Amit Bhatia, the vice-chairman of QPR, had admitted that the Mittals would prefer to be sole owners of the club in an interview with the Financial Times. However, the Mittals and new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes are getting along fine, despite a minor difference of opinion aired on Twitter about whether to sign David Beckham.
Amit Bhatia, the vice-chairman of QPR, had admitted that the Mittals would prefer to be sole owners of the club in an interview with the Financial Times. However, the Mittals and new majority shareholder Tony Fernandes are getting along fine, despite a minor difference of opinion aired on Twitter about whether to sign David Beckham.
Mr Bhatia emphasised the need for QPR to remain ‘financially prudent’ and said that it has an external debt of £5m and loans funded by the shareholders. The non-playing staff are on incentives based on the money they save the club.
For all its atmosphere, Loftus Road is not an ideal ground for a club with aspirations to stay in the Premiership for the long run. New chief executive Phil Beard, formerly at the O2, is expected to work on QPR’s ambition to move in the long term to a new multi-purpose stadium. A site at White City has been identified.
Lakshi Mittal came close to ditching his one-third stake in the club over the summer. Boardroom battles with his then F1 colleagues caused Mr Mittal to question whether his family’s investment in the financial madhouse of football was worth it. But Mr Bhatia insisted that fop the Mittals, QPR is not a trophy asset, but a ‘passion project’.