CONFIMRED - The final countdown

[Hound]

Yep my guess is allow til end of regular season. Banned from play offs should we get there and 7th place would take our place in it

[themwasthedays]

I think the EFL will allow us to finish the season, and will give Dai until early June to sell the club. To some extent, if we get expelled it adds to the argument for a football regulator.

I reckon Dai will finally sell this time, but that’s more in hope than expectation. Football is huge in this country and his sister is a British citizen so killing an ex premiership club wouldn’t look good, but who knows.

Does anyone seriously think a football regulator will be given the power to force a sale of a private business?

Because otherwise a regulator makes absolutely zero difference to this scenario.

Our survival depends on Dai negotiating in good faith and agreeing a sale. Regulator or no regulator. What, in the last 8 years has indicated he will do that? Nothing.

Yes, I have always doubted his desire to sell the club. However, should he finally agree to sell to Platek surely Couhig must only release his liens contemporaneously with the sale. This would avoid the obvious risks should either party withdraw at the 11th hour.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I heard Twitter rumours that there may be a statement from the club on Wednesday which I suspect will reveal all. If they can go public with concrete progress then maybe we'll be alright. I fear it'll be "All sides are working towards a deal, Dai remains committed to selling", in which case we all know what that means.

[windermereROYAL]

I heard Twitter rumours that there may be a statement from the club on Wednesday which I suspect will reveal all. If they can go public with concrete progress then maybe we'll be alright. I fear it'll be "All sides are working towards a deal, Dai remains committed to selling", in which case we all know what that means.

We`ve heard twitter rumours for the last 500+ days, I`ll be glad is something happens but I suspect is some stupid kid with fuck all else to do.

[Mr Angry]

For the EFL, the integrity of the competition is paramount; therefore I do not see us getting suspended/expelled BEFORE the end of the season, and if make the Play Offs, it will include the Play Offs.

Kicking us out before the end of the season will be so much more problematic for them then waiting until the season is over, when the fall out will be far easier for them to handle.

[Greatwesternline]

Being in the play offs is an *interesting development for Couhig.

His claim of loss of profits as a result of club breaching exclusivity is extremely flimsy in a world in which Reading are in mid table destined for another season in League 1.

His claim is not flimsy at all if Reading get promoted, he would have genuinely missed out on buying a Championship club at a League 1 price. I do therefore think that our cosying up to 6th place may strengthen his resolve to make life difficult...He doesn't want the chance of a £10-20m instant windfall slip through his fingers without a fight.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I heard Twitter rumours that there may be a statement from the club on Wednesday which I suspect will reveal all. If they can go public with concrete progress then maybe we'll be alright. I fear it'll be "All sides are working towards a deal, Dai remains committed to selling", in which case we all know what that means.

We`ve heard twitter rumours for the last 500+ days, I`ll be glad is something happens but I suspect is some stupid kid with fuck all else to do.

Given the deadlines, it's a safe bet we'll get a club statement this week.

[Forbury Lion]

I've not read every post on here (who has), but my thoughts on the winding up order at this time.

In Formula One, When Lotus had Honda-Mugen engines and McLaren wanted them, they bought up debt from Lotus' suppliers and then were able to submit a winding up order and use that as leverage.

So.... Has this agency submitted a winding up order off it's own back or has someone wealthy promised to do business with them in future and suggested it might be in both their interests if they were to submit a winding up petition to delay sale proceedings?

Just a thought, obviously don't have anyone in mind.

[Snowflake Royal]

I heard Twitter rumours that there may be a statement from the club on Wednesday which I suspect will reveal all. If they can go public with concrete progress then maybe we'll be alright. I fear it'll be "All sides are working towards a deal, Dai remains committed to selling", in which case we all know what that means.

Fat chance. It'll say little of substance, same as all the others. But Dai will remain committed to selling and the best for RFC.

[Forbury Lion]

For the EFL, the integrity of the competition is paramount; therefore I do not see us getting suspended/expelled BEFORE the end of the season, and if make the Play Offs, it will include the Play Offs.

Kicking us out before the end of the season will be so much more problematic for them then waiting until the season is over, when the fall out will be far easier for them to handle.

I don't think they'd want us to win the playoffs and then get thrown out, there would be legal claims from the other teams.

However if they threw us out just before the playoffs and let the 7th placed team take our spot that would probably work for them, although not sure if the rules force them to exclude all fixtures against us and re-work the table, which might even affect who takes the title (well probably not).

[Snowflake Royal]

For the EFL, the integrity of the competition is paramount; therefore I do not see us getting suspended/expelled BEFORE the end of the season, and if make the Play Offs, it will include the Play Offs.

Kicking us out before the end of the season will be so much more problematic for them then waiting until the season is over, when the fall out will be far easier for them to handle.

I don't think they'd want us to win the playoffs and then get thrown out, there would be legal claims from the other teams.

However if they threw us out just before the playoffs and let the 7th placed team take our spot that would probably work for them, although not sure if the rules force them to exclude all fixtures against us and re-work the table, which might even affect who takes the title (well probably not).

Not if we complete the season.

[WestYorksRoyal]

There is recent precedent of a team finishing in the play-offs and not competing in them due to off field matters; Gateshead last year which was admittedly not in the EFL.

If we're not rescued, letting us finish the season and then giving the play off spot to 7th feels like the least bad option logistically.

[Hendo]

There is recent precedent of a team finishing in the play-offs and not competing in them due to off field matters; Gateshead last year which was admittedly not in the EFL.

If we're not rescued, letting us finish the season and then giving the play off spot to 7th feels like the least bad option logistically.

Slightly different with our situation, being as their ground wasn't up to the EFL standard. Rather than anything ownership related.

[Stranded]

There is recent precedent of a team finishing in the play-offs and not competing in them due to off field matters; Gateshead last year which was admittedly not in the EFL.

If we're not rescued, letting us finish the season and then giving the play off spot to 7th feels like the least bad option logistically.

Slightly different with our situation, being as their ground wasn't up to the EFL standard. Rather than anything ownership related.

Which is why anyone hanging on the "logic" of previous decisions are barking up the wrong tree. There is no precident for what to do with a club where the owner has been disqualified esp. this late in a season.

There is an EFL meeting this week where I'm sure our final fate will be mapped out esp if Dai is still refusing to sell - I would say literally anything is possible.

[East Grinstead Royal]

By no means a precedent for our situation, but Swindon were allowed to compete in the play-offs and duly won promotion before being relegated for financial misdemeanours.

[stealthpapes]

Someone - maybe Snowflake - said this right at the start.

If Dai is disqualified then there's no reason why a club owned by Dai should be allowed to compete in the League.
That's the end point.

The EFL are likely praying we come 7th or lower.

[morganb]

Apparently (according to recent Twitter post)

...on companies house our accounts for last year are now due at end of June and not today

Can anyone with Companies House access please check - thanks. If true, what does it mean?

[Stranded]

Someone - maybe Snowflake - said this right at the start.

If Dai is disqualified then there's no reason why a club owned by Dai should be allowed to compete in the League.
That's the end point.

The EFL are likely praying we come 7th or lower.

This. The moment the clock runs out and we are still owned by Dai, then all bets are off. Looking for sense or precidents is really just a comfort blanket at the moment.

Come the end of the week, if the EFL are not satisfied that a deal is or will definitely complete, then we are at the whim of their statutes and whatever the Board decide. That could be immediate suspension, expulsion or if we are very, very lucky a stay of execution.

My gut feeling is a one month extension with a suspension due to kick in at midnight the day after the final game of the season - so if the club is not sold, we are essentially removed from the final standings - the suspension will be valid until the day after the play-off final weekend completes. If the club is still not sold, then we will be expelled - if sold, we will be placed back into L1 for the following campaign.

This is just a gut feeling as to what the "fairest" path forward is but of course this could go a lot better or a lot worse.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Apparently (according to recent Twitter post)

...on companies house our accounts for last year are now due at end of June and not today

Can anyone with Companies House access please check - thanks. If true, what does it mean?

Way too much reading into things. Having worked in finance, I know how easy it is to get a 3 month extension with Companies House.

[Stranded]

Apparently (according to recent Twitter post)

...on companies house our accounts for last year are now due at end of June and not today

Can anyone with Companies House access please check - thanks. If true, what does it mean?

Well everyone has access to Companies House but yes it shows that the accounts for the period up to end June '24 are due by 30th June '25.