Reasons to be cheerful, Part 27(a). You're not a QPR season ticket holder…

I suspect it's not the done thing in journalistic circles, but I'm about to encroach on the territory of a fellow columnist. (That's what working in advertising does to your professional ethics, though we never admit to stealing other people's ideas; rather, we are 'inspired' by them.)

You're doubtless aware that two of Mick Dennis' favourite themes are: a) arguing that we should appreciate what we have at Norwich when we look at how other clubs are run; and b) slagging off QPR.

I'm about to do both.

Before I start, I should say that I'm well aware we should aspire to greater things than looking at other people and being grateful we're not in their shoes. But having said that?

LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENING TO QPR FANS! THANK GOODNESS WE'RE NOT IN THEIR SHOES!

I was alerted to their situation recently by a Rangers fan at work ? one of the few people in the office who is aware that I write this column. (Hello, Alex.)

When she stopped by my desk and declared how unhappy she was, I assumed at first that this was a reaction to Iain Dowie becoming their new manager. (An appointment which at least shows that Flavio Briatore doesn't insist on surrounding himself with beautiful people all the time.)

But no ? she was upset about the announcement of the new season ticket prices at Loftus Road. Her seat has gone up from ?398 to ?599.

Yes, a rise of two hundred pounds. Or 50%.

(I didn't like to tell her that my season ticket for next year has actually gone down. I still did, though?)

There are no early-bird discounts at QPR. There's no interest-free credit. And there's only a three-week renewal window before all seats are up for grabs.

On the plus side, the new price does include having your name on your seat. 'If I renew, I'm having ?Mug? on mine,' Alex said.

Senior citizens have been given special treatment: a 100% rise. Alex's father's ticket has gone up from ?199 to ?399.

And before you shrug your shoulders and say that the price increases are their problem, I gather that away supporters are likely to be paying ?30 for the privilege of enjoying the state-of-the-toilet facilities in the School End.

There's also the risk that the new season ticket prices will encourage Pete Doherty to release another album, and that's surely in no one's interests.

The price rises suggest to me that the new billionaire owners (or in Briatore's case, mere multi-millionaire) may not be pouring as much money into the club as everyone assumed ? especially those Rangers fans who spent most of the train journey from Norwich back to London last month singing 'Next year we'll be champions?'.

The increases certainly reveal a lack of concern on the new owners' part for the club's core support, made even more explicit in an interview with Briatore in last month's Marketing Week.

He came out with this extraordinary remark: 'I don't want everybody telling me what I need to be doing. People believe the club is owned by the fans but it's only a few that put their money down. For the rest of the people, it's easy to criticise when they maybe spend ?20?'

Imagine the furore if Delia said something like that.

Briatore's new strategy for QPR is based on 'past, present and future' ? yet the past seems to be of minimal importance. As well as infuriating the traditional fans, he has changed the traditional club badge.

(You can take a look at the new crest here -

One Rangers fan on the 606 message boards reckons the wispy bits on the sides are meant to represent Briatore's hair; you can see what he means.)

It's true that Delia, with Bruce Oldfield, gave us an all-yellow kit for a while. But the green shorts returned by popular demand, a factor which doesn't look as though it is going to have much sway at Loftus Road.

The goings-on at QPR should sound a note of caution to those City fans who still think that Delia and Michael should not be so particular about who they sell their shares to, as long as the new buyers are rich.

Having a money-bags owner doesn't guarantee success (anyone still wish Milan Mandaric had invested in Norwich?) or even huge investment in the team (why were Ipswich sniffing around Paul Dalglish in the January transfer window?). And although Manchester City have had a better season thanks to Shinawatra's millions, the place is now in turmoil.

As the old saying puts it, you should be careful what you wish for.

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In my last column, I promised a fuller appreciation of Darren Huckerby. But a couple of weeks on, it feels as though just about everything has been said in the well-deserved tributes paid to him.

The stunning goals, the brilliant assists, the thrill of anticipation we felt every time he got the ball ? all have been reflected upon at length.

The only thing I can add is that while the 'Oh Huckerby?' song felt like a pale cover version of 'Oh Bellamy?' when it was first sung, it now seems odd to think that the tune was ever used to acclaim anyone else.

As the X Factor judges might say: Hucks, you made the song your own.

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And finally, before the [brief please, ed] summer break? MI5 has confirmed that an anti-terrorist unit has been conducting an undercover surveillance operation at Portman Road.

Apparently they heard the place is full of bin-laden supporters.

Oh, please yourselves.