According to the latest statement on the club website, it seems as though this match is in danger of not being played. it clearly states that an extension has been granted to Saturday 5th. April for Dai to divest his shares in Reading FC. Whether that means at hte beginning of the day or end, is not clarified. So if this game goes ahead it may mean you may have the "honour" of playing in our very last League games ever. Or, if a new club rises from the ashes for a good few years, at least.
I think you worry too much, the EFL would look foolish if they sanctioned Reading by expelling them from the EFL before the end of the season should Dai Yongge not divest his interest. Much more likely is a financial penalty to Reading FC - I know that punishes Reading FC not Dai Yongge directly. I could see them not allowed to play in the play-offs if they finish 3rd-7th though.
Here's a quote from the statement
Following earlier discussion with the EFL, the time allowed for the divestment to take place was extended until Saturday 5th April. Whilst the EFL Board ultimately has the power within its regulations to suspend the club amongst its options if Mr Dai’s interests are not divested by this date, we remain in close dialogue with the league with the full intention of avoiding this eventuality.
I wonder if there is a precedent for dropping a club down a division, so forcing Reading to play in league 2 next season? That really would be painful for the club and supporters.
Interested why you think a division drop would be a punishment?
Surely it'd either be some sort of points ban, starting next season, or worst case, being deleted from the league.
Hopefully neither happen, this Dai fella disappears and they can get back to some sort of normality, where all they worry about is how poor the football is, or not beating some team they expect to beat.
Who wrote that statement on the Reading club website? Seems strange that nobody has put their name to it and it's just 'the club'. In normal circumstances that would be fine, but in Reading's current situation that could be any number of people surely?
Oh it definitely would yes, but what would the reason be?
Luton had a 30 point deduction once, and other clubs have just been bombed out of the league entirely, so couldn't see a relegation, unless they decided they'd committed about 25 points worth of fineable stuff AND it was to be applied instantly. Which we've seen with Derby doesn't seem to be the way.
As someone else said, no way do the EFL mess up the season for other clubs with a month to go. It would be a deduction to take Reading out of the playoff hunt, followed by whatever sterner punishment they deem fit in the offseason if still required.
Personally, I think we can all agree that the most appropriate punishment should they fail to sell by April 5th is forfeiting the game on that date with a 3-0 scoreline and a points increase of 12 applied to the victor instead of taken from Reading.
Now off to check which lucky club they play on that day.
As per the statement - the EFL have a range of options open to them, including suspending the club. I'm just wondering if dropping them a division is an option, hence I questioned if there was a precedent.
It's anyone's guess who wrote the statement as it's unattributed, also undated. Two of my biggest bugs with online statements - allows them to be quoted entirely out of context, if you so wish. Anyway it could be AI generated or be the collective works of caged monkeys. 🤷♂️
Swindon were relegated two divisions in 1990 reduced to one division after appeal. They had just won the play off final so technically just stayed in the same division.
The EFL really have been terrible at providing clear communication as to when the deadline actually is (or the point at which they could deliver the coup de grace at a moment's notice). If that is the situation, the end could be more imminent than I thought it would be. As far as games as chicken go, this is pretty mental.
Caught up in the middle are ordinary people supporting their local club. Hopefully the club will survive this episode.
Let’s not forget without that gobby American prick we might of found ourselves either without a club or playing at the same level as Amersham or lower.
For me he did a great job and we had 4 good years. I miss his and Pete’s energy and availability.
Always makes me laugh when people say this, we were a league one club, you think no one was going to buy us ? If it wasn't him, it would've been someone else, maybe someone worse, maybe someone better, who knows.
We were a League One club up for sale with no real assets and large debts. The fact the Trust owned the ground separately was a winner for us fans but a huge negative for potential buyers.
We will never know what could of happened if Rob and Pete had not rocked up but I am grateful they did.
There were other bidders at the time - Bergkamp et al being the one consortium that went public - the Trust entered into an exclusivity deal with the Couhigs without engaging in any transparency. I and others criticised them at the time for that - opening the process up may well have resulted in more bidding or at the very least a better deal from Couhig. We have seen with Reading his willingness to screw over what he perceives as a weaker party during the negotiation phase.
Would we have got promoted that season without Couhig? Probably - because I'm confident we would have been able to get the same upfront investment from others. And whoever took on Wycombe would have benefited from Ainsworth's recruiting; coaching and the peculiar circumstances of the curtailed campaign.
Would another chairman have invested more in the team on promotion to the Championship? Would another chairman have helped Ainsworth secure "The Player" in Jan 2021 which may well have kept us in the division that season? Would another chairman have made empty promises on investment in the infrastructure without doing anything much to deliver them? Would another chairman have basically blackmailed the Trust out of giving up most of their ownership of the club using similar tactics to those that have been exposed in the Reading debacle? Would another chairman have lied about the reasons for getting out of the club while working behind the scenes to take over nearby rivals? Would another chairman have delivered daylight fireworks, terrible food options and cheerleaders? Who knows.
we’ll never know what the sliding doors scenario would have been had the Couhigs not bought the club. Maybe we would have had back to back promotions winning cups along the road until final Champions League glory. Maybe we would now be in the conference or below. Who knows.
what we do know is that we were bankrupt when he got involved. Under his reign we had five memorable seasons and he left the club with credible new owners on a better place than when he took it on.
Sure he didn’t get everything right - no one ever does - but overall his ownership was a success in my book. I wish him well.
Couldn’t have put it any better. Having had many years experience of serving on the board of our wonderful club I know how difficult it is to achieve everything you set out to do. Rob gambled a small fortune on getting involved with WWFC with no guarantee that he would ever see his money again. He came in at a time when we were in a desperate position and not only left us in a much better state but found a new buyer whose wealth and ambition most clubs could only dream of.
Never be an owner, manager or goalie, you're always only one step away from being (historically) a prick.
I'm not sure if my memory serves me correctly, but weren't we down to nine players and Gaz buying nets before the takeover.
As the saying goes hindsight is a wonderful thing and why the Trust threw Bergkamp's money and Andy Harman's academy back in their faces, we may never know.
I enjoyed the RC reign of terror myself.
As for infrastructure @theRoyalBiscuit you might have enjoyed success on the pitch, but your stadium wasn't improving anytime soon.
No-one ever answered my question if The Player Rob refused to sign and who would have secured our Championship status was a striker to score more goals or a defender who would have prevented the two draws we got from winning positions in the run-in?
You only have to look at the current, much richer owners we have, to see that promotion is a fickle mistress. If the Bergkamp group had come in, they might have installed a Dutch supercoach right away, who knows? That team was promoted on team spirit and resilience more than out-and-out talent or tactics, and it was a perfect match between ownership, management and team.
Ownership is not plug and play. For all RC's bluster, he always accepted he did not know a lot about football, and got behind his managers. That led to a promotion. The current lot "know everything", seemed outright offended that Blooms had us top, and have rectified it!
Comments
According to the latest statement on the club website, it seems as though this match is in danger of not being played. it clearly states that an extension has been granted to Saturday 5th. April for Dai to divest his shares in Reading FC. Whether that means at hte beginning of the day or end, is not clarified. So if this game goes ahead it may mean you may have the "honour" of playing in our very last League games ever. Or, if a new club rises from the ashes for a good few years, at least.
https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/march/27/club-statement-update/
Oh for the better days to return, when all we had to worry about Maxwell and Thames Valley Royals!
I think you worry too much, the EFL would look foolish if they sanctioned Reading by expelling them from the EFL before the end of the season should Dai Yongge not divest his interest. Much more likely is a financial penalty to Reading FC - I know that punishes Reading FC not Dai Yongge directly. I could see them not allowed to play in the play-offs if they finish 3rd-7th though.
Here's a quote from the statement
Following earlier discussion with the EFL, the time allowed for the divestment to take place was extended until Saturday 5th April. Whilst the EFL Board ultimately has the power within its regulations to suspend the club amongst its options if Mr Dai’s interests are not divested by this date, we remain in close dialogue with the league with the full intention of avoiding this eventuality.
I wonder if there is a precedent for dropping a club down a division, so forcing Reading to play in league 2 next season? That really would be painful for the club and supporters.
He's nothing to do with us anymore but I'm utterly embarrassed by Rob Couhig's role in this whole fiasco.
Completely taints his legacy in my opinion. For me, he wouldn't be welcome at Adams Park any more.
Interested why you think a division drop would be a punishment?
Surely it'd either be some sort of points ban, starting next season, or worst case, being deleted from the league.
Hopefully neither happen, this Dai fella disappears and they can get back to some sort of normality, where all they worry about is how poor the football is, or not beating some team they expect to beat.
Dropping them to league 2 for next season would be more of a punishment than a points deduction applied in league 1 next year IMHO.
Who wrote that statement on the Reading club website? Seems strange that nobody has put their name to it and it's just 'the club'. In normal circumstances that would be fine, but in Reading's current situation that could be any number of people surely?
Oh it definitely would yes, but what would the reason be?
Luton had a 30 point deduction once, and other clubs have just been bombed out of the league entirely, so couldn't see a relegation, unless they decided they'd committed about 25 points worth of fineable stuff AND it was to be applied instantly. Which we've seen with Derby doesn't seem to be the way.
As someone else said, no way do the EFL mess up the season for other clubs with a month to go. It would be a deduction to take Reading out of the playoff hunt, followed by whatever sterner punishment they deem fit in the offseason if still required.
Personally, I think we can all agree that the most appropriate punishment should they fail to sell by April 5th is forfeiting the game on that date with a 3-0 scoreline and a points increase of 12 applied to the victor instead of taken from Reading.
Now off to check which lucky club they play on that day.
It does feel like RC has found a way to be the only owner who actually makes money from football.
As per the statement - the EFL have a range of options open to them, including suspending the club. I'm just wondering if dropping them a division is an option, hence I questioned if there was a precedent.
It's anyone's guess who wrote the statement as it's unattributed, also undated. Two of my biggest bugs with online statements - allows them to be quoted entirely out of context, if you so wish. Anyway it could be AI generated or be the collective works of caged monkeys. 🤷♂️
Swindon were relegated two divisions in 1990 reduced to one division after appeal. They had just won the play off final so technically just stayed in the same division.
It's the statement of Reading FC the organisation. Not a statement of an individual(s).
Definitely an "interesting character".
Once a gobby American prick, always a gobby American prick
The EFL really have been terrible at providing clear communication as to when the deadline actually is (or the point at which they could deliver the coup de grace at a moment's notice). If that is the situation, the end could be more imminent than I thought it would be. As far as games as chicken go, this is pretty mental.
Caught up in the middle are ordinary people supporting their local club. Hopefully the club will survive this episode.
Let’s not forget without that gobby American prick we might of found ourselves either without a club or playing at the same level as Amersham or lower.
For me he did a great job and we had 4 good years. I miss his and Pete’s energy and availability.
Yes, for all the hilarious bluster and absolutely obviously never happening in a million years stuff, what you say shouldn't be forgotten.
Always makes me laugh when people say this, we were a league one club, you think no one was going to buy us ? If it wasn't him, it would've been someone else, maybe someone worse, maybe someone better, who knows.
We were a League One club up for sale with no real assets and large debts. The fact the Trust owned the ground separately was a winner for us fans but a huge negative for potential buyers.
We will never know what could of happened if Rob and Pete had not rocked up but I am grateful they did.
For me they will always be welcome back at AP
They turned up, put the money in and created the platform for Ainsworth's magic.
The soundbites were mostly pie in the sky stuff, but at times it's good to hear your chairman saying you're going for it.
There were other bidders at the time - Bergkamp et al being the one consortium that went public - the Trust entered into an exclusivity deal with the Couhigs without engaging in any transparency. I and others criticised them at the time for that - opening the process up may well have resulted in more bidding or at the very least a better deal from Couhig. We have seen with Reading his willingness to screw over what he perceives as a weaker party during the negotiation phase.
Would we have got promoted that season without Couhig? Probably - because I'm confident we would have been able to get the same upfront investment from others. And whoever took on Wycombe would have benefited from Ainsworth's recruiting; coaching and the peculiar circumstances of the curtailed campaign.
Would another chairman have invested more in the team on promotion to the Championship? Would another chairman have helped Ainsworth secure "The Player" in Jan 2021 which may well have kept us in the division that season? Would another chairman have made empty promises on investment in the infrastructure without doing anything much to deliver them? Would another chairman have basically blackmailed the Trust out of giving up most of their ownership of the club using similar tactics to those that have been exposed in the Reading debacle? Would another chairman have lied about the reasons for getting out of the club while working behind the scenes to take over nearby rivals? Would another chairman have delivered daylight fireworks, terrible food options and cheerleaders? Who knows.
Exactly, but apparently we've got this bullshiter to thank for not playing against Amersham next season lol
Mr Shitstirrer strikes again…..
we’ll never know what the sliding doors scenario would have been had the Couhigs not bought the club. Maybe we would have had back to back promotions winning cups along the road until final Champions League glory. Maybe we would now be in the conference or below. Who knows.
what we do know is that we were bankrupt when he got involved. Under his reign we had five memorable seasons and he left the club with credible new owners on a better place than when he took it on.
Sure he didn’t get everything right - no one ever does - but overall his ownership was a success in my book. I wish him well.
I think it is extremely unlikely we get promoted in 2019/20 without the Couhigs, but really who can say for sure.
Would @aloysius be the person they are today without RCs involvement? Who knows.
Couldn’t have put it any better. Having had many years experience of serving on the board of our wonderful club I know how difficult it is to achieve everything you set out to do. Rob gambled a small fortune on getting involved with WWFC with no guarantee that he would ever see his money again. He came in at a time when we were in a desperate position and not only left us in a much better state but found a new buyer whose wealth and ambition most clubs could only dream of.
Never be an owner, manager or goalie, you're always only one step away from being (historically) a prick.
I'm not sure if my memory serves me correctly, but weren't we down to nine players and Gaz buying nets before the takeover.
As the saying goes hindsight is a wonderful thing and why the Trust threw Bergkamp's money and Andy Harman's academy back in their faces, we may never know.
I enjoyed the RC reign of terror myself.
As for infrastructure @theRoyalBiscuit you might have enjoyed success on the pitch, but your stadium wasn't improving anytime soon.
No-one ever answered my question if The Player Rob refused to sign and who would have secured our Championship status was a striker to score more goals or a defender who would have prevented the two draws we got from winning positions in the run-in?
You only have to look at the current, much richer owners we have, to see that promotion is a fickle mistress. If the Bergkamp group had come in, they might have installed a Dutch supercoach right away, who knows? That team was promoted on team spirit and resilience more than out-and-out talent or tactics, and it was a perfect match between ownership, management and team.
Ownership is not plug and play. For all RC's bluster, he always accepted he did not know a lot about football, and got behind his managers. That led to a promotion. The current lot "know everything", seemed outright offended that Blooms had us top, and have rectified it!