The fall and fall of QPR

Ian Holloway must lead QPR out of trouble

QPR fan Ian Pyke reveals the heartache of watching his beloved club plummet towards obscurty.

QPR's season of suffering hit its lowest point with the 4-0 FA Cup first round exit at Swansea City.

It meant support for the team from long-suffering supporters came in the shape of barracking for players and some club officials at every opportunity.

This may seem an unusual method of backing - but it is an understandable reaction from fans who have suffered three cup exits and a series of poor performances in recent weeks.

It was a season of high expectations at Loftus Road under manager Ian Holloway, despite relegation in the previous campaign.

A home victory against Stoke on the opening day of the season seemed to support the optimism, especially as it was followed by an away win at Bury.

Gerry Francis - cash crisis

If you've followed QPR over recent years, you will know an away win is rarer than an Englishman playing for Chelsea.

Obviously the league table and the number of free Saturdays until the end of the season show the picture has changed.

If you allow me to reminisce, it was only eight years ago QPR finished as top London club.

And although no one expected us to remain in this position forever, we didn't expect to now have only Leyton Orient below us.

QPR was regarded by as many as a model of how to run a relatively small club.

Alan Curbishley was once quoted as saying "I want Charlton to be the new QPR" when they were restructuring their club and looking to return to The Valley.

Charlton announced a profit this week, and look to have established themselves as a Premiership club.

So QPR now aspire to be like Charlton.

The fall and fall of QPR can mainly be attributed to the previous club owners and their lack of foresight.

When we parted company with the Premiership, we had a wage bill that was unsustainable in the First Division.

Alan Curbishley was once quoted as saying 'I want Charlton to be the new QPR' when they were restructuring their club and looking to return to The Valley

QPR fan Ian Pyke

Not only did we fail to reduce this, we went on to sign players with limited ability on relatively big contracts.

Although some may say we gambled to get back into the top flight, I would argue the real gamble should have taken place a year earlier when were still there.

Last summer saw almost 30 players leave the club and QPR go into admistration - and yet this summer the sales of season tickets increased.

I have on three occasions had to queue at 7am to get tickets for away games. This is a measure of QPR's fan base and the club's potential.

So my final word is about the fans.

Yes we have voiced our opinions against individuals recently, but after two relegations and being dumped out of the FA Cup in the first round for the first time in almost 50 years, we have had cause to complain.

OK enough moaning - a home win against Swindon at Loftus Road on Wednesday and a win at Brentford will make things look better.

I can dream. And this is why we still have a healthy home attendance and we queue for tickets for away games.

We all dream of better times.

Sadly, at the moment we are not too fond of reality.