Summer Rebuild

[72 bus]

Don't worry your pretty little head over it sweetheart. Mummy be home to make you tea soon.

Say's the bloke that goes to football with his Mum

[AthleticoSpizz]

Ian doesn't actually GO to football etc etc

and all of those predictable HNA snidey comments

[tongclub62]

Ok, i understand it.

[No Fixed Abode]

Don't worry your pretty little head over it sweetheart. Mummy be home to make you tea soon.

Say's the bloke that goes to football with his Mum

Ha ha

[floyd__streete]

Better to finish 24th, 2nd, 8th, 11th than
19th, 17th, 21st, 18th.

What are you on about now?

Don't you ever take a summer holiday, btw?

[linkenholtroyal]

Craig Tanner - I am a more rounded player......... I didn't realise he had got fat

[Coppelled_Streets]

Off topic, but Yakubu and Knight offered deals at Portsmouth. Baird and Pearce linked with Leeds.

[JIM]

Who is the latest ROYALS signing ?

[Kingsley Junior]

Federici confirmed by Bournemouth

[strap]

There are rumours in some circles that RFC has been bought as a property play, (I should hasten to add not mine, but overheard by a third party at a northern club in the same division as ourselves, and imparted to me third hand). As far as a mere fan can ascertain from public domain information, the current owners have put zilch into the club so far - certainly in none of the transfer windows since their takeover. (Although being charitable, they may well be bank-rolling salaries for Williams and Pog). In addition, such rumours may well be jealous clubs simply eager to put RFC down.

If the owners are serious about an attempt at promotion to the PL next season, then a far more proactive approach than current public knowledge suggests, would have been sympathetic to the stated aims, rather than the current situation. Again, being charitable, funds may well be in place, and they have simply not made this public in case potential signings' clubs inflate asking prices - very sensible stance if true. Of course, it is early days in the close-season, and secret plans may be in place to sign 4 or 5 senior players, and replace the decimated back-room staff - only time will tell.

In addition, there has been/will be significant investment in the new training complex, which can only be a positive move.

However, is the following a possible scenario, or is it merely one's delusional ramblings? The club is slowly allowed to slip down the leagues - nothing dramatic - but a gradual decline to rest in the lower/middle reaches of the 4th tier in say 5 years time. The team will be formed predominantly of players from the Academy, who are then sold on at a profit "to keep the club afloat". By then crowds would have dwindled to say 5000 die-hards, and a decision will be made to go part-time - to save costs, stay within our means, all the usual claptrap currently doing the rounds. Naturally, the MadStad with a capacity of 25k will be totally unsuited to the needs of a lower mid-table 4th tier side, and a new "community stadium" with a capacity of say 8000 will be built close to a new Green Park station on the Reading to Basingstoke line. Voila, the whole MadStad complex is released for a major property build, and shed loads of money will be made - not of course for the benefit of the club.

The existing hotel will be retained, the stadium demolished, and a huge mixed use scheme of offices, retail, entertainment and housing will be built.

Before the writs for damages for inflammatory statements rain down, it should be noted that none of this has any standing in truth . It is merely the inane ramblings of a deluded, cynical individual who has seen first hand two clubs, (Dartford and Maidstone), sold down the river by property developers who make all manner of promises, then shaft the clubs concerned. A sad warning from history. I fervantly hope I am proven totally wrong, and Mr Mad certainly beliives the new owners are excellent guardians of the club. (Never mind that he also said something similar about the last bunch). Actions speak louder than words, and to date, in my opinion, the actions taken are not sympathetic to the stated aims. Let us hope that, as the summer unfolds, positive actions begin to eminate from the MadStad - actions that are more in tune with the stated aims of the club for next season.

[Victor Meldrew]

I don't remember him making a "string of saves" in the 1-0 game at our place.
Reaction the other week down here from fans when this was first rumoured was "Is that the keeper in pink who cost you the game at Wembley?".
At the time I drew their attention to the saves that kept us in that game and suggested that he is probably better than Boruc.

[paultheroyal]

Felt quite depressed reading that.

No offence strap but I hope that's all bollocks!!

[winchester_royal]

Lol. Sorry, but there's absolutely no chance Sir John would have sold us to the Thais if that was the intention.

Maybe they do have designs on making some money on property. In fact it's more likely than not that they do. They are business people after all and they certainly won't be making any money from the football side.

However - I'm sure they're aware of the beneficial economic effect that a successful football club can have on the area, and if they are looking to make money off land surrounding the stadium/training ground etc then they would be best serve by ensuring that the football club are at least partially successful in the coming years.

[Sutekh]

Understand they also want a club to "show off" back home in Thailand so letting Reading slip down to the 3rd/4th division is not going to be the intention.

[WoodleyRoyal]

There are rumours in some circles that RFC has been bought as a property play, (I should hasten to add not mine, but overheard by a third party at a northern club in the same division as ourselves, and imparted to me third hand). As far as a mere fan can ascertain from public domain information, the current owners have put zilch into the club so far - certainly in none of the transfer windows since their takeover. (Although being charitable, they may well be bank-rolling salaries for Williams and Pog). In addition, such rumours may well be jealous clubs simply eager to put RFC down.

If the owners are serious about an attempt at promotion to the PL next season, then a far more proactive approach than current public knowledge suggests, would have been sympathetic to the stated aims, rather than the current situation. Again, being charitable, funds may well be in place, and they have simply not made this public in case potential signings' clubs inflate asking prices - very sensible stance if true. Of course, it is early days in the close-season, and secret plans may be in place to sign 4 or 5 senior players, and replace the decimated back-room staff - only time will tell.

In addition, there has been/will be significant investment in the new training complex, which can only be a positive move.

However, is the following a possible scenario, or is it merely one's delusional ramblings? The club is slowly allowed to slip down the leagues - nothing dramatic - but a gradual decline to rest in the lower/middle reaches of the 4th tier in say 5 years time. The team will be formed predominantly of players from the Academy, who are then sold on at a profit "to keep the club afloat". By then crowds would have dwindled to say 5000 die-hards, and a decision will be made to go part-time - to save costs, stay within our means, all the usual claptrap currently doing the rounds. Naturally, the MadStad with a capacity of 25k will be totally unsuited to the needs of a lower mid-table 4th tier side, and a new "community stadium" with a capacity of say 8000 will be built close to a new Green Park station on the Reading to Basingstoke line. Voila, the whole MadStad complex is released for a major property build, and shed loads of money will be made - not of course for the benefit of the club.

The existing hotel will be retained, the stadium demolished, and a huge mixed use scheme of offices, retail, entertainment and housing will be built.

Before the writs for damages for inflammatory statements rain down, it should be noted that none of this has any standing in truth . It is merely the inane ramblings of a deluded, cynical individual who has seen first hand two clubs, (Dartford and Maidstone), sold down the river by property developers who make all manner of promises, then shaft the clubs concerned. A sad warning from history. I fervantly hope I am proven totally wrong, and Mr Mad certainly beliives the new owners are excellent guardians of the club. (Never mind that he also said something similar about the last bunch). Actions speak louder than words, and to date, in my opinion, the actions taken are not sympathetic to the stated aims. Let us hope that, as the summer unfolds, positive actions begin to eminate from the MadStad - actions that are more in tune with the stated aims of the club for next season.

tbf, for me that is the best thing that could happen to this club, we might get to see some proper football in a proper stadium with proper fans. What's not to like?

Judging by the rhetoric on here most have lost their passion for the club and the club has lost it's passion for the fans 'BRING IT ON' i say

[Norfolk Royal]

Strap's scenario is improbable and a bit apocalyptic and the truth about the Thai owners probably lies further towards the side of being beneficial to the club than destroying it.

The new owners are property developers essentially as that seems to be where the majority of their money comes from.

The lady owner is on record I think as saying she wants to turn the M4 corridor town into a 'little London.'

So how do they achieve that? Buy a football club in a part of the town which has excellent transport links, a new station planned, and plenty of room for development. Those boxes ticked.

But how do they achieve the partnership with local councils and decision makers that could make their dream a reality.

They make contacts, and the biggest player here is SJM obviously, who can open doors for them, as they are new to the area and its foibles politically and socially.

So far so good, all boxes ticked. But, and it's a big but, to do this their PR and continued acquiescence of both SJM and the local council would depend to a large extent on whether their plans were good for the area and the town.

Asset stripping the local football club would not win them friends, it would make them enemies and make their Little London dream a nightmare.

If they are cute business people they will know this. They will also know that there are vast financial rewards now for promotion to the Premiership, and more doors opening with new contacts.

I don't think it's true that they have not put money into the club so far. They have bought it for a pretty penny for a start, and secured the debts I think.

My guess is that the club will continue to be run on the frugal side but there will be money available to ensure a team that has at least a chance of getting into the Premiership. Time will tell of course.

[floyd__streete]

Lol. Sorry, but there's absolutely no chance Sir John would have sold us to the Thais if that was the intention.

Yeah because the previous sale was so successful

Tbh, this shower are either sneakily hiding in the background or absolutely useless at PR. We have had little or no mission statement, we don't even really know who they are and what their roles are. You really can't blame supporters for being concerned - even cynical - given the cluster-f*ck of the past 3 and a half year.

[Ian Royal]

Lol. Sorry, but there's absolutely no chance Sir John would have sold us to the Thais if that was the intention.

Yeah because the previous sale was so successful

Tbh, this shower are either sneakily hiding in the background or absolutely useless at PR. We have had little or no mission statement, we don't even really know who they are and what their roles are. You really can't blame supporters for being concerned - even cynical - given the cluster-f*ck of the past 3 and a half year.

At no point did winch say they'd be successful, just that their intention wouldn't be to ruin us for property values.

In the same way that clearly wasn't the Russian's intention. He was just oxf*rd playing with a toy and lied about his resources.

[strap]

Felt quite depressed reading that.

No offence strap but I hope that's all bollocks!!

None taken Paul - I echo your views and hope that my ramblings ARE total boolocks. Hopwever, as I said, I have seen first hand just what unscrupulous property developers have done to two clubs locally to me.

The Thai's are property developers. They make no secret of that fact. With all the ogings on recently, I am just a little perturbed that history may be repeating itself. I sincerely hope not.

[strap]

Understand they also want a club to "show off" back home in Thailand so letting Reading slip down to the 3rd/4th division is not going to be the intention.

I'm not sure what evidence there is for your theory, but clearly a pre-season tour of their homeland would certainly support your thinking. Of course, the pre-seasopn tour is by a Championship club. Would such a tour be a) cost effective, and b) of interest to Thais locally were RFC to be a lower ranking 4th tier team?

Will be good to see the level of support the pre-season games do bring.