamon), don't trust Russkis!

 

The last paragraph "this could just be hearsay" surely sums this piece up?!
The name of any club in Europe could be substituted for QPR in this article and an insider quoted.
Two out of three W12 clubs owned by Russian billionaires?
I don't buy this one, and neither will he.

 

http://twitter.com/#!/sportsvibe

 

The big disclaimer in the final para kinda undermines the rest - it does say whispers "within" Loftus Road so who knows? The only thing that's certain is that if the Goons have Mittal and the Russian billionaire vying for possession of the club (and what self respecting uber-billionairre wouldn't want to own Loftus Road, a site of historical interest, with commanding views over the Uxbridge Road...etc), then they could make a real killing.

Anyone fancy clubbing together to buy Brentford...?

 

I agree that this is more guess work from the journos , no source as such. The lack of ins and outs for me does suggest that all assets are frozen as such and something will happen.

 

No comment.

 

I'm with you on that one. I still think that Mittal wouldn't be much better than Ecclestone despite his posturing and the publicity efforts of Bhatia, but I would hate to see the club controlled by another of the Russian Mafia.

 

I'm waiting for the Fijian fisherman takeover rumour... or how about "Antarctic King (penguin) looking to increase his sporting club portfolio."

I think the papers set aside column inches for our latest drama but there actually isn't anything to report (until a teatime disaster probably).

 

I know it's been said many times before but, life is never dull down in W12!

 

QPR is like an episode of eastenders, after every game they should play the dramatic drum beat from eastenders, what will happen next!!

 

Smudge1962 Paul Smith
by QPRnot606
@
@Filiranger Will be reporting on developments at QPR later. I might add there is a lot of bullshit being put around regarding a take-over

 

I'm wondering if this might be a story dreamed up by Burt and Ernie to get the Mittals interested and back to the table. And inflate their price.

I forgot that Vila was sold so cheaply though - makes the 100 mil price tag look even more stupid.

 

Depends how much debt had to be taken over. Several clubs have been sold for £1 with the new owner taking over millions of debt.

 

I don't believe a word of it. Theres a void in the football news at the moment - as most people seem to be on holiday - so its just the usual half-rumour plus ITK 'an insider said' bollox.

QPR are ripe for rumour-mongering at the best of times and especially now. Wimbledon's finished and Sunderland have bought every player up for sale so why not another 'Russkie Takeover' shock horror story. Last week we almost signed 326 players, the manager was fired / resigned / planned pre-season training etc etc and we are either signing no one or everyone.

Why not just relax a bit and plan lunch. I'm thinking grilled asparagus with pumpkin gnocchi?

 

never boring is it when you support West London's finest!!

 

If my Euro numbers come in tomorrow evening, I will have a major dilemma: Do I buy QPR or buy Greece?

 

i'll win eurmillions tuesday & buy the goons out, this is not a rumour its a fact!