QPR call off Dons merger

Chris Jones13 April 2012

Queens Park Rangers today said they are abandoning merger talks with Wimbledon.

The bitterness about the suggested merger of the two clubs was evident from both sets of fans at the weekend and today QPR released the following statement: "After serious consideration and talks with supporters, the boards of Loftus Road and Queens Park Rangers have decided not to take discussions with Wimbledon Football Club regarding a possible merger, any further.

"Although the proposal had some financial and theoretical merit, the strength of feeling from supporters to maintain the QPR identity and history was overwhelming, and had it gone ahead would have alienated, perhaps irrevocably, a large section of supporters without whom the club could not survive.

"In addition, the board would like to point out that no talks are being held with Ron Noades and Brentford. Discussions, however, continue with other interested parties and the board, together with the administrators, are working hard to secure the best deal for the future of the club."

On Sunday, Wimbledon chairman Charles Koppel employed bodyguards to shadow him during the Norwich game at Selhurst Park, where Dons supporters demonstrated.

QPR owner Chris Wright was berated by angry football fans at the London Wasps's rugby match at Loftus Road, where there were heated exchanges between football and rugby fans.

QPR and Wasps are owned by Loftus Road plc, whose chairman is Wright. He wants to split the football and rugby clubs by paying £5 million for Wasps. Under the merger plan, QPR and Wimbledon would then have become one club, playing at Loftus Road and training at Wimbledon's new training ground at Raynes Park.

It was confirmed today, however, that a city consortium, fronted by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Tim Razzall, are trying to put together a rival bid. The consortium want to keep the Wasps and QPR clubs together by taking over Loftus Road plc for £12m.

They say that keeping Wasps and QPR together would avoid acrimony over the future of Rangers' Twyford Avenue training ground and they would turn the site into a state-of-the-art complex for both teams. Wright wants to buy the training ground for Wasps and points out that the rugby club sold their Sudbury ground and cash from the sale went into QPR's coffers.

There will be a special general meeting of Loftus Road plc on 16 May with two items to discuss; Wright's offers to buy Wasps and the training ground.

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