League ready to back merger

A statement from Loftus Road PLC, the parent company who own Rangers, added: "It is true that we are in very early stage discussions with Wimbledon about a possible merger.

"It is not helpful that the news has leaked as we were intent on exploring the opportunity in a controlled and sensible manner which included sending a letter to all season ticket holders, club members and shareholders asking them their opinion.

"The talks with Wimbledon will only continue if there is a general approval from our supporter base.

"Our initial view is that in the current financial environment the idea would have merit."

And QPR chief executive David Davies said: "There will always be people who will not want to see us change but I would suspect that if the majority of our supporters did not want us to merge then I don't think it would take place."

Speculation that Brentford could also become involved was dismissed by chairman Ron Noades today. He said: "We are not interested in any merger with or takeover of QPR. We were in talks with QPR about a possible ground share at Loftus Road but those cannot proceed while QPR are in administration. If QPR and Wimbledon merge we would be interested to talk to them about a possible ground share if we do manage to move to a new home ourselves."

Negotiations about the merger are well advanced. They have involved QPR owner Chris Wright and Wimbledon owner Bjorn Gjelsten and the plan is for the new, joint club to kick of next season.

The new club would play at Loftus Road, the QPR ground, but the League would have to decide in which division the club would play. QPR are due to start next season in the Second Division and Wimbledon are in the First.

On the Wimbledon website discussion forum, one fan said today: "What right have Chris Wright and Bjorn Gjelsten got to say that we are to merge? They may own the clubs on paper, but the fans are the ones who support their team through rain and shine from the Premier to the third division and lower."

Libby Magrill, spokeswoman for QPR 1st, the QPR Supporters' Trust, declare: "This could open the floodgates and kill off many of our clubs. QPR and Wimbledon's fight is every football fan's fight."

Although, Wright, the multi-millionaire founder of the Chrysalis media empire, wants to sell his controlling interest in QPR, he remains an ardent supporter of the club and does not want to go down in history as the man who killed them off. So he is thought to be insisting that what ever the new club are called, the name starts with some reference to Rangers.

Gjelsten, the head of a Scandinavian business conglomerate, argues that since Wimbledon are not crippled by debt, they are putting more into the deal than QPR and that should be reflected in the name.

QPR are in administration with debts of about £8m. Wimbledon have no home ground of their own, are tenants at Crystal Palace's ground, Selhurst Park, and have been playing in front of tiny crowds this season.

With such a small fan-base they have the opportunity to build a commercial income sufficient to sustain life in the Premiership, should they ever get back there.

But, despite their limited resources, Wimbledon have committed funds to building a new training centre.

Queens Park Rangers could soon be without a training ground. Their parent company recently bought the former British Gas sports ground site in Acton. But Wright, who is still chairman and owner of Wasps rugby club, wants the site to belong to the rugby club.

QPR must find new investment. Wright is helping to bankroll the payment of staff until the end of the season but the future of 22 players whose contracts run out in the summer depends on whether QPR secure a new owner.

Wimbledon's future has been in doubt since the club left their natural home at Plough Lane 10 years ago.

While they were owned by Sam Hammam, Wimbledon seriously entertained the notion of playing in Dublin and Milton Keynes.

Wimbledon also considered a merger with Palace in May 1999 but that notion was scuppered because it would have cost Wimbledon their Premiership status.