" Could this be the end of the New Championship Club? "

Queens Park Rangers News
Sky Sports

14th May 2014


Could this even be the end for QPR?

Clubs that are still within the Football League that break FFP rules can be punished with various sanctions including the deduction of points and transfer embargoes restricting further activity. However, the only means with which to provide a deterrent for those clubs promoted outside of the Football League was to fine them. There is no precedent for a club in QPR’s situation returning to the Championship and Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey even refused to rule out the prospect of QPR being kicked out of the professional game if they do not pay the fine.

With the help of Sky Sports pundit and former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, we examine the situation at QPR and look to explain why they could be facing fines in excess of £50million

So what is the overview of the situation?

“A serious fine is hanging over their heads as a result of the last time they were in the Football League,” Niall Quinn told Sky Sports. “They overspent to the tune of some £68million. They put in their books that it was only £8m or £9m and they would take a hit as owners for the other £60m, but that doesn’t wash of course. Now they have this problem that if they go back into the Football League they may have to make up for that fine and pay a £58m entry back into the Football League.”

What is the argument for fining QPR?

Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations were introduced in 2012 to “reduce the levels of losses being incurred at some clubs and, over time, establish a league of financially self-sustaining professional football clubs”. There is some leeway regarding certain losses such as investment in youth infrastructure but even though QPR’s owners are willing to write off the loans, operating losses brought about by high wages mean they could still fall foul of FFP.


How is the size of the fine decided?

Under the system voted in by the Football League, clubs in the Championship were permitted losses of £8m with £5m funded by shareholders for the 2013/14 season. Teams promoted back to the Premier League that year who exceeded those losses were subject to a fine. The next £10m of losses could be punished with a fine of up to £6.681m but the real difficulty comes after that point. Once losses exceed £18m, the fine is imposed on a strict pound-for-pound basis.




Over and out? If QPR do not pay their fine then nothing can be ruled out
Is there any defence for them?

Recently relegated clubs have used impairment as a loophole to reduce their losses and this has been accepted by the Football League, but QPR did not do this. Moreover, the rules that were applicable for the 2013/14 season have already changed and that could form part of the club’s defence. “One bright side is that the rules have changed in the meantime since they left the Football League, you can actually spend more money,” said Quinn. “Their only real argument is that when they were there it was unworkable. The rules changed in the meantime, so don’t retrospectively punish.”




What do QPR say about all this?

QPR released a statement in March saying: “The club’s shareholders and directors are of the opinion that the club is moving in the right direction and on track with its mid-term and long-term business plans. The impact of relegation and promotion inevitably has a material impact on the short-term financial results of clubs but the shareholders are comfortable that the medium-term outlook is positive with Premier League revenues growing and the club’s costs continuing to fall.”

As a matter of interest, where would the £58m go?

Don't see the sense it this really brought in to keep clubs solvent surely a fine of this size defeats the object the punishment should be a 20 point deduction at the start of the next season but that wouldn't put cash into the football league coffers

Don't see the sense it this really brought in to keep clubs solvent surely a fine of this size defeats the object the punishment should be a 20 point deduction at the start of the next season but that wouldn't put cash into the football league coffers

QPR knew the rules and openly didn't give a shit about them thinking they'd just get a slap on the wrist. Their over-spending helped them to get promoted ahead of other teams that stuck to the rules so I hope they get punished for it. Obviously don't want them to go into liquidation but would love to see them given a transfer embargo and forced to use youth players for a season at least.

All we know is that QPR are going to be in for another crap season.

f**k qpr

Don't see the sense it this really brought in to keep clubs solvent surely a fine of this size defeats the object the punishment should be a 20 point deduction at the start of the next season but that wouldn't put cash into the football league coffers

QPR knew the rules and openly didn't give a shit about them thinking they'd just get a slap on the wrist. Their over-spending helped them to get promoted ahead of other teams that stuck to the rules so I hope they get punished for it. Obviously don't want them to go into liquidation but would love to see them given a transfer embargo and forced to use youth players for a season at least.

Agree fully!

We even had our old friend 'Stan_QPR' pontificating about it at the time and somehow I have a feeling that they came back down a little faster than (only) they expected!

This 'fine' isn't new; it was sanctioned before they went up and there is no logical reason to expect them not to pay it!

Pay up or ship out, QPR!

Reading this makes me wonder how people can whinge about us cost cutting. Surely the long term future of our club is far more important than immediate success and a return to the premier league?

Not like a Malaysian to f**k up a football club.