I guess the biggest news of the past few days is that David Davies will be leaving his position as Chief Executive of the club next month. Davies has led the club from relegation, through administration, and to promotion. While not always popular with the fans or, in some cases, with potential investors, he seems to have done what he could to get Holloway the tools he needed while keeping the club from overspending. From the wage structure down to things like the club shop, many things have improved during his tenure. The release on the official site says "Following a series of meetings between the Board of QPR Holdings and Chief Executive David Davies regarding the restructuring of the Club, it has been mutually agreed that Mr Davies is to leave next month." A report at Boardroomblues.co.uk says that it is rumored that Director Ross Jones and Chairman Nick Blackburn will soon follow. Davies, Jones, and Blackburn are the last of the directors appointed by Chris Wright. With the official report saying that a "restructuring of the club" is forthcoming, Boardroom Blues says, "This is likely to mean that there are plans afoot to convert the plc into a private company and / or that cost-cutting measures off the pitch are underway." In more speculation, Boardroom Blues says, "Boardroom Blues believes that behind the scenes Gianni Paladini has been trying to restructure the club since April when he bought 22% of the plc shares and installed his representative, accountant Mohammed Azeem Malik, on the board of directors. It seems probable that Paladini has now persuaded directors Kevin McGrath and Bill Power to line up with him and outvote the old guard." This, after the 22% buy-in by Paladini, looks like the second domino to fall in what will be a series of behind-the-sceens moves that will critically impact both the short and long-term future of QPR. More on the story from the Hammersmith Times can be found here. That article is highly recommended. It details the rise and fall of the Davies-Jones-Blackburn "gang of three" and ends by saying "With the combined shareholding of Paldini, Power and McGrath totalling over 40 per cent, and Paladini retaining the option of increasing his personal stake from 22 to 51 per cent, the balance of power had shifted and Davies was the first to fall on his sword. In effect, a new gang of three has emerged."
Also, another report indicates that a press conference has been called for next Monday, June 28th, so news of more changes seems likely to be forthcoming then. Until then... the fixture list is to be released tomorrow!
WOW. Blackburn and Jones have stepped down and Bill Power has been named Chairman of the club! Kevin McGrath is acting chairman of the PLC until the upcoming annual general meeting. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~534783,00.html Did I mention WOW?
I haven't been able to figure out if all this is good news or bad news. My gut tells me that it is not good. But of course, only time will tell.
I've got hope it's good. I've only heard good things about Bill Power. The one time I met him, he was great. I'll really be pulling for him and the new leadership, that's for sure. I guess the main question is, with Bill Power in charge, do we "re-sign" ol' number 40, Andrew Power.
The club has now brought in Mark Devlin as Chief Executive. He's held the same position at Swindon Town the past two seasons, after serving as Commercial & Marketing Director at QPR. He's a QPR fan and former season ticket holder and has led Swindon Town out of administration and into the play-offs last year. http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~536556,00.html