League may probe Blitz loan

10 July 2007

By Ben Kosky

QPR are confident they will face no action when the Football League meets tomorrow to discuss their controversial loan from Simon Blitz.

Rangers are in the process of repaying the £500,000 they received from Blitz, the Oldham Athletic chairman, as part of his proposed investment in the club earlier this summer.

A national newspaper report claimed last weekend that the Rs could be deducted points or even relegated if the League's board decides that a breach of their rules took place.

QPR have strongly denied that, as the newspaper claimed, their cheque to Blitz 'bounced' - and have also stressed that their dealings have always been with Blitz as an individual, never with Oldham.

A Loftus Road insider told the Times: "We were surprised by the story. We haven't been asked to attend the Football League meeting or told there is anything we need to reply to.

"The loan will be repaid in full. The club has contacted both the FA and Football League and they have confirmed they are not taking any action."

Football League spokesman Jon Nagle stated: "To our knowledge, at this point in time, the monies have not been paid. The matter will be discussed by the League board at their monthly meeting on Thursday."

Rangers accepted Blitz's money as part of their attempts to refinance the crippling ABC loan, but agreed to return it after learning that the FA had not authorised the arrangement.

Meanwhile, QPR are hopeful of adding a new goalkeeper to the squad ahead of their first pre-season friendly, against Scottish Double winners Celtic on Sunday (2pm).

Rangers have only one keeper with first team experience on their books - Jake Cole - after releasing Paul Jones and Simon Royce at the end of last season.

Striker Danny Nardiello and defensive pair Chris Barker and John Curtis will all make their QPR debuts against the Glasgow side, who are expected to include the likes of Japanese star Shunsuki Nakamura and Dutch hitman Jan Venegoor of Hesselink.

But Rangers may have to readjust the rest of their pre-season schedule after Shrewsbury pulled out of their planned friendly.

John Gregory's side had been due to visit Shrewsbury on July 31, but the League Two side have cancelled after arranging to play Manchester City the following night.

Gregory completed the overhaul of his backroom staff last week with the appointment of former Chelsea and Holland goalkeeper Ed de Goey as a coach.