Malaysian football is set to benefit from businessman Tan Sri Tony Fernandes’ purchase of English Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers (QPR).
Besides opening up opportunities for talented youngsters to go on attachment with the Premiership club, QPR also plan to set up of a football academy in Malaysia.
And all QPR fans will also be pleased to know that their favourite club will be flying in next year to hold their pre-season training here.
All these were disclosed by QPR manager Neil Warnock in an online interview, exclusively for the Malaysian media, from London yesterday.
Warnock also announced that he was interested in taking some Malaysian players, like striker Mohd Safee Sali and midfielder Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin, for trials with the club.
He was especially impressed with Safee, whom he described as the “David Beckham” of Malaysia.
He also raised the possibility of taking other up-and-coming Malaysian players for trials with the club.
Apart from the players, Warnock also disclosed plans to share and exchange ideas about the game with national coach Datuk K. Rajagopal.
“Malaysia are an emerging force in football and without a shadow of doubt we can help them and they can help us.
“I think Rajagopal has done a good job over there. Rajagopal will come over and it is good to learn new techniques,” said Warnock.
“There will be more opportunities now with our chairman’s link with Malaysia. Since Tony came on board there has been a breath of fresh air.”
Warnock also added that they would send coaches from England to conduct trainings at the football academy which would be set up here.
The academy, he said, would be of the same standard as those back in England.
“We are looking forward to a rewarding partnership with Malaysia.”
Fernandes completed his takeover of QPR on Aug 18 when his company, Tune Group, bought a majority stake in the club, buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.
The 47 year-old founder of AirAsia – who is also the team principal of Formula One’s Team Lotus – and his business partners bought a controlling stake of 66% to work alongside of Lakshmi Mittal and Amit Bhatia, who retained their 33% stake.
Following the takeover, QPR swiftly announced a reduction in season ticket and matchday prices, which proved a very popular with the home fans.
The club also stepped up their work in the transfer market by signing top players like Joey Barton (from Newcastle), Luke Young (Aston Villa), Armand Traore (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City) and Anton Ferdinand (Sunderland).
QPR, who have lost two matches and won one so far in the Premiership, will entertain Newcastle United at Loftus Road on Monday.
It will be the club’s first home fixture since Fernandes’ takeover.
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