DAVID THORNE NO-SHOW
From the Hammersmith Times 5 November 2003
QPR were dealt another financial blow this week when Aussie millionaire David
Thorne failed to turn up in England for talks with Rangers Chief Executive
David Davies.
And although Davies has insisted that Thorne is still interested in investing
in the cash-strapped club, any chance of the Aussie handing over some cash in
the near future must be almost non-existent.
Thorne was due to arrive in Britain for last week's clash against Manchester
City, but failed to show and also missed the trip to Stockport County on
Saturday.
A worried Davies said this week: "The reason he has given us for not coming is
that he has just taken on new business commitments and a new franchise.
"He has told me that he is still interested, but he hasn't said when he might
be over here for talks, so I would be lying if I said that I wasn't
apprehensive about the situation."
Thorne's no-show puts the pressure right back on Davies and the rest of the
QPR board. The Aussie, although likely only to be a relatively small investor,
would give them valuable breathing space and also more options as they attempt
to secure the future of the club on a long-term basis.
"The situation is very tough at the moment," confessed Davies. "We are talking
to two or three people, but it is fair to say that they are weeks away rather
than days.
"David Thorne was an important man for us because he is a smaller investor
compared to the big boys we have been talking to, but obviously his trip here
has now been delayed on a couple of occasions.
"I don't know what his next move will be, I wouldn't like to second guess
him."
Time is running out for Rangers in the financial stakes. The board have
already confirmed that they cannot see out the season without further
investment, and although the cup tie against Manchester City has kept the wolf
from the door for the next few weeks, the club still need to swell the coffers
further.
"If we have another cup run, then we won't have any problems until the new
year, but it is difficult to put any time frame on things," said Davies.
"I really don't think it is going to get to that point. We have a lot of
people interested and hopefully we can sort something out soon."