QPR Are Evaluating Three Potential Sites for a New Stadium

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes has revealed the club are evaluating three potential sites for a new stadium. The Malaysian businessman completed his takeover at Loftus Road less than a year ago and had been quick to try and bring both the playing squad and facilities up to Premier League standard.

The R’s have already announced plans to move to a state-of-the-art training ground next summer and have now turned their attention to finding a plot for a new stadium. “We’re working this week (on the stadium).” Fernandes told Press Association Sport. “I am getting a full report on one of the pieces of ground. I think we have three potential choices and we are going to evaluate it and then take it to the shareholders.”

“It has actually not even been a year that we have owned this club and I am very pleased with the kind of progress we have made in one year. If we can continue at this kind of pace, then things should look good at QPR.”

As well as new facilities, things are looking promising for the Hoops on the field as they look to push on from last season, where they narrowly avoided relegation on the last day of the season. Ryan Nelsen, Andrew Johnson, Robert Green, Samba Diakite and Fabio da Silva have already joined the West Londoners this summer and more additions are likely before the end of the window.

“We have a great manager (in Mark Hughes) and we have made some good signings already in a very quick period,” Fernandes said. “We have a bit more work to do, but things are moving in the right direction. We’re rebuilding so obviously (we’re active). There may be three or four more, we’ll have to wait and see. I am guessing though.”

“The target was to try and do as much business (as we could) before pre-season so that Mark would have as much time as possible to work on the team. We’re pushing hard. We’ve given some players deadlines to say ‘if you want to come to us, you may have to come to us now’, so let’s see.”

Fernandes labelled QPR a “fantastic diamond” when he arrived at the club last August and pledged to help it reach its “limitless” potential over the coming years. The Malaysian businessman still predicts a bright future lies ahead but stopped short of setting specific targets. “I am not one for predictions but you’re in sport to win,” he said. “No-one likes coming second and we want to be a good club. We want to win.”

“But these things take time and I am the last person who is going to make predictions as I have the least involvement in it. I can put the infrastructure in place and put the right people in so now it’s up to Mark. We’re as ambitious as anyone, but I think it is silly to make predictions.”

“We will just do our best and try and give Mark the best facilities and best players and we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Simon Peach – The Independent