Thames Sports Investment

[Friday's Legacy]

brian's comments about where do you think we would be now if we still had long lead me to think a decent striker is very much top of his list this month. we need a decent striker, someone similar long. rhodes perhaps, as one of our scouts, hammond and mcdermott were all watching huddersfield recently. where as last week the funds were not there, now they could be.

[moo]

It's similar to when my brother died, cos i'd had a brother die before. So it was all a laugh really.

[Friday's Legacy]

That's what I said - JM might be "Chairman" but it will count for nothing as he won't have any veto on any proposals the new set up make that he doesn't agree with. I can't see how he can be so sure that things won't change. He also said the ethos of the club remains the same. The ethos is to cut our cloth.

i don't believe he meant it in that manner, more so in doing things the reading way. investing in youth, looking for a typical reading player who shares our work ethic etc - only with a few quid more in the budget.

[Ups and Downs]

Thames Sports Investment Ltd, a newly-founded private investment company, are very pleased to have signed Heads of Agreement with Sir John Madejski on Friday to acquire a significant holding in Reading Football Club.

Our agreement is now subject to due diligence and the normal procedures from the Football League.

The transaction is due to complete in March 2012, but the Heads of Agreement, as agreed with Sir John Madejski, includes providing Reading Football Club with some limited funding now to enable Brian McDermott and Nick Hammond to strengthen the playing squad during this January transfer window. TSI have met with Brian, Nick and the club to begin this process.

TSI is also delighted that Sir John Madejski has agreed to remain Chairman of Reading Football Club until at least 2014, and to become Life President if and when he decides to step down.

TSI wishes to emphasise that Reading Football Club's management team will remain unchanged, as will the fundamental policies of the club, including prudent fiscal management. Since Sir John Madejski took over at Elm Park in 1991 this club has rightly earned a first class reputation, on and off the pitch. TSI value and respect the ethos and approach held by everyone associated with Reading - the Chairman, staff, players and supporters.

TSI's financial support aims to allow the club to retain its best players and acquire additional players as the football management team see fit. It will also enable the club to expand and further improve its successful Academy and scouting operations.

What the f*ck! They're not gonna readily spiff the cash about?!? We've put up with this prudence shit for 20 odd years and where the hell has it got us?!? I'm saddened by this statement. I really am. Whatevahisfacevich Out!

[Royal Lady]

brian's comments about where do you think we would be now if we still had long lead me to think a decent striker is very much top of his list this month. we need a decent striker, someone similar long. rhodes perhaps, as one of our scouts, hammond and mcdermott were all watching huddersfield recently. where as last week the funds were not there, now they could be.

I think they were there the other week because they knew this new deal was all but signed and had been given the go ahead. No-one seems to have asked him about why they were all there though - I thought Dellor might have mentioned it last week - unless I missed that.

[tomrfcurz]

I find it funny everyone expects McDermott to come out and be Mr Big Mouth? Dellor asked questions that haven't been answered in statements or by the chairman (right to do so of course as a journo) but did he really expect McD to answer those? Probably not. He confirmed Kebe had been re-approached since this has been done and Jonny Fordham has confirmed he did go to Milan to discuss transfer targets. Its hard to believe McDermott has gone there and said everything is perfect and he isn't wanting to change his playing personnel one bit.

We will buy player(s), the way McD talked about people gelling into the team should they arrive suggests this as well. Read around what he's said a little more please. He is never an energetic interviewee, he always seems bloody stressy to me, just people decide to interpret it as they will. BBCRB have taken comments like "i reserve judgement" out of context as he spent the vast majority of that interview saying it is a positive for the club.

[loyalroyal4life]

This is the same guy who was going to said to be buying everton few years back. Everton fans seem to think he didn't have the money he was claiming he did!

Hope that is not the case here! Sure JM has done his due diligence!

I for one am cautiously excited by the news, least we can at least look forward to having the potential to sign some player we would like to see come in!

[loyalroyal4life]

brian's comments about where do you think we would be now if we still had long lead me to think a decent striker is very much top of his list this month. we need a decent striker, someone similar long. rhodes perhaps, as one of our scouts, hammond and mcdermott were all watching huddersfield recently. where as last week the funds were not there, now they could be.

I think they were there the other week because they knew this new deal was all but signed and had been given the go ahead. No-one seems to have asked him about why they were all there though - I thought Dellor might have mentioned it last week - unless I missed that.

For me his comments just furthers the notion that everyone were not as focused on this match as they should have been, they were all thinking about signings and this and that, and most likely the players' heads were also elsewhere.

I agree, i think it was a error in terms of timing with the announcement why not wait until now to do it?

[Royal Lady]

When did he say it was a positive for the club? He gave very little away - didn't even want to admit he'd met them and where or what nationality they were. He could have said that he couldn't talk about the minutiae of the details as he wasn't aware of them himself, but he was looking forward to the next few months, with more investment blah blah blah. But he didn't.

[floyd__streete]

Tbh, if 'prudence' is Reading 0-1 Hull in an abysmally poor spectacle like that then give me investment any day of the week. These newbies might p*ss a bit of money up the wall and give us some exciting players worth watching and some entertainment value at last. If we can bring in some new players before the end of the window and boot out some of the absolute dross we see week-in week-out then it's a big IN from me.

[FiNeRaIn]

For a long time some of us have been saying that we can't keep selling our best players and that if we did we would only go one way.

The Madjeski followers jumped on us, accused us of high treason and told us we were completely wrong.

Well guess what - freed of the shackles, McDermott has just spoken out. Amongst the things he said were:

'You can't keep selling your best players. If you do, you will only go in one direction.'

'All I ever wanted was to be allowed to keep my best players.'

'I am sure that if we had been in a position to keep Shane Long last year, he would have stayed because of my relationship with him and if Shane Long had still been with us, where do you think we would have been now.'

But, Brian, you must be wrong because the Madejski fan club have said so.

I heard this in the car on the way home. I feel closure. Its like the episode of financial pain is now a closed chapter.

[Basingstoke-Royal]

Did anyone just see that goal Rhodes scored ... Outstanding!

Really hope we get him

[tomrfcurz]

When did he say it was a positive for the club? He gave very little away - didn't even want to admit he'd met them and where or what nationality they were. He could have said that he couldn't talk about the minutiae of the details as he wasn't aware of them himself, but he was looking forward to the next few months, with more investment blah blah blah. But he didn't.

LOLOLOL He actually said the words exactly that it was a positive. Listen again

[RoyalBlue]

Might have something to do with the match his team had just lost.

Oh yeah!

His team has lots plenty of times and produced a good number of equally p*ss poor performances but he's never said anything like this before. And if Madejski has only retained 49% he can't sack him for airing his frustrations.

LOL at BBC Radio Berks who think that because the new investors won't have 75% they don't control the club. True, they can't force Madejski to sell his balance of the shares but 51% is bigger than 49% and for a reason!

Oh yeah you're right his team's lost before so why would it bother him?

Read again. What I actually said was why would losing bother him so much more today, to the extent that he would start moaning about having to sell his best players when he has never done so before.

[winchester_royal]

When did he say it was a positive for the club? He gave very little away - didn't even want to admit he'd met them and where or what nationality they were. He could have said that he couldn't talk about the minutiae of the details as he wasn't aware of them himself, but he was looking forward to the next few months, with more investment blah blah blah. But he didn't.

I imagine he didn't want to say anything that he was not allowed to reveal.

The only indication we have of there being a russian behind this is a report from the Daily Mail, so it's little wonder that Brian's keeping it all slightly close to his chest.

Not to mention the fact that Brian is a reserved man whatever the situation, I think the Madejski interview will be more revealing, as would a Nicky Hammond one if Fordham can get his arse in gear.

[RoyalBlue]

Thames Sports Investment Ltd, a newly-founded private investment company, are very pleased to have signed Heads of Agreement with Sir John Madejski on Friday to acquire a significant holding in Reading Football Club.

Our agreement is now subject to due diligence and the normal procedures from the Football League.

The transaction is due to complete in March 2012, but the Heads of Agreement, as agreed with Sir John Madejski, includes providing Reading Football Club with some limited funding now to enable Brian McDermott and Nick Hammond to strengthen the playing squad during this January transfer window. TSI have met with Brian, Nick and the club to begin this process.

TSI is also delighted that Sir John Madejski has agreed to remain Chairman of Reading Football Club until at least 2014, and to become Life President if and when he decides to step down.

TSI wishes to emphasise that Reading Football Club's management team will remain unchanged, as will the fundamental policies of the club, including prudent fiscal management. Since Sir John Madejski took over at Elm Park in 1991 this club has rightly earned a first class reputation, on and off the pitch. TSI value and respect the ethos and approach held by everyone associated with Reading - the Chairman, staff, players and supporters.

TSI's financial support aims to allow the club to retain its best players and acquire additional players as the football management team see fit. It will also enable the club to expand and further improve its successful Academy and scouting operations.

This is a really positive statement and, according to Brian, all he has ever wanted.

Best bit is 'acquire additional players as the football management team see fit'. The football management team, not the chairman or his suits. This very much suggests funds will be available.

[Basingstoke-Royal]

I think the Madejski interview will be more revealing, as would a Nicky Hammond one if Fordham can get his arse in gear.

Jonny Fordham


Spoke to Sir John Madejski - on good form as always - but understandably tight-lipped about TSI - story on @getreading later #readingfc

[Big Ern]

Any additional investment, albeit aggressive or conservatuve is good news for the club, and something we have needed for some time. If the takeover goes through, and there is still alot that could go wrong, it will only benefit the club and make us more competitive. I for one am looking forward to what could happen as 2 or 3 key players could make a real difference as our team is not far off from being decent contenders.

[paultheroyal]

Tbh, if 'prudence' is Reading 0-1 Hull in an abysmally poor spectacle like that then give me investment any day of the week. These newbies might p*ss a bit of money up the wall and give us some exciting players worth watching and some entertainment value at last. If we can bring in some new players before the end of the window and boot out some of the absolute dross we see week-in week-out then it's a big IN from me.

Never thought I would say this but +1

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Brian sounded very negative in that interview. I don't see how you can think otherwise. Yes we'd just been beaten, but that's happened plenty of times before & he's never sounded like that.

People are somewhat deluded if they think these new owners, having bought a majority shareholding will not start interfering.

Worried.