Editing Queens Park Rangers F.C. (section)

===Relegation, promotion, financial struggles and the arrival of Bernie & Flavio (2000s)===

After several years of struggle in the second tier, QPR became embroiled in financial and boardroom controversy. Although the club had floated on the [[Alternative Investment Market]] in 1991, in 2001 it entered [[administration (insolvency)|administration]] (receivership). A period of financial hardship followed and the club left administration after receiving a £10m high-interest emergency loan which continued to burden the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article2271585.ece|title=''The Independent''|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107151413/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/coca_cola/article2271585.ece|archive-date=7 November 2007}}</ref> The [[2000–01 in English football|00–01 season]] proved to be a disaster and Francis resigned in early 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/feb/16/newsstory.sport5|title=Francis resigns as manager of QPR|date=16 February 2001|access-date=12 January 2025|work=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509224922/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/feb/16/newsstory.sport5|archive-date=9 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Former Rangers midfielder [[Ian Holloway]] was appointed manager but failed to prevent the club from being relegated to the third division at the end of the season, the first time since the 1960s. 
After relegation Holloway assembled a team featuring several QPR fans in the squad including [[Kevin Gallen]], [[Marc Bircham]] and [[Richard Langley]] alongside other key players such as [[Danny Shittu]], [[Gareth Ainsworth]] and [[Clarke Carlisle]]. In their second season in the third tier, the club reached the play-off final in Cardiff, losing 0–1 to Cardiff City in extra time. The [[2003–04 in English football|following season]] QPR put their playoff heartache behind them and returned to Division 1 after as runners-up, with a famous 3–1 win away at Hillsborough in front of 7000 travelling Rangers fans.

Rangers struggled for consistent form over the next two campaigns before Holloway was suspended amidst rumours of his impending departure for [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4685138.stm|title=QPR suspend Foxes target Holloway|date=6 February 2006|access-date=12 January 2025|work=[[BBC Sport]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815205657/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/4685138.stm|archive-date=15 August 2023|url-status=dead}}</ref> A poor series of results and lack of progress at the club saw Holloway's successors [[Gary Waddock]] and later [[John Gregory (footballer)|John Gregory]] – both former players – fail to hold on to the manager job.

Scandals involving the directors, shareholders and others emerged in [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06 season]] and included allegations of blackmail and threats of violence against the club's chairman [[Gianni Paladini]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4751659.stm |work=BBC News |title=QPR boss recalls gunpoint threats |date=8 May 2006 |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112224926/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4751659.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In an unrelated incident, QPR were further rocked by the murder of youth team player [[Kiyan Prince]] on 18 May 2006<ref>{{cite news |first=Geneviève |last=Roberts |title=Boy, 15, stabbed to death outside school |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article548168.ece |work=The Independent  |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080101070639/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article548168.ece |archive-date=1 January 2008 }}</ref> and, in August 2007, the death of teenager and promising first-team player [[Ray Jones (footballer born 1988)|Ray Jones]] in a car crash.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/6963546.stm |title=QPR's Ray Jones dies in car crash |website=BBC Sport |date=25 August 2007 |access-date=22 September 2019 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112225007/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/6963546.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Rangers continued to face mounting financial pressure, in the September 2007 it was announced that the club had been bought by wealthy [[Formula One]] businessmen [[Flavio Briatore]] and [[Bernie Ecclestone]] (see ''[[#Ownership and finances|Ownership and finances]]'' below).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2007/09/03/formula-one-bosses-confirm-deal-for-qpr.html|title=Formula One Bosses Confirm Deal for QPR|date=3 September 2007|access-date=12 January 2025|work=[[CNBC]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930204035/https://www.cnbc.com/2007/09/03/formula-one-bosses-confirm-deal-for-qpr.html|archive-date=30 September 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> John Gregory's reign as manager came to an end in October 2007 after a string of poor results left QPR at the bottom of the Championship and he was replaced by [[Luigi De Canio]] until the end of the 2007–08 season. Further investment followed in early 2008 as the club looked to push for promotion to the [[Premier League]] within four years, on the back of greater financial stability.<ref>{{Cite news |title=QPR fans give thanks a billion times over |work=The Times |access-date=25 February 2008 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3346046.ece |location=London |first=Alex |last=Wade |date=11 February 2008 |archive-date=8 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108014532/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3346046.ece |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 14 May 2008, [[Iain Dowie]] was announced as the manager to begin the campaign to return Rangers to the top flight.<ref>{{Cite news |title=QPR bring in Dowie as new coach |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 May 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7400236.stm |date=14 May 2008 |archive-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515193949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7400236.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Dowie targets the Premier League |work=BBC Sport |access-date=22 May 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7411050.stm |date=20 May 2008 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020122150/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7411050.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on 24 October 2008, Dowie was sacked after just 15 games in charge of the club.<ref>{{Cite news |title=QPR part company with boss Dowie |work=BBC Sport |access-date=24 October 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7689062.stm |date=24 October 2008 |archive-date=27 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027171752/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7689062.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Queensparkrangersfclogo.svg|right|thumb|Crest introduced under Flavio Briatore and used from 2008 until 2016]]
On 19 November 2008, QPR named former Portugal midfielder [[Paulo Sousa]] as their new first team coach.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sousa is new QPR first team coach |work=BBC Sport |access-date=19 November 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7736118.stm |date=19 November 2008 |archive-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112225008/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/qpr/7736118.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, on 9 April 2009, his contract was terminated after he allegedly divulged confidential information without authority.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Club statement |website=QPR.co.uk |publisher=Queens Park Rangers FC |access-date=9 November 2009 |url=http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1622139,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221074503/http://www.qpr.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10373~1622139,00.html |archive-date=21 December 2009 }}</ref> On the same day as Sousa's sacking, player/coach [[Gareth Ainsworth]] was appointed as player/caretaker manager for a second time. In June 2009 [[Jim Magilton]] was named as new manager of QPR. Despite leading QPR to a good start to the [[2009–10 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|2009–10 season]], a loss of form combined with an alleged head-butting incident with Hungarian midfielder [[Ákos Buzsáky]] saw the club further embroiled in controversy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/10/jim-magilton-suspended-qpr|title=QPR suspend Jim Magilton after row with Akos Buzsaky|work=[[The Guardian]]|last=Jackson|first=James|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923061510/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/10/jim-magilton-suspended-qpr|archive-date=23 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Magilton left the club by mutual consent on 16 December 2009, along with his assistant [[John Gorman (footballer)|John Gorman]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/soccer/magilton-leaves-qpr-after-reported-bust-up-idUSSGE5BG005/|title=Magilton leaves QPR after reported bust-up|date=16 December 2009|access-date=12 January 2025|work=[[Reuters]]|location=[[London]]|last=Baldwin|first=Alan|editor-last=Linden|editor-first=Julian}}</ref> They were replaced by [[Paul Hart]] and [[Mick Harford]] on the next day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/16/qpr-jim-magilton-paul-hart|title=Paul Hart set to join QPR as Jim Magilton's departure is confirmed|date=16 December 2009|access-date=12 January 2025|work=[[The Guardian]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004054706/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/16/qpr-jim-magilton-paul-hart|archive-date=4 October 2015|last=Fifield|first=Dominic|url-status=live}}</ref>