By Ben Kosky FLAVIO Briatore is likely to be forced out of QPR on Thursday when Football League officials meet to decide his fate as co-owner of the club. The League s board will consider whether Briatore is eligible to remain as majority shareholder of R

By Ben Kosky

FLAVIO Briatore is likely to be forced out of QPR on Thursday when Football League officials meet to decide his fate as co-owner of the club.

The League's board will consider whether Briatore is eligible to remain as majority shareholder of Rangers following his indefinite ban from Formula One.

They have requested further details of the World Motor Sport Council's sanctions against Briatore and are expected to declare that he fails the 'fit and proper person's test' for club directors.

A Football League spokesman told the Times: "Our enquiries are continuing. The matter will be discussed at Thursday's board meeting and we may or may not comment further after that."

But, given that the league's regulations bar anyone "subject to a ban from involvement in the administration of a sport by a sports governing body" from being a majority owner of a club, it would be astonishing if Briatore were allowed to retain his role as chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd.

The former Renault team boss has stayed away from Loftus Road since his Formula One ban was imposed - and it is understood that preliminary discussions have already taken place over the future ownership of QPR.

Vice-chairman Amit Bhatia is the favourite - and also a popular choice with fans - to take a controlling interest once Briatore departs, along with co- investor Bernie Ecclestone.

Purchasing Briatore's shares will probably only cost him a six-figure sum, but issues such as ownership of Loftus Road and outstanding loans remain to be resolved.