Tony Fernandes Exclusive Interview

[Kirill]

Agreed, but Kirill needs something to vent about. He's gradually finding fewer and fewer different things to complain about...

That is so true. After all, we have survived in the Premier League, the training complex is being built at last, and our stadium plans have finally been approved.

[hal9thou]

That is so true. After all, we have survived in the Premier League, the training complex is being built at last, and our stadium plans have finally been approved.

Sure, but the weird thing is that the training complex and stadium make no difference at all to what actually matters, out there on the park. A lot of Rs fans couldn't give a shitabout either. Plenty of great sides have had training facilities no better than the ones currently in situ. The only thing that matters to me is being able to watch a side that can play a bit of football and put in a shift. There hasn't been too much evidence of either, but let's just see how we go.

I have been very critical of TF but the truth is there are signs of stability on and off the park.

[Kirill]

The only thing that matters to me is being able to watch a side that can play a bit of football and put in a shift.

No matter what division we are in?

[hal9thou]

No matter what division we are in?

I think if we can achieve stability at this level - and clearly there are signs of that - I'd take it on the basis outlined above.

They were in the old Div 3 when I started and to be honest most of the the eighty years up to then were characterised by total mediocrity. Then we started playing football which eventually took us as close as you can get to the summit. Then we had a bit of stop and start, and more recently we stopped again. What I'm saying is, in my time QPR have always benefitted when there has been a footballing culture. I really want that back again, maybe JFH can engender it, maybe he's still learning. But right now feels like stability compared to recent seasons, and stability is what you need to start playing again the way successful Rs teams always have ie #onthefvckingfloor

[Kevin Mcleod]

No matter what division we are in?

So we are 11th in the table now and getting better every week as the manager starts to implement his style but you are still going on about going down the divisions.
Where in truth, if we win four or five more games next season instead of drawing them we will be in the play off spots at the end of the season.

[Hove Ranger]

So we are 11th in the table now and getting better every week as the manager starts to implement his style but you are still going on about going down the divisions.
Where in truth, if we win four or five more games next season instead of drawing them we will be in the play off spots at the end of the season.

If he doesnt hold onto relegation then it will look like he's backtracking on the bet.

[Kirill]

...it will look like he's backtracking on the bet.

Don't worry, I won't.
I never backtrack on anything

[Fraggy]

I think if we can achieve stability at this level - and clearly there are signs of that - I'd take it on the basis outlined above.

They were in the old Div 3 when I started and to be honest most of the the eighty years up to then were characterised by total mediocrity. Then we started playing football which eventually took us as close as you can get to the summit. Then we had a bit of stop and start, and more recently we stopped again. What I'm saying is, in my time QPR have always benefitted when there has been a footballing culture. I really want that back again, maybe JFH can engender it, maybe he's still learning. But right now feels like stability compared to recent seasons, and stability is what you need to start playing again the way successful Rs teams always have ie #onthefvckingfloor

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Well said

[hh9]

I for one actually would like to have a new stadium - almost everything is out of date at LR

[nasser95]

I for one actually would like to have a new stadium - almost everything is out of date at LR

I love LR and whenever I bring new people to the stadium, they love the fact that you're so close to the pitch, but we do need a new stadium desperately. People complain about ticket prices, a new stadium will reduce them. People complain about the facilities at the club, a new stadium will improve that. There are so many more benefits to a new stadium, especially in our case that pushing through with the concept is something I think we need to do to develop as a football club.

[hal9thou]

I love LR and whenever I bring new people to the stadium, they love the fact that you're so close to the pitch, but we do need a new stadium desperately. People complain about ticket prices, a new stadium will reduce them.

First things first Naz. Some stability on and off the park is absolutely the key issue.

Beyond that, ask yourself what our average home attendance is before ordering a new stadium, bearing in mind that for smaller clubs media rights are a far more important source of income than bumsonseats - particularly in the EPL, which apparently is still our goal. And even in the prem, we are still a small club. Plus it is by no means axiomatic that a new stadium = lower ticket prices.... although WHU should be doing that given the level of taxpayer involvement ;)

I just want us to keep it real at the moment, a lot of our recent trauma comes from ludicrous aspirations.

[SpongeParr]

I love LR and whenever I bring new people to the stadium, they love the fact that you're so close to the pitch, but we do need a new stadium desperately. People complain about ticket prices, a new stadium will reduce them. People complain about the facilities at the club, a new stadium will improve that. There are so many more benefits to a new stadium, especially in our case that pushing through with the concept is something I think we need to do to develop as a football club.

From what we hear, the stadium will be based around LR but just on a bigger scale - close to pitch, steep stands, proper acoustics. I am excited about the new stadium, even though it will take years.

[hh9]

But with our current stadium we will always be a small club there should be no arguments about that.
Even bigger clubs get bigger with bigger stadiums just look at Arsenal, ManU and ManC
And remember our neighbours are planning a new stadium - I am worried that young people in West London would rather sit there than at crummy LR - so we will just become even smaller club

[nasser95]

First things first Naz. Some stability on and off the park is absolutely the key issue.

Beyond that, ask yourself what our average home attendance is before ordering a new stadium, bearing in mind that for smaller clubs media rights are a far more important source of income than bumsonseats - particularly in the EPL, which apparently is still our goal. And even in the prem, we are still a small club. Plus it is by no means axiomatic that a new stadium = lower ticket prices.... although WHU should be doing that given the level of taxpayer involvement ;)

I just want us to keep it real at the moment, a lot of our recent trauma comes from ludicrous aspirations.

The statement has been made in this interview that new stadium = cheaper tickets. This is what we are made aware of very specifically in this interview and I will take that for what it is. A stadium of our size is not sustainable in the long run for numerous reasons such as poor Corporate hospitality, poor facilities, limited interest in naming rights (which are a very big source of income). The aspiration for a new stadium in my opinion should not be something we consider ludicrous.

[Hove Ranger]

First things first Naz. Some stability on and off the park is absolutely the key issue.

Beyond that, ask yourself what our average home attendance is before ordering a new stadium, bearing in mind that for smaller clubs media rights are a far more important source of income than bumsonseats - particularly in the EPL, which apparently is still our goal. And even in the prem, we are still a small club. Plus it is by no means axiomatic that a new stadium = lower ticket prices.... although WHU should be doing that given the level of taxpayer involvement ;)

I just want us to keep it real at the moment, a lot of our recent trauma comes from ludicrous aspirations.

The reduction of ticket prices is forecast against the increase in corporate hospitality money. TF said it in his latest interview