Apologies (sort of) to Will Leitch for the use of the above headline. Over the last week, Queens Park Rangers have been mentioned in connection with possible transfers of former Superhoop Peter Crouch, Spurs’ Jermaine Jenas, Newcastle reprobate Joey Barton, Liverpool’s Joe Cole and West Ham’s Scott Parker. Considering the financial obligations that would accompany several of these veteran acquisitions, this can be considered an unusual time to start issuing refunds. For new owner Tony Fernandes (above), however, it’s never too soon to undo the massive p.r. damage caused by the gouge-happy duo of Bernie Eccelstone and Flavio Briatore. From the Independent :
QPR have cut the cost of watching Neil Warnock’s team and promised to refund part of the price of all season-tickets following the Loftus Road takeover by Tony Fernandes.
The move comes less than a week after Malaysian businessman Fernandes bought a majority stake in the club, and includes a deal which will see under-eights admitted free with a paying adult in certain parts of the stadium.
Fernandes, the founder of AirAsia and owner of the Team Lotus F1 outfit, was aware of disgruntlement among QPR supporters following the decision, announced in May, to increase ticket prices drastically after the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Vice-chairman Amit Bhatia resigned from his post in protest at the price rises in May.
In addition to the refunds, QPR have announced a decrease in some single game ticket prices and free admission to kids 8 or under when accompanied by an adult (cheap sections only). Now if Fernandes could just do something about the club’s horribly revised crest, his popularity would be assured (for awhile, anyway).