Gulf Air flies QPR

Queens Park Rangers chairman Flavio Briatore warned against talk of imminent promotion to the Premier League next season despite announcing a fresh cash boost for the increasingly wealthy London club.

The latest deal is with Gulf Air, which will see the Bahrain-based airline sponsor Rangers' kit for the next three years for an undisclosed fee.

Briatore, the manager of the Renault Formula One team, and Grand Prix supremo Bernie Ecclestone surprised many within English football when they bought QPR last September.

The cash injection provided by the motor racing duo was bolstered in December when Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, described as the wealthiest man in Britain by the Sunday Times rich list with a fortune estimated at £19.25 billion (Dh141.3bn), acquired a 20 per cent stake.

And in March, Briatore announced a five-year, £20-million sponsorship deal with Italian sporting goods manufacturers Lotto.
The funds coming into Loftus Road since Briatore's arrival have drawn comparisons with QPR's west London rivals Chelsea.

"One year has passed and that wasn't easy, and this year we are looking to consolidate the club and be more consistent so it's now a three-year programme," said Briatore. "Last year QPR were in a very dangerous situation. I believe that without us coming in the club might not have existed anymore, so people have very short memories and need to show a bit of patience."

Turning to Chelsea, he said: "Chelsea have done fantastically and Roman has done an amazing job. However, we are a Championship club and will take a different approach."