CONFIMRED - The final countdown

[Snowflake Royal]

That's the next hurdle. If Couhig rejects the escrow then I presume Playtex will pull out and Couhig will re-enter the saga as front runner with the club then hanging by a thread as an impasse is reached. Hey presto! The FL suspend Reading w.e.f. Easter period (so the games that mean something v Blackpool and Wycombe can get played) and we shambles on until the crunch of early June when either the schoolboy starts talking to RC to finally resolve it or the club is thrown out of the FL.

I don't think this will rumble on until early June.

Clubs need to know which division they are in before that, so they can plan accordingly, and the EFL won't want League One to potentially have 23 teams in it next season. I do think that unless there are concrete signs that a deal is about to happen, we are gone on the 4th of May. Even if it looks like a sale is imminent, there will probably be a very tight extension.

Certainly how I see it.

We'll be saved or sunk before the fixtures get run, that's for sure.

[Elm Park Kid]

That's the next hurdle. If Couhig rejects the escrow then I presume Playtex will pull out and Couhig will re-enter the saga as front runner with the club then hanging by a thread as an impasse is reached. Hey presto! The FL suspend Reading w.e.f. Easter period (so the games that mean something v Blackpool and Wycombe can get played) and we shambles on until the crunch of early June when either the schoolboy starts talking to RC to finally resolve it or the club is thrown out of the FL.

I don't think this will rumble on until early June.

Clubs need to know which division they are in before that, so they can plan accordingly, and the EFL won't want League One to potentially have 23 teams in it next season. I do think that unless there are concrete signs that a deal is about to happen, we are gone on the 4th of May. Even if it looks like a sale is imminent, there will probably be a very tight extension.

Certainly how I see it.

We'll be saved or sunk before the fixtures get run, that's for sure.

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

[Snowflake Royal]

I don't think this will rumble on until early June.

Clubs need to know which division they are in before that, so they can plan accordingly, and the EFL won't want League One to potentially have 23 teams in it next season. I do think that unless there are concrete signs that a deal is about to happen, we are gone on the 4th of May. Even if it looks like a sale is imminent, there will probably be a very tight extension.

Certainly how I see it.

We'll be saved or sunk before the fixtures get run, that's for sure.

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

That's optimistic given its already a month after the already extended deadline.

[Elm Park Kid]

Certainly how I see it.

We'll be saved or sunk before the fixtures get run, that's for sure.

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

That's optimistic given its already a month after the already extended deadline.

It's the EFL's deadline - they can change it if they want to. Kicking us out of the EFL when there is a chance we will get new ownership would create such a shitstorm that they will do absolutely everything they can to avoid it. I don't think people can comprehend just how disastrous it would be for the EFL and English football authorities in general if we disappeared - especially with the Football Regulator bill going through parliament right now. It could threaten their entire independence and the livelihoods of a lot of people.

[themwasthedays]

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

That's optimistic given its already a month after the already extended deadline.

It's the EFL's deadline - they can change it if they want to. Kicking us out of the EFL when there is a chance we will get new ownership would create such a shitstorm that they will do absolutely everything they can to avoid it. I don't think people can comprehend just how disastrous it would be for the EFL and English football authorities in general if we disappeared - especially with the Football Regulator bill going through parliament right now. It could threaten their entire independence and the livelihoods of a lot of people.

The EFL are caught between ' a rock and a hard place', but let's hope they take a pragmatic view, in their deliberations. Good luck with that!

[Orion1871]

Conspiracy theory time. The EFL want a regulator, the PL don't. Wouldn't it suit the EFL for there to be a reason to introduce the regulator?

[grey_squirrel]

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

That's optimistic given its already a month after the already extended deadline.

It's the EFL's deadline - they can change it if they want to. Kicking us out of the EFL when there is a chance we will get new ownership would create such a shitstorm that they will do absolutely everything they can to avoid it. I don't think people can comprehend just how disastrous it would be for the EFL and English football authorities in general if we disappeared - especially with the Football Regulator bill going through parliament right now. It could threaten their entire independence and the livelihoods of a lot of people.

I get where EPK is coming from but simplistically this Chinese bloke has a track record of destroying two previous clubs, has two viable options on the table to sell, has had numerous other opportunities to sell, has long known he is borrowed time, has ignored warning after warning, been lumbered with fines, left the Club with penalties, the whole shebang. I think the EFL will say and be able to demonstrate sufficient tolerance and whilst I hate to say it have every justification to say enough is enough and wrap it. I'd actually argue in doing so this enhances the position of any potential future regulator and will also send the sternest warning to other charlatans with misplaced club owning aspirations.

[PieEater]

Dai has ignored repeated warnings from the EFL and messed around purchasers, but he's paid his fines, the wages and tax are (currently) being paid, and it looks like we should complete our fixtures. so the only thing he's guilty of now is failing the F&PPT.

So I don't think the EFL could boot us out before the end of the season. The next gate for them is the fixture list, which unfortunately is before Couhigs court case, so presumably that's why they've ramped up the pressure to sell in April with a mind to extend to May, but June is too late for them.

[blueroyals]

I suspect the club will have the right of appeal to an independent body for any suspension/expulsion decision. Don't forget the last time the EFL tried to disqualify Dai an independent panel denied it, so it appears to be a very high bar.

Frankly I think as long as the club can demonstrate they are in dialog with an interested party, and they keep finding ways to pay the bills, I don't think any independent body would agree that permanent expulsion is a proportional and fair punishment. I think the EFL's bark is worse than their bite, but hopefully Dai/Pang don't call their bluff.

Given the club can already demonstrate that tangible progress has been made on a sale since the disqualification was last extended (escrow proposal), and the EFL don't want the implicative hassle, I would bet my house that another extension is granted next week.

[Snowflake Royal]

My expectation is that if this drags on till May then the EFL will demand that the club provide them with a full plan/timetable for the sale. If at that stage we just can't provide enough evidence that the club will be sold before the new season then they begin the process to remove us from the EFL. If we can provide enough reassurance then i'd assume that they would get us to sign up to a timetable with agree progress points - which if we were to miss any we would then be expelled.

There's zero chance that we get kicked out on the 4th May.

That's optimistic given its already a month after the already extended deadline.

It's the EFL's deadline - they can change it if they want to. Kicking us out of the EFL when there is a chance we will get new ownership would create such a shitstorm that they will do absolutely everything they can to avoid it. I don't think people can comprehend just how disastrous it would be for the EFL and English football authorities in general if we disappeared - especially with the Football Regulator bill going through parliament right now. It could threaten their entire independence and the livelihoods of a lot of people.

If Dai hasn't sold in two years, and after being given notice to sell or get kicked out the league, with two deadline extensions, what is another month going to achieve? Nothing.

Regulator is already being watered down. By taking action, the FL are showing they are doing everything in their power. By doing nothing, they're showing their rules are worthless.

[Snowflake Royal]

I suspect the club will have the right of appeal to an independent body for any suspension/expulsion decision. Don't forget the last time the EFL tried to disqualify Dai an independent panel denied it, so it appears to be a very high bar.

Frankly I think as long as the club can demonstrate they are in dialog with an interested party, and they keep finding ways to pay the bills, I don't think any independent body would agree that permanent expulsion is a proportional and fair punishment. I think the EFL's bark is worse than their bite, but hopefully Dai/Pang don't call their bluff.

Given the club can already demonstrate that tangible progress has been made on a sale since the disqualification was last extended (escrow proposal), and the EFL don't want the implicative hassle, I would bet my house that another extension is granted next week.

He's been disqualified. It's been done.

[WestYorksRoyal]

They have to let us finish the season, not just for ourselves but for the league. Imagine how different the table looks with our results expunged, or teams still due to play us given rest fixture days in a congested run it. Some sort of club legal action against the EFL would not be out of the question.

[Greatwesternline]

I suspect the club will have the right of appeal to an independent body for any suspension/expulsion decision. Don't forget the last time the EFL tried to disqualify Dai an independent panel denied it, so it appears to be a very high bar.

Frankly I think as long as the club can demonstrate they are in dialog with an interested party, and they keep finding ways to pay the bills, I don't think any independent body would agree that permanent expulsion is a proportional and fair punishment. I think the EFL's bark is worse than their bite, but hopefully Dai/Pang don't call their bluff.

Given the club can already demonstrate that tangible progress has been made on a sale since the disqualification was last extended (escrow proposal), and the EFL don't want the implicative hassle, I would bet my house that another extension is granted next week.

Yup. This. Do the EFL want RFC to take them to CAS? No they don't. Everyone involved will try and spin this out to get an outcome that is tolerable. Kicking a club out of the league which is meeting it's bills at present would be disproportionate. This rumbles on. Thankfully.

[tmesis]

Dai has ignored repeated warnings from the EFL and messed around purchasers, but he's paid his fines, the wages and tax are (currently) being paid, and it looks like we should complete our fixtures. so the only thing he's guilty of now is failing the F&PPT.

So I don't think the EFL could boot us out before the end of the season. The next gate for them is the fixture list, which unfortunately is before Couhigs court case, so presumably that's why they've ramped up the pressure to sell in April with a mind to extend to May, but June is too late for them.

They are not going to want to wait until the middle of June.

If a club is kicked out, the standard approach is to give one team a reprieve from relegation. It would be incredibly difficult for a club finishing 21st in League One, or 23rd in League Two, to plan for the following season if they don't know which division they will be in. Most clubs will be releasing players from contracts on the 6th of May.

May 4th is the extended deadline. It should have been April 4th. Now, I'm sure if there is overwhelming evidence a deal is imminent, that date may be pushed back, but they are unlikely to give us weeks to sort it.

Then again, very little in this saga has seemed logical.

[Horsham Royal]

They have to let us finish the season, not just for ourselves but for the league. Imagine how different the table looks with our results expunged, or teams still due to play us given rest fixture days in a congested run it. Some sort of club legal action against the EFL would not be out of the question.

As it stands, expunging our results makes little difference.
Crawley / Burton swap positions in 21st / 22nd but that's it.
(Apart, of course, from Huddersfield moving into the playoffs at our expense).

[Sutekh]

Right so there should be some news today/tomorrow, RC’s decision on whether to accept the escrow or not should become known from some source.

If he accepts it then the club should be financially fine until the end of the season and Platek’s negotiations can proceed. The FL should then be happy that there has been significant progression on the sale and grant extension enabling the club to complete the season and the sale.

If RC rejects the escrow then that is either because he does not like some condition attached to the escrow itself, which can hopefully be sorted out quickly, or he rejects the entire proposal because he’s perhaps being “bloody-minded”, wants the club himself, and sees it as a way to force Platek out of the picture. Cue all sorts of depressing speculation on what the FL will do next as unless RC and DY then start negotiating again we reach an impasse.

Hoping for the former of the two, but then none of this depressing saga ever seems to follow what’s logical and sensible so god knows what’ll happen next.

[WestYorksRoyal]

They have to let us finish the season, not just for ourselves but for the league. Imagine how different the table looks with our results expunged, or teams still due to play us given rest fixture days in a congested run it. Some sort of club legal action against the EFL would not be out of the question.

As it stands, expunging our results makes little difference.
Crawley / Burton swap positions in 21st / 22nd but that's it.
(Apart, of course, from Huddersfield moving into the playoffs at our expense).

I think Stockport and Orient may have something to say about that. Both lose 6 points in the play-off race. Orient in particular would nearly see it end their season.

[blythspartan]

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.

[Snowflake Royal]

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.

[Stranded]

In terms of if they let us finish the season or not - despite the obvious point of not knowing what clauses were put in as a result of the initial disqualification extension (remember he should have sold the club by 11th March, so we are already in an extension) - there is a the slight issue of our league position.

Would the EFL be treating their members fairly by completing the season and us finishing in the play-offs?

They would, as an absolute minimum need to ban us from the play-offs if a further extenstion is given. People rightly speak about the likely mess of suspending us and expunging records for the season etc but can you imagine if they let us play on, compete in and somehow win the play-offs - and then Dai still hasn't sold, as he sees we are worth more now?

Now that would be messy - the 3 teams in the play-offs would have arguments - the team finishing 7th would have a strong case etc etc.

My gut tells me that unless the EFL are very, very sure that the deal is done then we will be very lucky to see any further extenstions and certainly nothing that will allow is in to play-offs if there is still a risk we cease to exist over the summer.