Reading chief executive Joe Jacobson insists the club want to give back to the fans after a tumultuous spell for the club, according to a BBC report.
The giving back starts with convincing the club’s out-of-contract players to sign new deals.
Jacobson Wants To Bring Good News
Having missed out on a place in the League One playoffs, Reading offered deals to 11 players who were at the end of their contracts and so far only Joel Pereira and Lewis Wing have agreed to stay on.
Jacobson commented on the lack of players agreeing to remain a Royal.
“We’re competing with other teams that want our players.”
“We’re working hard behind the scenes. There will be some new faces in as well.”
The former Wycombe Wanderers stalwart, who played 400 times for the Chairboys, is experiencing life as CEO for the first time and his first task is to convince these players that their futures lie at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
“We’re hoping that some of the players will see Joel and Lewis signing and think that they want to be a part of that.”
“If we can add to this and sign some good players on top as we build the squad, then hopefully we can be successful.”
Jacobson Aware Of Supporters’ Importance
Rob Couhig may be new to the owners’ office at the Berkshire club and Jacobson still fresh into the role, but the Welshman is aware of the hardships that fans have faced over the last few seasons under previous owner Dai Yongge.
“The fans have been incredible so far.”
“It feels like they have someone to get behind in Rob. We want to give these fans as much good news as they can get.”
Jacobson insists the new ownership is keen to repay the fans for what they have done for the club over the difficult seasons.
“They almost saved this club themselves last season, not just financially but also being in the public eye and demonstrating. It has been amazing and we now want to give back to them.”
“We were here for the final game of the season when there was a near-full stadium. We want that every week and it is now up to us to put a squad together that can make the experience of coming to Reading special and making them want to keep coming back.”
Writer’s View
After years of struggle under the former owner, Reading fans will be hopeful that the Couhig and Jacobson combination can lead to more prosperous times.
In his first role of this type, Jacobson has a huge task rebuilding a squad that is capable of improving on last season’s seventh-place finish.
