“He’s destroyed our club" - Reaction given to new Reading FC takeover update | OneFootball

FLW's Reading fan pundit has given his verdict on the latest developments involving the ownership situation

Reading have entered into a period of exclusive talks with a fresh potential buyer of the club.

The Royals released a statement on their official website earlier this week confirming that discussions are underway with a potential investor.

The League One side is up for sale, with owner Dai Yongge also in talks to sell their home stadium and training ground as part of the deal.

Previous attempts to purchase the club have collapsed, including from ex-Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig.

Supporters will be eager to see the Berkshire outfit change hands, with the EFL imposing another transfer embargo on the team this week as well.

Reading ownership claim made

When asked about the latest development involving the club’s ownership, FLW’s Reading fan pundit Johnny Hunt claimed that any associate of Yongge’s should have no control of a football club in England amid reports from the iPaper that a Hong Kong businessman with links to Dai Yongge is being linked with a takeover.

He is hoping that a resolution can be found soon, but believes no one with any association with Yongge should be allowed to own any English team.

“If the EFL have any sense of any responsibility to football or the club, they will not allow anyone with any contacts or links with Dai Yongge to run a football club, let alone Reading,” Hunt told Football League World.

“You cannot have someone who is an associate of his anywhere near football.

“He’s destroyed our club, anyone with him there would be a fear of him doing the same.

“I think it will definitely not be sold to anyone that’s linked to him.

“There’s been talk about previous bidders coming back to the table, and possible new ones.

“If it’s the previous ones, why didn’t they get first choice last time? Is it a case of how much is being offered, or terms or conditions? Who knows? None of us know.

“We thought we were there with Rob Couhig, we thought it was a done deal.

“Maybe whoever the person that gets the club this time, and hopefully it will happen and hopefully it will happen quick cause the background stuff has been done so the process won’t take a few months.

“But it’s down to two things really, will Dai Yongge actually sell the club? He’s had a year to do it, and it hasn’t happened.

“Still not 100 per cent convinced.

“When somebody like Rob Couhig started dancing around, and basically kind of rubbing it in his face, I don’t think that’s smart either.

“I think they just need to get the deal done in quiet and then it’s announced, and everything is done.

“I think there’s a bit of ego involved on both sides, so we hope it’s the right people with the right interests of the club and the fans and the players and the coach.

“But get it done soon before we run out of money in November, I think that’s the latest.”

Reading league position

Amid all of this off-pitch uncertainty, Ruben Selles has continued to manage the team in League One.

The Royals are currently 16th in the table ahead of tonight’s EFL Trophy clash with Cheltenham Town at 7pm.

Selles’ side lost 2-1 last weekend to Rotherham United, which put them three points adrift of the play-off places, albeit having played a game fewer than many of their rivals.

Their next league game will come on 19 October against Crawley Town.

Reading can’t keep having this ownership uncertainty hang over them, especially with money quickly running out.

The fans have done so much to show their support for the team as they protest the current ownership.

No fan base should have question marks over the long-term viability of their club, but that is the concern at the moment if no deal can be agreed with a buyer.