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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
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