Can Power fit the Bill at Town?
27th April 2006
SO just who is Bill Power and why does he want to be part of Swindon Town’s future? In an exclusive interview, he tells JON RITSON that his hopes and dreams are firmly grounded in reality.
BILL Power’s only regret about joining Swindon Town is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
And far from barricading himself in the boardroom with the ‘suits’ and the prawn sandwiches, you’re more likely to find him nattering to fans over a pint and a pie in the pub.
Oh, and be warned. If you have a go at him on an internet message board, there’s every chance he’s already logged on and eager for a debate.
Nor is he depressed by the state of the club he is joining, he is positively brimming with excitement about the future.
The 52-year-old Londoner, born a stone’s throw from his beloved Queens Park Rangers, made his fortune in satellite communications, will be very much ‘hands on’ at the County Ground, especially as he’s planning to retire from business in the not-too-distant future.
And far from being depressed by the state of the club he is joining, he’s excited about the future for Swindon Town.
He said: “Why Swindon? Well, I’d kept in touch with Mark Devlin since our days together at QPR. He invited me down to Swindon, I talked to the people at the club and felt it was something I wanted to be part of.
“I knew Swindon needed help and felt I had something to contribute.
“I am a relatively wealthy man but this isn’t going to be a case of an endless pot of money being thrown at the situation.
“Budgets are in place for next season and I am hoping that the funding I put in will put us back on an even playing field.
“First and foremost though I am a fanatical football fan.
“I’m more at home in with the fans, shouting and screaming at the referee rather than sitting in a suit in the director’s box.
“I believe the relationship between a club and its fans is key.
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I’m quite happy to meet with and talk to people, over a pint and cheese sandwich in the pub.
“Or it might be that it’s on the message boards.
“I’ve never been afraid to get stuck into those.
“Fans want facts not innuendo and rumour and I’d like to think that 99.9 per cent of QPR fans would tell you that that’s what I was about.
“They might not always like the answers that you give them but I firmly believe that successful clubs, although there’s always the odd exception, have all got good relationships with their supporters.
“I am not afraid to tell the truth and what fans want is to know that the people running their club are pulling in the same direction.
“I’ve heard all the horror stories about the problems the club has had but let’s try and move forward now.”
Investment is all well and good but Power appreciates that what fans really want is success on the pitch.
It doesn’t suddenly mean that Iffy Onuora has millions to splash around on players but Power hopes he can be the difference between Town landing ‘realistic’ targets and missing out.
He said: “Let’s say that the manager has spotted the next Wayne Rooney and it will cost £100,000 to land him. Hopefully he would be landed.
“My only real regret is that I wasn’t able to get involved sooner to be honest.
“I suppose the message to the fans is to stick with us.
“This is a big club for League One, should the worst happen it would be an even bigger one in League Two, and we want to take it forward.”
Who is Bill Power?
Bill Power, 52, was born just over the road from his beloved Queens Park Rangers.
The son of Irish parents, he grew up on the White City estate which overlooked Loftus Road. Hence began his love affair with a Hoops side that featured the likes of Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh.
He began his working life as an electrician before he and his business partner made their respective fortunes by setting up a satellite communications company. Among their clients are governmental departments from numerous countries.
While Bill’s business was booming, his club certainly wasn’t. He contacted QPR and made an initial investment of £200,000, eventually becoming both a shareholder and director.
Another shareholder was former Italian football agent Gianni Paladini.
The pair would eventually assume control at Loftus Road after toppling the previous board but their relationship turned sour with matters coming to a head in August 2005.
Power was ousted by Paladini at a board meeting, a meeting which also saw then chief executive Mark Devlin leave the club.
