Troubles for Rangers?

Since Flavio Briatore bought Queens Park Rangers, everyone knew that Formula One world will intervene with the destiny of this famous football club from London. Lately it seems that this connection might be crucial for popular Hoops’ future. Actually, Briatore resigned to the post of Renault Formula One boss after the accusations of fixing last year’s race for Singapore Grand Prix. The FIA banned him for life from Motor Sports, and said to exclude any team or driver associated with this Italian.

The problem in this situation are the regulations of Football League in English lower ranks. The regulations say that the owner or co-owner of a football club cannot be any man who has been banned by any other sports association. It remains to be seen how Football League officials will react but there will definitely be some consequences felt in QPR locker-room and on the pitch.

Ever since Briatore took QPR over in 2007, happy fans from Loftus Road gave him as much time as he needed to stabilize the club with never-ending investments. He started with rebuilding the stadium, signing good but not too “strong” Championship players and slowly climbing up the standings (from the bottom to the midtable). Last season it was definitely obvious that something isn’t working, as no quality signings were brought and Briatore meddled too much in manager’s job and kept on sacking the coaches. Ian Dowie, Gareth Ainsworth, Paulo Sousa and finally present QPR boss, Jim Magilton are four names that have been leading the club in the last year. It is hard to be the puppet in owners’ hands, while once again the club failed to bring quality signings. All predictions bode QPR a midtable spot again, as they are still miles away from the top, relying too much on loans (especially on young Italians and Spaniards).

While Magilton denies the current situation with their owners has any effect on the players, it is hard to believe that Briatore and two of his wealthy friends and co-owners (another F1 magnate, Bernie Ecclestone and Indian “Steel king” Lakshmi Mittal) will focus on the future of the club. Anything can happen; the club might even get a new owner. Until then the Hoops will try not to disappoint the fans, lingering in the safe midtable zone.

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