Reading Football Club fans have had a difficult few years supporting their team. If Dai Yongge and his minions are not stopped, this club will be doomed.
In recent years, point deductions, late wage payments, financial problems, court challenges, and the departure of major players and employees have all become common.
During their seven years as Reading FC’s owners, the Dai family has presided over a terrible reign. From spending frivolously during their first few years, and eventually foolishly, in their dreams of rushing the team to the Premier League, the ensuing years have witnessed damage that may be irreversible for the club’s future.
The days of Premier League success appear to be a million miles away, and Reading fans are concerned about the possibility of not having a club to support. That is the terrible reality of the scenario we are currently facing.
It’s been over 500 days since Dai Yongge publicly listed the club for sale. Since then, he has had the guile to turn down numerous offers, while his refusal to fund the club any more has caused everyone involved to suffer as the club struggles to find money to stay afloat month after month.
Nigel Howe, the former Reading CEO and currently project properties manager, was tasked by Dai Yongge with overseeing the sale of the club.
Sir John Madejski’s right hand man during some of the club’s most successful periods, a man the fans can rely on. However, his legacy at the club is tainted even further with each passing day that a sale is not completed.
Back in September, I and the rest of the local press were finally able to question Howe in an interview on the takeover process.
I left the interview with no optimism that the takeover process will be completed anytime soon. It’s been over four months since then, and nothing has changed.
Howe has served an FA ban and is now back involved in the process, yet no progress seems to be on the horizon.
I truly believe that Nigel came into the interview completely unprepared for the barrage of tough questions that came his way. He seemed shocked at the nature of some of the questions – even deciding to defend some of Mr Dai’s actions instead of recognising the countless errors made during his ownership.
His answers left me largely frustrated. I was hoping to leave feeling some assurance, but quite honestly felt the opposite.
My message to Nigel Howe – PLEASE communicate as openly and honestly as possible with the fans. It’s the least they deserve after everything they’ve put up with.
I went into the season optimistic about Reading’s chances of having a progressive season under an excellent and highly intelligent manager with a young squad full of potential, but I had a feeling he would either walk away or be poached by another club if the ownership situation wasn’t resolved.
With no money to even think about an outside appointment, Noel Hunt stepped up to the plate and is giving it his all while still learning on the job.
The players and playing staff have been continuously defiant despite every fight back, but there is only so far they can go while they have no financial backing.
There’s enough potential there with a few new additions to make a serious challenge for promotion. Under the ownership of Dai Yongge, that is simply not happening.
Something has to be done to ensure that this isn’t the end of Reading Football Club.
The EFL must act to preserve the future of Reading Football Club. They cannot sit back and let this football club die.
If the EFL has the power to disqualify Dai, they must do so.
There is already blood on the hands of Dai and all of his chronies. There will be blood on the hands of the EFL if Reading are not saved. We simply cannot let them kill Reading Football Club and everyone in a position of power must do their bit to save the future of the club.
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