Reading are in the midst of a tense battle on the field to stave off relegation to League Two, but off the pitch, the club are also undergoing a potential change of ownership.
This has been a season of transition for the Royals. Having been docked six points in total over the course of the campaign, head coach Ruben Selles is desperately trying to rally his troops ahead of the final 10 games in League One.
The Berkshire club have a difficult run in from now until the end of the campaign and still have to face three of the teams in the division’s top four places — Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley — all of which are away from home. Furthermore, the former Premier League club are five points above the relegation zone as it stands but have played two more games than both Cheltenham Town and Port Vale.
A cracking day out on Saturday 😉
Behind the scenes from Brunton Park with Access All Areas 👇#ReadingFC
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) March 4, 2024
Fan protests against the club’s owner Dai Yongge have been a common theme throughout the season, which even led to the postponement of a game against Port Vale at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in mid-January, with the supporters desperate for the Chinese businessman to sell the club.
Speaking in a club statement to fans on Tuesday afternoon, Head of Football Operations Mark Bowen issued an important update on Reading’s potential sale, stating that talks are “progressing” and that there have been an “extremely high volume of enquires”:
“The sale of the Club is progressing, with the help and expertise of Nigel Howe. There have been an extremely high volume of enquiries, with some primarily focused on the Club’s real estate assets – notably the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park.
“Whilst every proposal is considered, the primary focus for Nigel and Mr Dai is to sell all assets and the Club inclusively – so we must be patient in allowing the correct process to be followed,” he continued.
“I know Nigel is keeping STAR regularly informed and I thank them for their support with our communication.”
Writer’s View
When the dust finally settles on Yongge’s reign at Reading, supporters will breath a massive, collective sigh of relief, particularly if it comes before the end of the season, marking one of the most difficult periods in the club’s recent history.
Nevertheless, Selles and the players have done themselves and the fans very proud and the head coach will undoubtedly have thrown his name in the hat for Manager of the Season if he is able to keep the Royals in England’s third tier despite such difficult circumstances.