from the Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle 29 July 2004

by Paul Warburton

Rangers' behind-the-scenes supremo Gianni Paladini has called on former owner Chris Wright to do the honourable thing and give his 20 per cent shareholding back to the Hoops for free.

The club AGM on Wednesday is set to show that the R's lost around £4m for the financial year ending 2003. QPR continue to haemorrhage money at a rate of knots which is likely to show a further £2m was overspent last season as well.

Wright, who took over the club in 1996 but left in 2002, wants 5.5p per share for his remaining QPR stake.

Paladini said: "If he (Wright) loves the club as he has said, he should give the shares back.

"It would be the only honourable thing to do after the time he was in charge here has left the club in a precarious position. It seems unreasonable he now wants to make another £1m out of a club when the club has been losing money big time for years."

Paladini has masterminded the 28.9 per cent sale of new shares to a Monaco-based company, but denied it involved the Rainier royal family with a leading hand played by Prince Albert.

Paladini said: "I've known football people for 30 years, and although Prince Albert knew what I was trying to do, these investors remember all the good times at QPR going back to the time we nearly won the league in 1976.

"It would be wrong to say who they are right now, but they have the club at heart and the money will help us get through this season."