Ecclestone Becomes Majority Owner of Queens Park Rangers

Bernie Ecclestone now owns the majority stake in English Football League Championship side Queens Park Rangers, after he purchased Flavio Briatore's shares a few days back. Although initial rumors suggested that both F1-related businessmen are trying to end their involvement in the club, it seems that this was only true in Briatore's case.

According to the Daily Star, whose reporters quote Ecclestone himself, the Formula One supremo now owns more than 60 percent in the team.

“I haven't bought the club to see my name in the papers, I have bought it to support (QPR manager) Neil (Warnock),” insisted Ecclestone on the reason why he didn't want to brag about his new acquisition in the media.

“Neil tells us how to kick the ball and now our aim is the Premier League,” added the 80-year old Englishman, hinting that his team's goal this season is to finally make its return to the English Premier League. QPR currently leads the Championship classification by 4 points to Cardiff City, with one game in hand.

“I now own about 62 per cent of the club. I'm not thinking about competing with Manchester United or Arsenal. It is just something that I enjoy doing and we will just see what happens,” added Ecclestone, according to The Mirror.

Briatore will however continue to hold a nominal shareholding in the London-based team. Needless to say, the news means that Force India's Vijay Mallya is no longer in the running to purchase QPR, unless he'll settle for a minority share in the team or work out a new deal with Ecclestone.