Confimred new owners of Raeding Footbal Club

[ZacNaloen]

YOU MEAN HE MADE IT UP FOR A JOKE??!

GAAWD.

[winchester_royal]

Shocking. Completely out of character for Pepe as well...

[Uke]

YOU MEAN HE MADE IT UP FOR A JOKE??!

GAAWD.

No Shit Sherlock!

Love the fact that it had a good profile on Twatter though - including Charles Watts...

[ZacNaloen]

I just can't believe Pepe would do something like that AT ALL

[SPARTA]

Nic Cartright (@Nic_Cartwright) is a name that keeps cropping up. Wattsy has heard it mentioned a few times, and he has stayed at the hotel recently. He represents the Omani FA, is English born, and previously was CEO of London Broncos and Harlequins. Perhaps the recent long-ball has caught his eye.

[SPARTA]

Chairman Sir John Madejski has spoken about potential new investment in Reading Football Club.

Writing in his most recent programme notes, the Chairman said, "Much has been spoken about the ownership status and investment in the club over the last few months.

"I can reassure Royals fans that progress is being made with regards to that, and the most important statement I can make at this moment in time is that we are all very confident about the future at Reading.

"As I say, progress is being made, and it is naturally in the interests of every single person connected to the club to attain promotion back to the Premier League as soon as possible."

Chief Executive Nigel Howe said, "There are a number of parties interested in acquiring ownership of the club.

"Discussions have been ongoing for a number of months and we are hopeful of having funding secured by the end of January, so that we will be able to invest in this transfer window."

[Uke]

Chairman Sir John Madejski has spoken about potential new investment in Reading Football Club.

Writing in his most recent programme notes, the Chairman said, "Much has been spoken about the ownership status and investment in the club over the last few months.

"I can reassure Royals fans that progress is being made with regards to that, and the most important statement I can make at this moment in time is that we are all very confident about the future at Reading.

"As I say, progress is being made, and it is naturally in the interests of every single person connected to the club to attain promotion back to the Premier League as soon as possible."

Chief Executive Nigel Howe said, "There are a number of parties interested in acquiring ownership of the club.

"Discussions have been ongoing for a number of months and we are hopeful of having funding secured by the end of January, so that we will be able to invest in this transfer window."

Link http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article ... 79952.aspx

[Extended-Phenotype]

Someone ought to point out that the window closes at the end of January.

[Uke]

Someone ought to point out that the window closes at the end of January.

I think survival from relegation is probably a greater priority than spending for promotion at this time anyway.

We've (pretty much) got that covered.

Look at the current top sides in the Championship and where they finished last season for an idea of what may happen.

[MouldyRoyal]

I just can't believe Pepe would do something like that AT ALL

I am never going to believe anything he says ever again.

[Extended-Phenotype]

I am never going to believe anything YOU says ever again.

[Tilehurstsouthbank]

@charles_watts: I've been told that the man behind the US bid is WWF's Vince McMahon.

I'd be very surprised if Vince McMahon has anything to do with this.

Easy catch for Pepe.

Can't believe I even considered that being true!

[Big Ern]

Someone ought to point out that the window closes at the end of January.

Got a horrible feeling any buyout won't be completed before the end of Jan. There should still be somthing to spend, but nowhere near the level we need to make us competitive enough yo compete with the best teams in this division.

[Badger Finger]

Embrace the average

I'd be good to have a couple of quiet years

[genome]

Embrace the average

I'd be good to have a couple of quiet years

I was thinking this the other day. Maybe the big overreaction is because we are having a bang average season for once.

I mean look at this

2006 - Won league
2007 - Nearly got into Europe, highest ever finish
2008 - Releg8ed
2009 - Lost in Play Off Semi's
2010 - Looked doomed, pulled it back and nearly got into playoffs
2011 - Lost in Play Off Final
2012 - Won league
2013 - Releg8ed

It's been 8 years since we had a boring season

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

Embrace the average

I'd be good to have a couple of quiet years

I was thinking this the other day. Maybe the big overreaction is because we are having a bang average season for once.

I mean look at this

2006 - Won league
2007 - Nearly got into Europe, highest ever finish
2008 - Releg8ed
2009 - Lost in Play Off Semi's
2010 - Looked doomed, pulled it back and nearly got into playoffs
2011 - Lost in Play Off Final
2012 - Won league
2013 - Releg8ed

It's been 8 years since we had a boring season

Quite! We've been spoilt!

[loyalroyal4life]

Chairman Sir John Madejski has spoken about potential new investment in Reading Football Club.

Writing in his most recent programme notes, the Chairman said, "Much has been spoken about the ownership status and investment in the club over the last few months.

"I can reassure Royals fans that progress is being made with regards to that, and the most important statement I can make at this moment in time is that we are all very confident about the future at Reading.

"As I say, progress is being made, and it is naturally in the interests of every single person connected to the club to attain promotion back to the Premier League as soon as possible."

Chief Executive Nigel Howe said, "There are a number of parties interested in acquiring ownership of the club.

"Discussions have been ongoing for a number of months and we are hopeful of having funding secured by the end of January, so that we will be able to invest in this transfer window."

So pretty much a rehash of what he said when TSI took over

[Esteban]

Embrace the average

I'd be good to have a couple of quiet years

I was thinking this the other day. Maybe the big overreaction is because we are having a bang average season for once.

I mean look at this

2006 - Won league
2007 - Nearly got into Europe, highest ever finish
2008 - Releg8ed
2009 - Lost in Play Off Semi's
2010 - Looked doomed, pulled it back and nearly got into playoffs
2011 - Lost in Play Off Final
2012 - Won league
2013 - Releg8ed

It's been 8 years since we had a boring season

I think it might be longer than that, actually. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but from memory:

2005 - Could have made play-offs on last day of season, lost 3-0 away to Wigan
2004 - Was in with a shout of the play-offs right up to the last game or thereabouts?
2003 - Lost in play-off semi-final
2002 - Promoted
2001 - Lost in play-off final
2000 - Looked doomed to relegation, pulled out of it under Pardew's management

We've had 12 years or so of relative success and although there were two relegations from the PL in there, given the size of our club and our history, that's still pretty good going.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Someone ought to point out that the window closes at the end of January.

If Reading do anything in the transfer window this month it won't be until the end of the month. By then no doubt both Sharp and Baird will have moved elsewhere....

[Ian Royal]

Embrace the average

I'd be good to have a couple of quiet years

I was thinking this the other day. Maybe the big overreaction is because we are having a bang average season for once.

I mean look at this

2006 - Won league
2007 - Nearly got into Europe, highest ever finish
2008 - Releg8ed
2009 - Lost in Play Off Semi's
2010 - Looked doomed, pulled it back and nearly got into playoffs
2011 - Lost in Play Off Final
2012 - Won league
2013 - Releg8ed

It's been 8 years since we had a boring season

In a way I miss the adrenaline of the relegation survivals in the late 90s. In some ways beating relegation is just as satisfying as winning the league. I was thinking the other day that it's a shit we haven't survived a full on relegation fight since 1997.

We've had two shit half seasons where we've had to worry and then ended up storming up to 9th / 10th, but that hardly counts.