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Wednesday 29th May 2002

QPR take on Brentford, One more time!

With our two teams unable to be separated on the pitch this season, the QPR.uk.co and Beesotted.com Internet community, have got together in order to decide for themselves who is the real West London Champions.

We need to show that shower from Brentford who are the top dogs! There is a slim chance we may not win on the pitch, but not to worry.... we still have the chance to prove we have the biggest Beer Bellies! This is the plan!

Match: West London Derby between QPR.uk.co and Beesotted.com

Venue: Raynes Park Vale FC, Grand Drive, Raynes Park, Surrey SW20.

Date: Saturday 15th June 2002

Start: 12pm for possible England (or other world cup) game at 12:30pm

Kick-off: 4pm

The cost of this game will be £4 per player.

This will include:

Hire of the pitch/entrance
Full usage of the clubhouse including extensive bar
World Cup TV game prior to the "real" match
Free BBQ after the game

To just turn up and watch, there is no charge
Food can be provided for supporters at a cost of £2 per person. Please just let us know in advance.

If there is anyone who posts on the QPR.uk.co messageboard has not added their name yet there is still time.

With rolling subs, everyone will get a fair chance to play, lets face it, some of us "lardies", wont be able to cope for 90 minutes! No matter what your ability, you must have two feet (sorry Mr.Bruce), a love for QPR FC, like BBQ's, and enjoy a drink before, during and after the game!!!

It should make for a terrific day of football, and we will be welcoming any supporters that would like to join in the day. We really would like as many QPR fans there as possible to cheer us on.

The winners of the match will receive a trophy for their efforts. All players and supporters are encouraged to leave their cars at home! It is hoped that the day will be more about the love of football between our two sets of fans than the desire to maim one another, so if you are looking for a bit of fun let us know via the QPR.uk.co message board or send an email to me (varc@ntlworld.com) and I will let you know more.

This match has attracted so much attention it even has it's own (Comedy) website, which you can find by following this link:

www.intheteam.com/alternativeqpr

Paul Varcoe, QPR Rivals team organiser

Tuesday 28th May 2002

April 2nd 2001. QPR enter administrative receivership.
May 27th 2002. The administrative order is lifted at the High Court and as Juzza said to me yesterday afternoon "Well, we've been to some places this year haven't we Trace?"

Strange, because at just before 10.30am that morning, whilst waiting for Juzza and Jon's arrivals outside the High Court along the Strand in Central London, and watching the attendance of the groups of camera crews representing the various media parties, I had thought the same thing, indeed had been having a little muse about this past year and some of the events outlined below.

  • From the original Notting Hill Gate Pub gathering.
  • To meetings with prospective bidders/buyers at various hotels/pubs/restaurants etc.
  • To appointments with the local Borough reps at the Council chambers, to a visit to the Houses of Parliament to meet with Clive Soley MP (my own personal favourite memory from this past year).
  • Public Meetings and the protest before the Swindon game.
  • Attending various Conferences.
  • Meetings with the ex owner and the QPR management, many of which included a variety of aspects ranging from arguments and fall outs, to mutual respect and amiability.

Juzza and Jon's arrivals signalled the end of my melancholy thoughts and we went off in search of the court where our case would be heard. As it had been a late application it wasn't listed in the main book and after making enquiries the chap on reception directed us on whereabouts to go. We waited around outside for only a short time before David Davies arrived along with a group of people whom we assumed to be Chris Wright's fleet of legal advisers. No sign of Chris Wright himself or of Ray Hocking.

After a short period David explained to us that we would be unable to attend the court hearing itself, due to the process being one of a 'closed camera', just as it was when we entered into administration. He did inform us though that we would be permitted to look at the lifting of the order document afterwards. Assuming all went well!

So, at 11.35am, after good luck handshakes from all, David Davies, along with the team of legal advisers, entered Court number 37. Rather than hang around outside the room, though we did attempt to sneak looks into the Court, we had a little walk around the courtyard before settling downstairs to rest our legs, during which all the time only one subject passed our lips! Before long we decided to go back upstairs to wait outside the court. We didn't have to wait long for at 12.10pm David and Co appeared through the doors of the court, he came straight over to us and informed us that all had gone well, the explanations had been made regarding the application for the order to be lifted of which the judge had permitted.

****We were out of administration****

Smiles and handshakes abound and then David explained to us that he was just awaiting the official document which he would show us as soon as he received it from the Court officials. Another short wait ensued, more QPR talk (what else?!) before David approached us with the signed documents proving that the court had consented to the lifting of the administrative order of both Loftus Road plc and QPR FC.

He then had to dash off to go and speak with the various media/press parties waiting outside. We also made our way outside and it seemed fitting that in a period of a few days which has seen plenty of rain, yesterday afternoon we stepped out into beautiful sunshine. Almost as if the sun had been waiting to shine for us. With Jon having to attend another appointment, Juzza and I decided a drink was the order of the day, and whilst tempted to go and stand behind David pulling faces at the cameras, we decided against this impulse and entered the pub opposite the court instead.

We are obviously seeking a meeting with the board asap because clarification is needed on a variety of matters including the terms, repayments and source of the loan. As well as the little matter of clarification regarding £2.5 million on sundry items according to the latest administrators accounts! Just as we eagerly await the AGM that has to be called for shareholders in order to enable the shareholders their chance of asking for the relevant facts regarding the loan and the amount of monies left for funding after all creditors have been repaid.

And we're also under no illusion of the amount of hard work that is going to be needed by both fans and club alike in the coming months.

However yesterday, after a year of trials and tribulations, was a day to enjoy and remember the good things about QPR. For it was a day when the sun shone on QPR.

Tracy Stent



Monday 27th May 2002

OUT OF ADMINISTRATION

We have just received a call from one of the committee who attended the Administration hearing, the hearing was completed at 12:15 and the Administration order has been officially lifted, more details to follow later today.

Thursday 23rd May 2002

QPR 1st seek clarification on Companies House submissions

One of the stated aims of QPR1st is to promote openness and financial accountability at the club. To this end we have looked into the figures submitted to Companies House by administrators BDO Stoy Hayward. We have summarised the figures in these returns called "Administrators Abstract of Receipts and Payments" which were submitted covering 2 six-monthly periods, 2 April 2001 to 1 October 2001 and 2 October 2001 to 1 April 2002 and we set out the results obtained here View figures

We were concerned that some of these figures required some explanation so we wrote to David Davies and the administrators on Wednesday 15th May 2002 regarding specifically:

  • The levels of income and outgoings concerning Wasps
  • The high figure of "Sundry Expenses"
  • The loans and loan repayments

The club and the administrators have failed to respond to our request for clarification and we are now considering the next steps available to us on such important issues.


Sunday 19th May 2002

QPR Re-finance completed

QPR 1st welcomes the club's emergence from administration, along with David Davies' ackowledgement of the crucial role that the fans have played in bringing QPR back from the brink. QPR1st recognises the hard work that senior management at the club have put into securing this deal, although it has more than a few qualms at the award of a life presidency to Chris Wright and considers that a full write-off of what is owed to him might have been more deserving of such an honour.

However, QPR 1st remains concerned that the details of the loan which underwrites the club's refinancing have not been released, along with an explanation of how payments will be made. David Davies has pledged that the new regime will be one of openness and transparency and QPR 1st sees the way he approaches the release of information about the club's finances as a key test of this resolve. QPR1st is also keen to discover what arrangements, if any, have been made to address small shareholders' interests, along with fan representation on the board.

In the meantime, QPR 1st aims to fulfil the role that it was sanctioned to perform when founded in April 2001. Impressed as we are with the tight ship that has been run since Rangers went into administration, we will continue to pursue the interests of our members by seeking information on the way that the club is being run financially. This means we will be asking for regular reports on QPR's financial position. We will also be canvassing our members for their views on the club's various operations and we will be lobbying the club on areas which members tell us need improving. We are already seeking a meeting with the club for this purpose.

In the meantime, QPR 1st extends its congratulations to the management of the club in having at last secured the deal and it looks forward to working towards the same goal of securing the maximum success for QPR.

Friday 10th May 2002

QPR1st seeks reassurrances

QPR1st has been in touch with the Club regarding two issues, both of which we know are deeply concerning to Rs fans at the moment.

On the subject of the refinancing of the club's debt, we have been told by David Davies that negotiations continue. He admits that they have been slow but told us that, "after a frantic four days we are confident of a beneficial conclusion".

That doesn't say much about when an agreement might be reached but, with the official website down, we at QPR1st felt that what little news we have should be passed on in time to be read before the weekend. We are, of course, continuing to press the club for further information.

The second issue is one that is only just beginning to surface on QPR websites. We at QPR1st had been told, in a meeting with David Davies and his team, that the Fulham groundshare agreement would include no permanent Fulham fixtures at Loftus Road. It was explained to us that all signs, merchandise and advertising associated with Fulham would only be put up immediately before each of their games and would removed immediately after.

Rumours have circulated recently that the areas of seats in the Ellerslie stand, which are currently given over to the Wasps logo, may be allocated to Fulham as some kind of badge or logo. We have asked the club about this and what we have heard has not been particularly reassuring. According to David Davies, "we may well end up with a block of black seats where the wasps seats
are currently". QPR 1st went back to the club asking why the wasps seats cannot be blue and the answer is down to money. The club has to change the seats, but does not want to spend the cash. QPR1st has suggested that we seek sponsors for the offending seats and will let you know the club's response.

Friday 3rd May 2002

A WASTED YEAR IN THE LIFE OF QPR

QPR fans have been through enough uncertainty. Please can David Davies and his team end this, either by signing or by telling us why they can't.

April 2001

QPR enter administration
Soon after, a proposed merger with Wimbledon is discussed between the owners of both clubs

May 2001

Lord Razzall announces a Consortium to bid for both QPR and Wasps
The shambles of a Loftus Road plc EGM takes place. Chris Wright takes both Wasps and the Twyford Avenue training ground out of the plc equation to purchase them himself.

The Lord Razzall Consortium pull out from bidding, rumoured to be because of the plc demerger.

A Brian Melzack headed Consortium confirm interest in bidding for the club
Pete Winkleman calls a meeting to discuss his plans to move us to Milton keynes with various fans in a Shepherds pub.

June 2001

Andrew Ellis reveals plans for a new superstadium for the Rs near Heathrow
A bid for the club by Richard Thompson, and a business colleague Clive Taylor, is tabled.

July 2001

Andrew Ellis enters exclusive talks with the administrators and is given a deadline of 2 weeks in order to finalise his plans.

His bid/plans subsequently fail.

August 2001

Maurice Fitzgerald, along with other unnamed interested parties, launches his original bid.

September 2001

The bid headed by Maurice Fitzgerald is put on the back burner by the administrators due to the Brian Melzack headed Consortium entering into a lock-out period.

October 2001

The lock-out period for the Brian Melzack headed Consortium is extended.

November 2001

Sporting Rangers Ltd, the company set up by the Brian Melzack Consortium, is registered at Companies House.

A document which included apparent discussions with the house building company, Wimpys, being interested in purchasing the Loftus Road Ground is leaked and becomes public knowledge. Those talks apparently took place over 2 years ago.

December 2001

News breaks of Wasps moving out and Fulham FC groundsharing at Loftus Road whilst Craven Cottage is renovated.

The Brian Melzack Consortium are unable to finalise the details of their bid and Maurice Fitzgerald launches a rescue package for the remainder of the season.

January 2002

Matthew and Alex Winton, the brothers who paid for Dou Dou's wages, and would later pay the money in order to purchase Danny, enabling them to both become QPR players, announce plans for a player purchase scheme, via a plc, which would be called Weareqpr.

Brentford FC rumours surface with news of Ron Noades being interested in purchasing the Loftus Road ground.

February 2002

Due to a complaint about player purchases whilst still being in administration, a Football League transfer embargo is placed upon the club.

The Fulham groundshare deal is announced.

March 2002

The Winton family then table a bid themselves, only for Chris Wright, after taking a call from the administrator, to turn them down at a meeting. The Wintons slam Chris Wright, and the administrators, for their show of unprofessionalism towards them.

Shortly afterwards an announcement is made about a 'financial restructure' involving David Davies, Ross Jones, Nick Blackburn and a mystery backer.

Alex Winton announces, on one of the internet messageboards, plans regarding an offer to Loftusroad plc shareholders, to swap one WAQ share for each LR share held.

April 2002

Members of the financial restructure team announce that they expect the deal to be finalised, therefore allowing us to have the administrative court order placed upon the club last April, to be lifted with "the next 10-15 days".

This deadline is then changed to April 26th, only for the team to then announce, as the time became nearer to this date, that some tax and legal issues were to be resolved and to expect an update in due course.

May 2002

One year and a month later since being placed into administration.

What the hell is going on????

 

April 2002 News