QPR owners here for the long-haul, says chief executive Philip Beard
QPR chief executive Philip Beard says the club's owners are committed to improving the Hoops in the long-term
Queens Park Rangers chief executive Philip Beard has assured the club’s concerned supporters that the current owners are in it for the long-haul.
The west London side made four signings during the January transfer window in a bid to help the Hoops move off the foot of the Premier League table.
Congolese defender Chris Samba was snapped up for £12.5m from Anzhi Makhachkala on deadline day, with the centre-half reported to be earning £100,000-a-week.
However, Beard rubbished the defender’s speculated wages and insisted the owners, led by majority shareholder Tony Fernandes, are focused on cementing QPR’s future – even if disaster should strike in May.
“We have got wonderful owners. Tony [Fernandes] has been at the forefront of it, but we have got three other fantastic owners in Din [Kamarudin Bin Meranun], Ruben [Emir Gnanalingam] and Amit Bhatia,” Beard told QPR’s website.
“We are in it for the long-term. We have got short, medium and long-term ambitions. This is a tough, tough season for us but whatever happens we are focused on what we have to do over the long-term.”
He added: “I can reassure QPR fans that we have owners who are very successful businessmen and very sensible in business.
“Recent reports regarding what money our players are on are completely wide of the mark. Chris Samba was keen to come back to England, this is where his family are.
“He is not on anything like has been suggested. Even if we win trophies, with all sorts of different bonuses, he would not get anywhere close to the money that has been reported.
“We are in the middle of a tough season and there are no guarantees about what’s going to happen but Chris was keen to come back to the UK.
“We have a vision here about what we are looking to achieve and hopefully over the next three or four years Chris will help us to get there.”
