QPR Celebrate Winning the League
Club face tense wait over FA hearing that could deny them promotion
Top flight football looks set to return to Loftus Road after Queens Park Rangers got the point they needed against Watford. The club has won the Championship title and is back in the Premier League after a 15 year absence.
Fittingly it was Adel Taarabt, the outstanding player in the division, who scored the goal which ended any lingering doubts with 14 minutes left to play. Former Watford player Tommy Smith secured the win with a low drive from 20 yards out in injury time.
It is just 13 months since manager Neil Warnock took over to secure the seventh promotion of his managerial career. The club have dismissed reports that he is to be replaced next season with a manager with more experience at a higher level.
The only cloud on the horizon is the FA hearing over the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin in 2009. The player was allegedly still the property of an Argentine company after he joined QPR. The hearing will announce its decision on May 6th but the club have been dismissive of reports that 15 points will be deducted. Neil Warnock has stated that he is happy with the club barrister's opinion that this will not happen. If he is incorrect then the penalty would mean that QPR would lose their automatic promotion spot and have to win through in the play-offs assuming they could win their final game against Leeds.
If all goes to plan Hammersmith and Fulham will have three clubs in the top division next season. The Council have already announced revised arrangements for parking which involves the clubs taking on responsibility for match day arrangements.
May 1, 2011
