American businessman John Textor, known for his previous co-ownership at Crystal Palace, is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring Championship club Queens Park Rangers. His interest in QPR comes amidst reports of his unlikely bid for Wolverhampton Wanderers and a wider search for an English club to serve as a cornerstone for his Eagle Football Group.
According to a report by The Athletic, Textor`s extensive search for investment opportunities also includes other Championship teams such as Charlton Athletic, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, and Watford, highlighting his broad ambition in English football.
When asked about the prospect of Textor taking over, Louis Moir, a QPR fan pundit, expressed a cautious yet ultimately positive view. He underscored the critical importance of rigorous vetting for potential new owners, recalling historical instances where clubs, like Sheffield Wednesday, faced severe difficulties due to unsuitable leadership.
“I think you`ve got to be really careful nowadays, especially with new owners and people who want to invest in your club coming in. They`ve got to be really checked thoroughly because you don`t want to risk anything really severe happening to your club,” Moir stated.
Despite this caution, Moir acknowledged Textor`s generally positive track record. He pointed to Textor`s tenure at Crystal Palace, where he notably invested in their youth academy and was part of the club during their FA Cup journey, seemingly having a constructive impact. Textor`s global football investments and substantial net worth also contribute to his perception as a serious and capable investor.
“He obviously went to Palace. He invested in their youth academy… he seemingly did quite a positive job… I think you look at how much he`s worth, and his idea of maybe getting involved in a club, who maybe he can see a journey going with them… it`s an attractive proposition,” Moir added.
Moir articulated that he would personally welcome Textor`s investment, believing that QPR has been in need of significant change at the top for some time. He emphasized that a substantial financial injection would be incredibly beneficial for the club`s future prospects.
“If there is a lot more money being invested in the club, that would be really, really, really good,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Textor`s affiliations with companies specializing in scouting, player development, and advanced analytics align perfectly with QPR`s current strategic direction. His demonstrated focus on youth academy development, exemplified during his time at Crystal Palace, would particularly resonate with the club`s ethos.
“You look who he`s been involved with, a company who is well established in scouting, player development, analytics… what he did at Palace with their youth academy setup, you know, that all links to QPR as well, in terms of the direction we`re going in. So, I think it would be quite a good match,” Moir concluded.
Textor`s expansive Eagle Football Group currently operates a multi-club structure encompassing Botafogo, Lyon, and RWDM Brussels, following the recent sale of his stake in Crystal Palace. His audacious bid for Premier League club Wolves and past interest in Everton clearly underscore his ambition to establish a prominent English club within his global football network.
Acquiring a Premier League club often presents significant challenges due to prohibitively high costs and limited availability. This reality makes a Championship club like QPR an appealing alternative for Textor, offering a viable platform to build a team with clear promotion aspirations. The five Championship sides Textor is reportedly interested in, including QPR, all represent potential vehicles for his overarching goal of achieving top-flight status.
While Textor`s ambition and substantial financial backing are undeniably appealing, Louis Moir`s initial caution regarding thorough due diligence remains pertinent. Any potential investor should undergo rigorous scrutiny, and factors such as Textor`s publicly documented turbulent period with Lyon should be carefully considered. Nonetheless, the prospect of an owner with significant funds and a strong drive for success is generally seen as a highly positive development for any football club seeking to advance.
Mark Thompson
