QPR VICE-CHAIRMAN - CREDIT CRUNCH IS BITING
Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia claims the credit crunch is hampering the club's Premier League ambitions.
When Formula One supremos Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone teamed up with steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal - Bhatia's father-in-law - to buy QPR 18 months ago, the West London outfit were hailed as the richest club in the world.
Briatore said at the time that QPR would be challenging the likes of AC Milan in Europe within four years but it seems the goalposts have moved because of the global financial crisis.
QPR are currently 10th in the Championship, and have, in Paulo Sousa, their fifth manager since the takeover.
"When we got involved with the club we were last, [and] we finished 14th [at the end of the season]," said Bhatia. "That was success. We were 14th last season so if we finish seventh [one place outside the play-offs] this season we've definitely shown improvement.
"We are heading in the right direction but, just the same as any other supporter, I wish we could do better than seventh - I wish we could make the play-offs.
"We've shown progressive success and as long as we continue to do well there's no reason we shouldn't be playing Premiership football soon, and I hope that we will happen."
Bhatia explained that the downturn in the global economy has changed football, and predicts substantial problems for even the biggest clubs.
He continued: "A lot of the top clubs are sponsored by financial institutions - Manchester United and AIG, Northern Rock and Newcastle.
"And as we find ourselves in a crisis I think not only will the clubs lose sponsors, which means they'll have less money to spend, but they'll be less money spent on players.
"In other aspects, also, I think clubs have been over-leveraged in the past and that's one of the things that we came in and tried to fix at QPR. But these are tough times and the industry is definitely being affected by what's happening."
Queens Park Rangers vice-chairman Amit Bhatia claims the credit crunch is hampering the club's Premier League ambitions.
When Formula One supremos Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone teamed up with steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal - Bhatia's father-in-law - to buy QPR 18 months ago, the West London outfit were hailed as the richest club in the world.
Briatore said at the time that QPR would be challenging the likes of AC Milan in Europe within four years but it seems the goalposts have moved because of the global financial crisis.
QPR are currently 10th in the Championship, and have, in Paulo Sousa, their fifth manager since the takeover.
"When we got involved with the club we were last, [and] we finished 14th [at the end of the season]," said Bhatia. "That was success. We were 14th last season so if we finish seventh [one place outside the play-offs] this season we've definitely shown improvement.
"We are heading in the right direction but, just the same as any other supporter, I wish we could do better than seventh - I wish we could make the play-offs.
"We've shown progressive success and as long as we continue to do well there's no reason we shouldn't be playing Premiership football soon, and I hope that we will happen."
Bhatia explained that the downturn in the global economy has changed football, and predicts substantial problems for even the biggest clubs.
He continued: "A lot of the top clubs are sponsored by financial institutions - Manchester United and AIG, Northern Rock and Newcastle.
"And as we find ourselves in a crisis I think not only will the clubs lose sponsors, which means they'll have less money to spend, but they'll be less money spent on players.
"In other aspects, also, I think clubs have been over-leveraged in the past and that's one of the things that we came in and tried to fix at QPR. But these are tough times and the industry is definitely being affected by what's happening."
Labels: Amit Bhatia, Championship, Queens Park Rangers
