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MERGER IS OFF: OFFICIAL
In a meeting held in West London this evening QPR 1st representatives obtained a clear, unequivocal undertaking from owner Chris Wright that, based on the strength of feeling from QPR fans, both in the meeting and throughout the day, there will be NO merger with Wimbledon or any other club.
(3 May 2001)

QPR FANS TO FIGHT PLANS FOR MERGER WITH WIMBLEDON
QPR 1st, the Queens Park Rangers Supporters Trust, will vigorously oppose any proposed or actual merger between QPR and Wimbledon, if speculation surrounding that development, as reported in today's Sun newspaper, has any basis of truth.

Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR 1st said: "Historically, QPR fans will not support a merger with any other Football League club. Proposed mergers with Brentford in 1967 and Fulham in 1987 were successfully opposed by the fans, and any move to merge QPR with Wimbledon this year, or at any stage in the future, will be opposed by every possible means. QPR fans will fight to retain the identity of our club. We know that Wimbledon fans will do the same." She added: "It is extremely worrying that the Sun report suggests Football League officials have already agreed to the merger in principle. We do not believe that reflects the views of football fans up and down the country, and we will be seeking a clear statement from the Football League on this latest development. If they sanction this merger, what next? It could open the floodgates and kill off many of our clubs. QPR and Wimbledon's fight is every football fan's fight."

The Sun story comes just ahead of a meeting between representatives of QPR 1st and QPR owner and now ex-chairman Chris Wright. QPR 1st will be seeking assurances from Wright that no merger with any club is planned or being considered. Spokeswoman Libby Magrill said: "Chris Wright keeps telling us that he is a QPR fan. No true QPR fan supports a merger. Now is the time for him to make his position clear. QPR fans will not stand idly by and allow him to kill off our club."
(3 May 2001)

MP joins fans' fight
Local MP Clive Soley is to write to the club and administrator Ray Hocking urging them to recognise QPR 1st as a legitimate body. The administrators at Loftus Road have already held talks with representatives of QPR 1st and are now facing calls to involve the trust fully in the process of finding a new owner for Rangers and Loftus Road plc. Soley has pledged his full support for QPR 1st, who are also calling on potential new owners to meet with them to discuss their plans for the club. Confidentiality agreements do restrict the amount of information the administrators can disclose, although on a brighter note for Rangers fans, at least one of the parties to have tabled a bid for the club is understood to be strongly in favour of the QPR 1st proposal of supporter representation on a new board.

Business set to pressure Council
Local businesses are to lobby the local Council amid fears that the threat to QPR's future could hit them hard, due to a loss of trade.

Shepherds Bush-based businessman Maurice Fitzgerald revealed at last night's public meeting that businesses in the area have pledged unanimous support for the new fans trust, QPR 1st, and their bid to preserve their club.

"They see QPR as a part of this community," said Fitzgerald, who has undertaken the task of grouping together Rangers-supporting shareholders into a cooperative group.

Businesses around Shepherds Bush and the surrounding area rely heavily on Rangers fans for custom on match days and the possible relocation, or worse, of the club would be a major blow for them.

Holloway behind R's fans
Ian Holloway has come out in support of concerned Rangers fans ahead of their big public meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall tonight.

Around 1,500 supporters are expected to attend the meeting organised by QPR1st - Supporters' Trust.

Tonight's mass gathering, the first of its kind since the proposed merger with Fulham in 1987, has been backed by the club's boss, who believes R's fans have a big part to play as the club looks to rebuild.

Holloway said: "It's all about togetherness from top to bottom and at the top is our fans. Everyone is worried at this moment in time and the more the fans get together the better.

"You don't get anywhere in life without spirit and the fans are joining together to show that.

"Sometimes out of situations like this a club emerges stronger. I hope that will happen here and the fans of this club certainly deserve that to happen."

"Nobody knows what the future will bring but there will be a QPR next season, I can assure everyone of that, and I think it will be a stronger QPR," he added.

Representatives of QPR1st have held talks with the club's administrators and distributed over 10,000 leaflets among fans ahead of Rangers' recent home game against Blackburn.

Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR1st, said: "This is about fans coming together in a time of crisis. There has been massive interest in the Trust among supporters and we are hoping for a big turnout at the Town Hall."