Chris King on the refund that came in the form of vouchers, and the Premiership fixture list with a sting in the tail.

Queens Park Rangers supporters have, quite rightly, been stuck in a state of suspended optimism recently, barely flinching as opportunities were missed against Newcastle United and Aston Villa, and turning a blind eye to the horrendous defeat away to Fulham.

Tony Fernandes’ arrival and the return of Amit Bhatia have seen the reputation of the board soar to new, unparalleled heights which is entirely understandable given the egregious reputations and shocking mismanagement of previous regimes.

Fans are rightly excited as well, that players such as Joey Barton, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Luke Young and Armand Traore are wearing the blue and white hoops, drastically increasing the club’s hopes of staying in the Premier League.

However, in a sudden twist on the manner in which supporters were so willing to speak out against the Briatore and Ecclestone reign of terror, Rangers fans seem to have renounced their right to protest, and are ignoring one or two facts in the face of blind optimism which is yet to be properly justified by performances on the pitch.

The recent ‘refund’ issued to QPR season ticket holders, who were unarguably ripped off by the previous owners, is a case in point. This ought to have provoked outrage, but instead it has been greeted by silence, or at the most stifled mutterings.

Amidst all the grand promises, and Fernandes’ attempts to atone for the errors and sinful exploitation of the supporters which characterised Gianni Paladini, Briatore and Ecclestone’s time in charge, the failure of any actual refund to emerge has gone almost entirely under the radar.

Supporters are being given a choice, admittedly, and the owners had no obligation whatsoever to offer any refund to those who shelled out upwards of £750 to watch their team. However, if you promise a refund, then a refund you must offer, not a slightly dodgy deal whereby no money actually returns to the fans’ pockets, already perilously empty.

Some will be delighted to know that they have the choice to spend £50 on an away trip, many of which are hugely appealing given the R’s Premier League status, or merchandise from the club shop – particularly replica shirts – which are finally ready after the shocking summer delays to securing shirt sponsorship.

Personally, however, this gesture is easy to see through, and supporters still willing to acknowledge that the new regime isn’t infallible will point out that Fernandes and Bhatia have, at the very least, unintentionally misled fans with their promise of a rebate. Also, the fact that the refund must be put to use this year, not at any point during this season, smacks of promising the earth and producing an area roughly the size of Milton Keynes.

The options of supporters are deliberately being limited, and it seems that the underhand tactics of previous administrations at Loftus Road have returned to some extent, albeit in a far less extreme form than under Briatore, Ecclestone and Paladini. The most sensible option would have been to be upfront and honest with fans about exactly what sort of rebate they could expect to receive in financial terms, when they would be issued with this refund, and exactly the form it would take.

Instead, and this may be the fault of QPR diehards like myself who expected so much from this glorious new ownership structure, we have been misled and slightly let down, and probably should have taken Fernandes’ words with a pinch of salt. Offering money off next year’s season ticket would have also been eminently sensible, and is surely far more logical than what has been provided. This would ensure the extended loyalty of fans, particularly if the club were to suffer relegation, and would mean that the club still wouldn’t lose out on revenue.

In addition to this, the refunds are not scaled to the total cost of season tickets, meaning that those who paid the most are being given a similar ‘gift voucher’ to those who spent the least, which is tantamount to a tax rate which charges Simon Cowell and Jamie the paper boy the same amount per year.

I don’t deal in excessive pessimism, despite what certain visitors to this site might believe, and I am still of the opinion that we can stay up as there are teams in this league worse than the R’s. However, with QPR’s past two results a 6-0 defeat to Fulham and 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, Neil Warnock’s side really haven’t taken advantage of two theoretically easy ties against teams that were both in the bottom three when we played them.

The final note of caution I will offer is this; with Chelsea and Manchester City to face at home, and away trips to in-form Tottenham Hotspur, Stoke City, where only a handful of sides secure victory, and Norwich City, long a bogey ground for Rangers, it would be optimistic indeed to expect any more than two or three points from a possible 15.

This isn’t, although most won’t believe me, what I’m hoping for in order to write negative, pessimistic articles and garner excessive criticism. If Warnock manages to keep the players positive and upbeat through this most difficult of runs, and we avoid any collapses in the manner of Fulham away, West Bromwich Albion on December 3 could well be our first victory of the season at home.

Anything before or indeed after then is a bonus, with Rangers facing trips to Liverpool and Manchester United after the Baggies’ visit to W12.

LoftforWords is constantly on the lookout for guest columnists. Be you a journalist (budding or long suffering) or just a supporter with a memory to recall or something to get off their chest about Rangers or football in general e-mail loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk.

Tweet @chriskking, @loftforwords

Photo: Action Images

Northernr added 20:42 - Oct 18 My personal opinion on the refund is... The new owners were not forced to offer us anything. It would have been very easy for them to wash their hands of the ticket prices, blame the previous regime and promise to rectify it next season. That would have been the easiest thing for them to do. They made an error in using the term "substantial refund" without going into the intricacies of what that would entail because it left me, like many others, expecting some cash. I'm not disappointed I haven't received any, although as an away season ticket holder (who therefore can't spend the vouchers on away tickets) I'm now left with £100 vouchers (two season tickets) that I can only spend in the club shop or donate. I'll go for some DVDs and books and donate the rest I think. A more sensible, easier and better option may have been to promise all existing season ticket holders £100 off whatever next year's cost. As for the scary forthcoming fixtures - we have 14 games this season against Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Stoke. We shall not lose all 14 games.

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BazWoT added 20:52 - Oct 18 When was this announced as I clearly missed it. I thought Amit said it would take this sort of form a while back, even commending a number of fans for donating any windfall yo the community scheme. That's the best way to get the refund in my opinion, just ask for proof that the money has indeed gone to the scheme. means they have to do something a tad more difficult. I never thought dosh would be forthcoming but the idea of a discount on next season would be a good one.

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lifer added 23:17 - Oct 18 Like the guest columnist, I was labouring under the misapprehension that I'd be receiving a cash refund against some of the cost of my season ticket. I even thought, somewhat daftly, that if I turned up at the box office with my season ticket, my £50 worth of vouchers would be swapped for cash! I was told that the only option I had apart from spending the vouchers or donating them was that I could give up my season ticket and get a full refund, which of course I didn't want to do, and I assume no one else did either. I realise the new regime didn't have to make any appeasement to the fans, but having made such a big deal of the this much-vaunted refund, I would have thought they might have been a bit more generous. It does smack rather of a political PR move. It certainly worked, and must have helped to get a lot of disgruntled supporters onside. The fact that the vouchers have to spent by the New Year is a rather unnecessary little extra. I think a discount off next year's season tickets for all of this year's holders would have been a far better idea. Still, as me old granny used to say, 'who are you?'

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lifer added 23:17 - Oct 18 Like the guest columnist, I was labouring under the misapprehension that I'd be receiving a cash refund against some of the cost of my season ticket. I even thought, somewhat daftly, that if I turned up at the box office with my season ticket, my £50 worth of vouchers would be swapped for cash! I was told that the only option I had apart from spending the vouchers or donating them was that I could give up my season ticket and get a full refund, which of course I didn't want to do, and I assume no one else did either. I realise the new regime didn't have to make any appeasement to the fans, but having made such a big deal of the this much-vaunted refund, I would have thought they might have been a bit more generous. It does smack rather of a political PR move. It certainly worked, and must have helped to get a lot of disgruntled supporters onside. The fact that the vouchers have to spent by the New Year is a rather unnecessary little extra. I think a discount off next year's season tickets for all of this year's holders would have been a far better idea. Still, as me old granny used to say, 'who are you?'

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Spaghetti_Hoops added 23:27 - Oct 18 There was no doubt about the refund when it was splashed over all the newspapers on 24th August - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/aug/24/qpr-season-ticket-refund-prices You would need a selective memory or have been on another planet for a while to believe anything other than a cash refund was what Fernandes was boasting about at the time. I understand the practical complications of delivering on that promise, but in deciding to reduce match-day prices for medium/long term business reasons, they could not ignore season ticket holders or delay a 'refund' without getting huge criticism from their core customers. So the idea that they didn't have to do anything is firmly knocked on the head. Once they decided their business model was to try to fill the ground charging reduced ticket prices they did have to do something for season ticket holders this season. My back of the envelope calculation is that a 10% cash refund would have cost the club £600,000 plus substantial admin costs. The voucher scheme will I believe cost the club a net £200,000 - £250,000 and lower admin costs. Say £400,000 worth of vouchers sent out. 60% used in the club shop where the net cost after profit would amount to £120,000, 10% donated net cost £40,000, 20% away tickets net cost £80,000 and 10% unredeemed vouchers cost £nil. In the grand scheme of things this is not a massive deal. The club have saved themselves some money. What matters more to me is whether the new owners of the club are as good as their word and respect the fan's ability to tell when they are being led up the garden. On this evidence - No

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Fan123 added 02:19 - Oct 19 There are reason why fans are quite, QPR is in good hand for long run. Our CEO represent Air Asia, he will do anything to maintain good reputation and it would be a big mistake for him to do anything less. Again you brought up Paladini & co, you should have followed them. There are ways to handle finance, he choose to be shrewd. How wrong that can be? Finance circle term 'cash' as 'liquid' at such degree if not enough care as of being shrewd it will 'evaporate' in matter of seconds. Refund of last purchase was put into 'float' and will go back to club treasury upon redeem of eg. Voucher. With enough 'margin,' money will be disperse step by step according to priorities both in short as well as long term, be remind that now CEO is at his neck right now looking for a new training ground, setting up academy, programs and such. A stadium will cost how much? Then there time factor. He said there will be, but mechanics were left behind because it require an intense boardroom discussion. Media are quick in their hands, as if we don't know. Don't turn a blind eye Chris, enough salt into wound. Chris"Amidst all the grand promises, and Fernandes’ attempts to atone for the errors and sinful exploitation of the supporters which characterised Gianni Paladini, Briatore and Ecclestone’s time in charge, the failure of any actual refund to emerge has gone almost entirely under the radar." Stereotyping.

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Royboy48 added 02:25 - Oct 19 I definitely feel short changed here Yes - I had paid the full price for a season ticket Yes - I wouldn't have complained if I hadn't been offered a refund That's what loyal supporters are prepared to put up with Having made the offer however I would - as a loyal supporter and season ticket holder - have expected to be offered at least as good a deal as the more casual supporter This clearly is not the case Tickets bought on the day are £5 cheaper, equivalent to £95 a home season A £50 offer is half that Not only that, it's in club shop vouchers to be spent on profitable merchandise so the actual cost to the club is actually half that. So really £25 value - and with the club shop limitations that goes with it. £95 off next years season ticket would have matched the value to buy-on-the-day supporters - and even that may have been devalued if we were to get relegated Lots of conjecture, but you get my point

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Fan123 added 02:51 - Oct 19 This was meant for article only. Strike a dialogue then.
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isawqpratwcity added 04:51 - Oct 19 "...tantamount to a tax rate which charges Simon Cowell and Jamie the paper boy the same amount per year." On the contrary, you have completely misrepresented the situation. If you were to compare it more accurately as, say, giving SC and Jtpb an equal extra £50 tax rebate, the relative fairness is much more apparent.
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MickB added 07:35 - Oct 19 I've got £75 worth in two lots, £50 & £25. There is nothing I want from the club shop that costs anything like that so as far as I am concerned it is a hollow & meaningless gesture. I would only give them to QPR in the Community if I was sure that donations wouldn't eventually be reflected in a cut in the funding that the receive directly from the club. Any offers? £20 the lot?

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DesertBoot added 09:10 - Oct 19 A refund on my debit card is what I was initially expecting. My alternative preference would have been money off for all those who renew next season. It's a little unfair that those who have had season tickets for several years are receiving the same as first-timers. Loyalty should have been a factor.
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Antti_Heinola added 11:14 - Oct 19 The club never, ever once said 'cash refund'. The negativity surrounding this and our last couple of games is pretty breathtaking. If I were Amit or Tony I really wouldn't bother next time. However, I've spoken to a few QPR fans in the last week and none share the sentiment expressed in this article or in the above comments, so maybe it's just the very vocal minority.

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benbu added 13:13 - Oct 19 I was surprised that we would get anything at all. The new board realised straight away that the charges were scandulous and have given us something back (which wouldnt normally happen). The £50 will come in handy for me, thats my Liverpool ticket sorted so im pretty happy with the gesture from the club. Im sure most s/t holders will be happy to get a free away ticket or new shirt. Hopefully they will amend the prices next summer to a sensible level too.

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AshteadR added 13:50 - Oct 19 I'm happy with the gesture. It's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
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Spaghetti_Hoops added 14:22 - Oct 19 Antti You are just choosing to ignore the first announcement of the refund. Read the link provided above then show me where the club corrected the press on the issue of a cash refund. I fully understand your opinion. Many people share it. It differs from a lot of other peoples opinion. Everyone's different. The vouchers can be worth their full face value to some people and worth nothing to others. Some people expect promises freely made to be honoured. Others with a more cynical approach to life make and break promises on a daily basis. A football club's supporters include all sorts. No point in getting uptight about that.

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Antti_Heinola added 15:57 - Oct 19 Spaghetti Do the club now need to monitor the press and correct every inaccuracy? Really? I didn't need to read the Guardian link, i read the one on the official site, which at no point used the word 'cash'. What they effectively did was give us store credit and people are acting as if this is an unprecedented and unfair solution. I do understand that position, I just happen to think it's b0ll0cks ;)

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NorthfieldsR added 19:30 - Oct 19 The new board had absolutely no cause or reason to offer any sort of compensation for the excessive price rises of the greedy previous majority owners. The new board's unprompted and unprecedented gesture should be seen as an act of good faith no more no less. Yes the gesture could be interpreted as misleading, I spent a fiver parking in Westfield last week just to roll up at the box office with a load of vouchers to have it explained to mean no cash refund. The walk was a bit of exercise I suppose. I can't escape the fact that I bought a rip off season ticket off the previous owners and I was prepared to pay the price like all others. The gesture of the vouchers is a good one and should be seen as just that.

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