Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) has become the first club in the Coca-Cola Championship to charge £50 for a ticket.

The increase in ticket prices comes a year after the club was acquired by a consortium headed by billionaires Lakshmi Mittal, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone. In a statement, the club said: "We are totally committed to building a sound financial base for the future, upon which we can continue to build for what we all believe will be the most successful period in our club's history.

"As part of this financial restructuring, we need to increase our matchday revenues, and as a result have introduced a new, three-tiered banding structure." Despite the club also emphasising that all matchday profits will be put back into the club, supporters have reacted angrily to the increase. The QPR Loyal Supporters' Association said: "The association is dismayed and disgusted at the latest price increases.

"Many who were unable to afford to purchase season tickets due to the 50 per cent plus increase in price will now be unable to afford a matchday ticket. It is a conscious policy to price out long standing loyal fans and replace them with a more well-off section of 'fans'."