John Textor backed to seal QPR takeover - 'it's an attractive proposition' | OneFootball

The American businessman is currently eyeing up a number of Championship clubs, with QPR being one of them

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is reportedly interested in taking over Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

That’s according to a report from The Athletic, where the interest in Rangers was outlined as news dropped that Textor has also submitted an unlikely bid to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In the report, it was also revealed that the American businessman is looking at Charlton Athletic, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford.

We asked our QPR fan pundit, Louis Moir, whether he’d welcome Textor taking over his club.

Assessing John Textor as a potential QPR owner

Speaking to Football League World, Louis said: “I think you've got to be really careful nowadays, especially with new owners and people who want to invest in your club coming in.

“They've got to be really checked thoroughly because you don't want to risk anything really severe happening to your club, like, you know, look at Sheffield Wednesday, for example, and other clubs, who have had real, real tough times due to the people have come in.

“But in terms of John Textor, I mean, he obviously went to Palace. He invested in their youth academy. He was obviously part of the club when they won the FA Cup and he seemingly did quite a positive job, you know, had a positive time, so to say, at Palace.

“And then he had investments in clubs abroad, and I think you look at how much he's worth, and his idea of maybe getting involved in a club, who maybe he can see a journey going with them.

“I'd put us in that category, hence why, if true that he was looking at us, seeing what we could potentially achieve as a club, it's an attractive proposition.”

How a takeover could impact QPR

“I think him as an owner or investing into the club, I'd welcome it,” Louis admitted.

“Because I've said for a while, I think we've needed a change at the top.

“If there is a lot more money being invested in the club, that would be that would be really, really, really good.

“And also, you look who he's been involved with, a company who is well established in scouting, player development, analytics.

“And obviously, like I say, what he did at Palace with their youth academy setup, you know, that all links to QPR as well, in terms of the direction we're going in.

“So, I think it would be quite a good match and quite a big thing, if anything like that was to happen, whether it was him or someone else coming in to take over or invest heavily in the club.”

QPR may be able to ride on the wave of John Textor’s ambition

Textor owns a multi-club setup under the name Eagle Football Group, which housed Botafogo, Lyon, RWDM Brussels and, until recently, his stake in Crystal Palace.

According to The Athletic report, Textor has made a bid for Wolves, currently of the Premier League, to replace his recently sold Palace shares.

The American businessman has also, in the past, bid to take over Everton.

He retained little real control at Palace due to the make-up of the board there, and it is clear from those moves that he is looking for an English club towards the top of the pyramid, likely to become the centrepiece of Eagle Football Group.

Premier League clubs, however, are in short supply, and those that are available are not cheap, so it may be easier for Textor to get a Championship club and build them up himself.

The piece outlines the five Championship sides Textor is interested in, QPR being one of them, with his ambition being clear: promotion.

As Louis says, care will need to be taken in bringing in new owners, and they may want to have a closer look at the turbulent time he has had with Lyon over the past year, but on the surface, an owner with significant funds behind him and as much ambition to match, is exactly the sort of figure any fan would love to see take over their club.