Flavio Slams Exit Talk

Flavio Briatore has poured scorn on suggestions that he is on the verge of leaving Queens Park Rangers.

Speaking to Oliver Holt from the Daily Mirror the R's co-owner once again revealed that Rangers would be in a very different situation without his investment and he hasn't lost his enthusiasm for the role.

'Nobody wants to sell the club,' he said.

'Everybody wants to keep going and we are looking for the play-offs. We need enthusiasm, we need to believe it and I believe we have the players to do it. I am 100% committed to the club for the long term.

'Don't forget, QPR now have the kind of players they couldn't have dreamed of having before.

'Don't forget, too, that without us, QPR would have gone bankrupt. We have improved the stadium and we are doing the best for the club.

'We have to take it step by step. I believe we have the talent and the players to get into the play-offs. Mick will stay in charge until the end of the season.'

Briatore also pointed out that despite the growing managerial casualty list at Loftus Road, he only sacked one man - Iain Dowie, for reasons he didn't divulge in the interview.

He also revealed that he backed under-fire manager Jim Magilton after his reported fracas with the players, but he was in a distinct minority at the club.

The managerial departures have earned him some stern criticism from supporters of not only QPR but also football - he was quick to hit back and defend his position with another ill-advised comment.

'People forget very quickly what I did for this club. Some fans, because they pay £20, they want to criticise.

'It's very easy for me to walk away. I don't have any problem with that. We want to keep the club but somebody needs to remember QPR three years ago and look at it now. Some people are jealous.

'There's a lot of jealousy.'

The comments made to the media may not go too far in terms of building bridges between the hierarchy and support - once again rattling out his £20 line.

An apt comment if ever there was one, with vast sections of support disgruntled by having to pay well in excess of the throwaway £20 figure.

That quote has been used before, and whether or not it was used in this interview or just rehashed is something that should be investigated.

In a club of growing uncertainty it seems one thing can be made clear - Flavio Briatore is here at least until the end of the season.




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