Joy for QPR - and Major Boost for the Bush
Local businesses join club in celebrating return to Premier League
Queens Park Rangers - and local businesses in Shepherd's Bush - are celebrating the team's return to the Premier League after a 15 year absence.
QPR won the Championship title last week with a win against Watford, but then had to wait for an FA hearing over the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009 which could have resulted in a number of points being deducted. The player was allegedly still the property of an Argentine company after he joined QPR.
The wait became more tense when the FA announced on Friday May 6 that its decision had been delayed. It ws expected that this decision would not be made until after the weekend, but on Saturday morning, before the team's final games against Leeds, the news came through that the club faced a fine of £875,000, but no points would be deducted.
This means that next season, the club will become Hammersmith and Fulham's third Premier League team, alongside Chelsea and Fulham.
The news led to joyful scenes at Loftus Road as the team were presented with the Championship trophy.
Manager Neil Warnock said: " We deserve to be where we are. They're a magnificent set of lads and I couldn't be prouder of them."
Local businesses in Shepherd's Bush are also joining in the celebrations. Hammersmith and Fulham Council calculates that QPR's promotion could mean a £700,000 a year windfall for businesses, particularly those on Uxbridge Road and around Shepherds Bush Green who will gain significantly from more passing trade with higher attendances at Loftus Road.
That figure does not include the extra £40million a year– from television income, higher gate receipts and increased commercial income – that the club can expect to make.
May 10, 2011
