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THE Football League have cleared the way for Wimbledon to take over Queens
Park Rangers, possibly in time for next season. The League said yesterday
they would give "favourable consideration" to a takeover but that
the clubs would have to move "quicker than Maurice Greene" to
be ready by August.
Talks between the clubs have been going on for weeks and the League were
officially informed yesterday. However, the League board said they would
look at the implications of any merger, particularly for the League competition
and supporters of both clubs. The board are to seek legal advice on the
matter.
The proposed take-over would give Wimbledon, who share Selhurst Park with
Crystal Palace, a better stadium, at Loftus Road, where they would not be
tenants and take them closer to their spiritual home of Merton. For Queens
Park Rangers, it would be a way out of their financial crisis, though at
the expense of their individual identity.
If the deal goes through it would be the first amalgamation of two League
clubs in modern times. Previous takeovers or mergers have broken down because
of fan-power and last night supporters of Wimbledon and QPR were united
in their opposition to a link-up.
Rangers fans are hoping a buyer can be found for the club just relegated
to the Second Division and £9 million in debt. A consortium are scheduled
to announce today details of their bid to rescue QPR, who are in administration
and whose chairman Chris Wright stepped down this season after abuse from
supporters.
Nick Blackburn, Rangers' acting chairman, made a verbal proposal to the
League's board yesterday and was told to return with formal written details.
While a takeover could go through in time for next season, a complication
is caused by the fact work on the fixtures for 2001/2 begins on May 28.
The League's annual general meeting on June 16 would need to ratify the
takeover and insiders cannot see how it could be completed in time with
the backlash from fans groups evident.
Should an agreement be reached quickly, the losers in the Third Division
play-off final could effectively replace QPR in the Second Division. To
keep the League up to 72 clubs, the team finishing bottom of Division Three
may not be relegated.
Wimbledon and QPR plan to meet fans to gauge their views on Sunday, the
final day of the regular season.
Charles Koppel, the Wimbledon chairman, said: "It is an opportunity
to do something that would meet both clubs' requirements. We will talk to
fans and if it is felt it is not the right thing to do we will take another
route."
A statement by the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association said: "We
unequivocally oppose the merger of two separate identities, families and
histories."
Libby Magrill, of QPR 1st, the supporters trust, said: "Proposed mergers
with Brentford in 1967 and Fulham in 1987 were successfully opposed by the
fans and any move to merge QPR with Wimbledon will be opposed by every possible
means."
No details of the name or colours for the proposed new west London club,
who would be the manager or what would happen to the players have been discussed.
However, it is understood QPR will release around 20 players in the coming
weeks and no one whose contract expires in June will have it renewed.
Ron Noades, the former Crystal Palace chairman, who owns Selhurst Park,
said Wimbledon must give 12 months' notice to quit the ground.
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