Wimb I'd agree to an extent that Madejski clearly isn't bankrolling the club to the tune he was a few years ago but I'd say it's down to perception about whether we're still spending at comparable levels.
Madejski isn't bankrolling the club at all. He is in a different financial situation to years ago. His money is tied up trying to support businesses in his portfolio that actually can make money!
The club has to generate its own transfer budget, and that is why Brian has a far tougher job than any of the predecessors you mentioned.
That point apart, I fully agree with everything you said there.
The problem is, you are preaching to the converted. I, like you, "have been there and done that" years ago in the lower leagues with RFC.
I'm committed. So are most who post on here, but we're not the answer to the club's long term viability. There aren't enough of us.(and that's where I came in originally, with RoyalBlue)
Reading do not have a worldwide profile, or a glorious past to trade on, so the club has to build its fanbase itself.
Many, within the club, and on here like playing the "look at the books" card. That's fair enough, I understand that, I do my company's accounts myself, but I also know that business costs only form part of the overall picture.
Even before I went out on my own, I was selling stuff for more years than I care to remember.
Put simply, if costs exceed sales, then you can either a) cut costs b) increase sales c) do both.
My point is that the club, (in the person of JM) is very good at telling the world and its dog that costs must be cut, and is rigorously implementing cost cutting. This has manifested itself in the sale of most of the club's stellar playing assets.
I put it to you that as humans, we all make a value judgements. Land Rover are bucking the trend in the car industry. Sales are up. as are profits.
Do you think that would have been achieved had they closed their engine plant down, and put a Mahindra engine in instead?
The floating (or fairweather supporters, if you prefer) only read the headlines. They don't post on here, they don't know that HRK is a full Wales international, but they read that Doyle has gone, so has Shorey, etc. Do you get my point now? What is there to encourage these fairweathers back? The club reckon knocking a few quid off the replica shirts, making the odd game "bring a mate" will work, but I believe that initiatives like that are a drop in the ocean when measured against the negative messages given by the sale of stars, and a make do mentality.
