QPR chief executive: 'We need to leave Loftus Road stadium'

Lee Hoos, CEO of Queens Park Rangers FC (QPR) has said the club needs to leave its Loftus Road Stadium in West London in order to secure its long-term financial future.

In an open letter, Hoos said the 18,439-capacity venue is "unsustainable" for a professional football due to its size, age and lack of non-matchday use.

The club's attempts to develop a stadium as part of the Old Oak Common redevelopment project were thwarted, forcing the club to explore the possibility of building a 30,000-capacity stadium on the site of the Linford Christie Athletics Stadium.

The land at Linford Christie Stadium is, however, owned by Hammersmith & Fulham Council – and Hoos hinted that there remains a reluctance on the council's part to work together with the club to develop the site.

"We love our home at Loftus Road, but it is unsustainable – and it has been made clear to the current Council leadership since they took office in 2014," Hoos said.

“We hoped they would work with us to find a solution that keeps QPR in the borough for another 100 years, and we still do.

“Everyone at our club still wants to remain in Hammersmith & Fulham if at all possible. However, we have been very open with our fans and the local community that, in the absence of any alternative, the Linford Christie Stadium is, as far as we can see, our last chance to stay in the borough.

“The Council is shortly to launch a public consultation on the future of the Linford Christie site, which we will encourage our fanbase, local residents and stakeholders to take part in.

“Ultimately, the Council owns the site and if they do not want QPR to be involved in its redevelopment then that is their choice.

"But we have to be honest with people about the likely consequence of that, which is that QPR’s medium to long-term future will be out of Hammersmith & Fulham.

“We would like to invite the leader of the Council Stephen Cowan to Loftus Road to meet club representatives, with any fans' groups they wish to meet as well, to understand the severe limitations we face here, and see how we can work together to keep QPR in W12.”

QPR is part of a project team currently building a £175m (US$231.4m, €209.2m) mixed-use development with 605 new homes in Old Oak Common. The club was hoping to include a stadium in the plans, but the club failed to secure the land – adjacent to the housing project – needed for the venue.