Reading FC Womens World

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Guardian reporting an 11th hour takeover of the women's team has fallen through, and given the FA's deadline to prove funding etc is today it is likely the team will either fold or start lower down the pyramid, Earnshaw now confirming this (or most likely cut and pasting the same article)

[Orion1871]

[Sutekh]

Women's team to cease competition in the WSL, women's academy to close. Debating continues over whether the women's team will fold completely or seek a place lower in the pyramid (thought to be at tier 5).

https://rdg.today/reading-fc-women-to-d ... -to-close/

[windermereROYAL]

Dai is a truly despicable man, if we can`t afford to fund the women`s team surely it`s only a matter of time before the men`s team drop even further into the mire.
I feel there is no way we can survive a whole season without new owners. I`m guessing more points deductions before Christmas.

[Ascotexgunner]

Dai is a truly despicable man, if we can`t afford to fund the women`s team surely it`s only a matter of time before the men`s team drop even further into the mire.
I feel there is no way we can survive a whole season without new owners. I`m guessing more points deductions before Christmas.

It's seriously getting worrying now. I always felt we would never cease to exist, and may be drop a league or two, but this now. Some are mentioning embargo's on loanees and free transfers, I worry the likes of Wing, Knibbs, Bindon etc may want out...if that happens it's League 2 and then where? We seem to be almost sitting in the same seat as Bury were when they went under. What is Dais game? Does he want to the assets and finish the club off? That just doesn't ake sense.

[RoyalBlue]

Dai is a truly despicable man, if we can`t afford to fund the women`s team surely it`s only a matter of time before the men`s team drop even further into the mire.
I feel there is no way we can survive a whole season without new owners. I`m guessing more points deductions before Christmas.

It's seriously getting worrying now. I always felt we would never cease to exist, and may be drop a league or two, but this now. Some are mentioning embargo's on loanees and free transfers, I worry the likes of Wing, Knibbs, Bindon etc may want out...if that happens it's League 2 and then where? We seem to be almost sitting in the same seat as Bury were when they went under. What is Dais game? Does he want to the assets and finish the club off? That just doesn't ake sense.

If Selles decides he's had enough and walks (wouldn't blame him), we are in deep shyte, It is he who is getting the absolute best out of a paper thing squad, albeit that squad has some individual gems within it. He seems to be able to do what Southgate can't and get the absolute best out of the players he has available to him.

[Sutekh]

Dai is a truly despicable man, if we can`t afford to fund the women`s team surely it`s only a matter of time before the men`s team drop even further into the mire.
I feel there is no way we can survive a whole season without new owners. I`m guessing more points deductions before Christmas.

It's seriously getting worrying now. I always felt we would never cease to exist, and may be drop a league or two, but this now. Some are mentioning embargo's on loanees and free transfers, I worry the likes of Wing, Knibbs, Bindon etc may want out...if that happens it's League 2 and then where? We seem to be almost sitting in the same seat as Bury were when they went under. What is Dais game? Does he want to the assets and finish the club off? That just doesn't ake sense.

Dai is a complete *&£#£&*!

Not a ******* word has he uttered to the Reading community since he arrived but then I guess that's part of the overall plan and makes it easier for him to treat the club like he does. Dai doesn't care, reckon he's decided what he wants for the club and he won't sell for anything less irrespective of what even any independent advisors might tell him. Just have to hope a buyer sees a bigger picture and is willing to go along with it and if they are we might start seeing casualties like the women's team. Expecting the men's Academy to be next. Let's just hope something is agreed before then.

[The Royal Forester]

Dai is a truly despicable man, if we can`t afford to fund the women`s team surely it`s only a matter of time before the men`s team drop even further into the mire.
I feel there is no way we can survive a whole season without new owners. I`m guessing more points deductions before Christmas.

It's seriously getting worrying now. I always felt we would never cease to exist, and may be drop a league or two, but this now. Some are mentioning embargo's on loanees and free transfers, I worry the likes of Wing, Knibbs, Bindon etc may want out...if that happens it's League 2 and then where? We seem to be almost sitting in the same seat as Bury were when they went under. What is Dais game? Does he want to the assets and finish the club off? That just doesn't ake sense.

It might make sense to an insane person, (like Dai?). He folds the club, but still holds the deeds-less the charge amount- for the Training Ground which he may hope to sell or rent out to another club. If he sells it and pays off the loan he is still getting money on that asset. He also owns the stadium which has an ACV. Does the ACV really protect that asset? As I understand it, he cannot sell it for six months giving time for someone to come up with the required amount but Dai does not have to accept that offer. He rejects it, so what happens then, I am not sure. Could it be used, for say an entertainment centre, like the 02 or whatever it is now? Can he then sell it or rent it out in it/s new guise? The charge on some of his shares in the club may make it difficult to fold the club, but maybe he could pay that off from the proceeds from Bearwood

[WestYorksRoyal]

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reading- ... rphy-xslhe

Really insightful post from the ex-CEO of Lewes. Basically pointing to a bigger women's football ecosystem that isn't financially grounded and means that successful women's teams need to be bankrolled by the men's team. When an ownership crisis such as ours occurs, it's inevitable that the womens team is collateral damage.

And of course, we still don't know what we want as fans. If we want to be run sustainably, maybe this is the inevitable outcome (see also academy).

I don't want us to become sustainable in the sense of being profitable. I want an ambitious owner with a clear strategy to target investment well, grow the club and sell on for more, with an exit plan if it doesn't work out. And obviously I see the women's team as part of this. But that's still a benefactor model.

Dai has so much responsibility, but once again I'm reminded that we're currently at the sharp end of a broken system so much bigger than him.

[morganb]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2024/j ... Statement/

Official club statement, dropping to Tier 5

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Confirmed by FA that Championship will operate with one less club and only one relegation place.

Tier 5 is Southern League, we will be playing the likes of Woodley.

[Loafer]

Disgusting

[WestYorksRoyal]

Suspect the timing to coincide with the England game is intentional - won't get the press coverage it deserves.

[windermereROYAL]

Let`s ask this question, if you had the choice to sacrifice the women`s team to save the men`s would you take it? I know my answer.

[Hound]

Let`s ask this question, if you had the choice to sacrifice the women`s team to save the men`s would you take it? I know my answer.

That’s not the question here though; sacrificing the women’s team to keep the men’s team going a bit longer. It doesn’t save it long term

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Let`s ask this question, if you had the choice to sacrifice the women`s team to save the men`s would you take it? I know my answer.

That’s not the question here though; sacrificing the women’s team to keep the men’s team going a bit longer. It doesn’t save it long term

Exactly, my guess is we may have one month of cash from ST money, Premier League money etc to cover monthly costs & wages, I am really fearing the worst now.

[traff]

Let`s ask this question, if you had the choice to sacrifice the women`s team to save the men`s would you take it? I know my answer.

If they were mutually exclusive it might be a question worth considering.
Unfortunately, losing one part of the club indicates that the malignant tumor (Beijing instead of benign) in the club is spreading its tentacles.
Unless aggressively removed very soon I fear, as is more often the result, the cancer wins and kills all it touches.

After all we have seen in the last few years, this has a real feeling of demise about it to me.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I'm disappointed in Fran Kirby not speaking up for her home town - she has the profile to get this higher up the news agenda and we have seen that Dai and Pang don't like to make the news. Also Earps who really developed with us. I don't expect them to become full on campaigners, but they could at least speak out. When Beth Mead spoke out on Thornaby it had a big impact.

The reality is if there is a 14 year old future Fran Kirby in Reading their chances of making it professionally have just fallen dramatically.

[Orion1871]

I'm disappointed in Fran Kirby not speaking up for her home town - she has the profile to get this higher up the news agenda and we have seen that Dai and Pang don't like to make the news. Also Earps who really developed with us. I don't expect them to become full on campaigners, but they could at least speak out. When Beth Mead spoke out on Thornaby it had a big impact.

The reality is if there is a 14 year old future Fran Kirby in Reading their chances of making it professionally have just fallen dramatically.

Few times I've seen her highlights of her score for Chelsea against Reading she was giving it laldy with the celebrations. Doubt she cares much about Reading.

[Brogue]

Might as well close thread. @ forbs