Bengaluru, August 16: Championship side Queens Park Rangers have appointed British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia as their new chairman, with co-chairmen Tony Fernandes and Ruben Gnanalingam vacating their positions.
Bhatia, who previously served as vice chairman, will work alongside the management team led by chief executive Lee Hoos at the second-tier side.
Malaysian businessman Fernandes, who has been with the club since first taking over in 2011, said it would be best for QPR to have a chairman based in the UK.
"It's time for the club to have a chairman who is based in London," he said in a statement.
"It was important for me to step down at a time where we have solved many issues such as FFP (Financial Fair Play), making the club sustainable, building a strong academy and having a strong backroom team."
📝 @Amit_Bhatia99 has been named #QPR’s new chairman.@TonyFernandes and @Ruben_E_G have vacated the position.
— QPR FC (@QPR) August 15, 2018
▶️ https://t.co/UVZNj5RBYR pic.twitter.com/tGHcO70K3f
Last month, QPR were fined 17 million pounds ($21.6 million)as part of a 42 million-pound settlement with the English Football League for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations.
Bhatia joined the board at Loftus Road in December, 2007, as representative of father-in-law and ArcelorMittal chairman Lakshmi Mittal, who bought a shareholding in the club alongside Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.
"I'm excited to be stepping into the role as chairman of QPR, and have accepted this position fully aware of the responsibilities and pressures that come with this appointment," Bhatia said.
Thank you to everyone for your messages of support. I’m excited for the future and look forward to seeing you at Loftus Road soon – onwards and upwards, URRRRssss !! https://t.co/xyuV1Gwwly
— Amit Bhatia (@Amit_Bhatia99) August 15, 2018
"In returning to the club as chairman this season, I hope to draw on the experiences of the past 10 years to help Steve (McClaren, manager), Lee, Les (Ferdinand, director of football) and the entire QPR family further the progress we have made under Tony and Ruben's leadership."
Gnanalingam will replace Bhatia as vice chairman and remain chairman of the club's trust.
(With inputs from Agencies).