CONFRIMED: Latest rumours Confrimed as Unconfrimed

[Clyde1998]

Howe also clarified that the club and training ground are owned by one company, the stadium by another and the car parks around the ground by a third.

That's important to have clarity on. I believe the training ground is owned by a company that's a subsidiary of the football club - like the women's team. The car parks are probably owned by the property company which the club owns part of (25%?) and the stadium is owned by Dai or another of Dai's companies.

[Stranded]

Howe also clarified that the club and training ground are owned by one company, the stadium by another and the car parks around the ground by a third.

That's important to have clarity on. I believe the training ground is owned by a company that's a subsidiary of the football club - like the women's team. The car parks are probably owned by the property company which the club owns part of (25%?) and the stadium is owned by Dai or another of Dai's companies.

That is correct. Training ground is owned by RFC Bearwood Ltd which is 100% owned by The Reading Football Club Limited.

[Brogue]

PS - shouldn't this thread be sticky too?

Agreed

*

[Hound]

Interesting interview

Does make you wonder what the hell Smudger Smith was going on about. Clearly absolute nonsense fed to him there

[Stranded]

Interesting interview

Does make you wonder what the hell Smudger Smith was going on about. Clearly absolute nonsense fed to him there

Yes, the interview does make that "leak" even more damaging for him and his follow up about things changing already seem even more bizarre. Of course, Howe, could be painting a very specific picture but IF TRUE, does appear that we are still a good couple of weeks away from a decision being made on which opportunity (as Howe put it) the club/owner will move forward with.

[Winston Biscuit]

took that Dellor/Howe interview to be all pretty much positive news!

Dai is now finally serious about selling, the club hope to present to him the best bid in a couple of weeks time, and if he accepts it the the sale will go through 2 months or so after

[Clyde1998]

took that Dellor/Howe interview to be all pretty much positive news!

Dai is now finally serious about selling, the club hope to present to him the best bid in a couple of weeks time, and if he accepts it the the sale will go through 2 months or so after

I'm guessing anyone who's waiting for approval from the EFL would be able to loan the club money to cover costs prior to officially taking over - similar to how SCL have been lending money to pay wages. That will hopefully mean we're not going to have issue paying wages/HMRC in that period.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Interesting interview

Does make you wonder what the hell Smudger Smith was going on about. Clearly absolute nonsense fed to him there

Yes, the interview does make that "leak" even more damaging for him and his follow up about things changing already seem even more bizarre. Of course, Howe, could be painting a very specific picture but IF TRUE, does appear that we are still a good couple of weeks away from a decision being made on which opportunity (as Howe put it) the club/owner will move forward with.

It was a politicians interview. Not lying, but also being diplomatic. Certainly relatively complimentary of Dai which will be a stick for conspiracy theorists to beat him with, but what do you expect him to say when the survival of the club depends on dealing with him?

But I'm rightfully skeptical when people say Dai is committed to selling. Last May he was committed to funding the club, this autumn he was going to sell. He's unreliable and clearly has limited communication with people working for him.

I always hang onto hope, but this hell only ends when everything is confirmed.

[RoyalBlue]

Tim has his show at 6pm tonight so hopefully might be a bit more.

Timescales pretty much as I was expecting, should be plenty of time to check through all 8 interested parties, and any bids, to ensure whatever buyers/bids are put on the final table is as kocher as they can be. Good that Dai SEEMS to want to sell everything which will hopefully mean the club and stadium can be put back together again. Let's hope he doesn't change things halfway through.

PS - shouldn't this thread be sticky too?

The one fly in the ointment is that, if I heard Howe correctly, the car park isn't currently part of the package as Dai only partly owns that.

[windermereROYAL]

I was of the understanding that the Thais own the car park for the royal elm park development whenever that comes to fruition.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

I was of the understanding that the Thais own the car park for the royal elm park development whenever that comes to fruition.

I think that's right from what was in the Chronicle. Saw some plans for "Royal Elm Park" which covers all of the current car park. There is a multi-story car park included in the development that will be used on match days. The residents will love that.

[Forbury Lion]

Can owner of the Club, Training Ground and Stadium bring them all under the Club again?

FFP implications might prevent this, since the clubs accounts showed a profit on the sale of these. The issue the EFL had was that these were not show at a fair value rate, so if the club buys them back for £1 each the FFP rules/EFL might insist the club records this at Fair Value again, otherwise clubs will just keep selling and buying back their stadium.

Suspect they may have to create an umbrella company with the 3 separate companies underneath that.

[Forbury Lion]

I was of the understanding that the Thais own the car park for the royal elm park development whenever that comes to fruition.

I think that's right from what was in the Chronicle. Saw some plans for "Royal Elm Park" which covers all of the current car park. There is a multi-story car park included in the development that will be used on match days. The residents will love that.

Let's hope the residents are 100% aware that they are buying a property next to a football ground and what comes with that.

It's a bit like people buying a house next to Heathrow and complaining about the Planes, that's why the house was cheap.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I was of the understanding that the Thais own the car park for the royal elm park development whenever that comes to fruition.

I think that's right from what was in the Chronicle. Saw some plans for "Royal Elm Park" which covers all of the current car park. There is a multi-story car park included in the development that will be used on match days. The residents will love that.

Let's hope the residents are 100% aware that they are buying a property next to a football ground and what comes with that.

It's a bit like people buying a house next to Heathrow and complaining about the Planes, that's why the house was cheap.

Would the development just be residential? I'd love to see more food and pubs near the ground.

[rabidbee]

Can owner of the Club, Training Ground and Stadium bring them all under the Club again?

FFP implications might prevent this, since the clubs accounts showed a profit on the sale of these. The issue the EFL had was that these were not show at a fair value rate, so if the club buys them back for £1 each the FFP rules/EFL might insist the club records this at Fair Value again, otherwise clubs will just keep selling and buying back their stadium.

Suspect they may have to create an umbrella company with the 3 separate companies underneath that.

In that appearance at the Common committee the other week, Rick Parry said something about the EFL not liking clubs selling stadiums to their owners to generate a profit and had now closed this loop hole. So they might be very supportive of everything being brought back under one company.

[tmesis]

Interesting interview

Does make you wonder what the hell Smudger Smith was going on about. Clearly absolute nonsense fed to him there

Yes, the interview does make that "leak" even more damaging for him and his follow up about things changing already seem even more bizarre. Of course, Howe, could be painting a very specific picture but IF TRUE, does appear that we are still a good couple of weeks away from a decision being made on which opportunity (as Howe put it) the club/owner will move forward with.

It was a politicians interview. Not lying, but also being diplomatic. Certainly relatively complimentary of Dai which will be a stick for conspiracy theorists to beat him with, but what do you expect him to say when the survival of the club depends on dealing with him?

But I'm rightfully skeptical when people say Dai is committed to selling. Last May he was committed to funding the club, this autumn he was going to sell. He's unreliable and clearly has limited communication with people working for him.

I always hang onto hope, but this hell only ends when everything is confirmed.

I do feel "committed to selling" really means no more than being willing to sell at the right price. That 'right price' might have lowered though.

The thought of the club being sold but Dai keeping the stadium is a bit of a nightmare, as he'd basically have us over a barrel, unless we got owners rich enough to build us a new stadium somewhere...and I'm not holding out much hope of that.

[WestYorksRoyal]

If he kept the stadium, the rent would surely be negotiated alongside the sale. Any sensible buyer would want to lock in a fair rent for 5-10 years. So whilst it's not the best outcome, it would not be the disaster some fear.

[Brogue]

for anyone who hasn't heard the interview, its here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0h753jn

[Stranded]

If he kept the stadium, the rent would surely be negotiated alongside the sale. Any sensible buyer would want to lock in a fair rent for 5-10 years. So whilst it's not the best outcome, it would not be the disaster some fear.

This. If it gets a deal done, then continuing to pay rent (remember the club pay Dai rent now) is not a big deal esp if the deal is worded along the lines of "Rent will be X for Y years. Club will have the right to purchase the stadium at (set price) at any point up to and including (agreed date)"

[72 bus]

If he kept the stadium, the rent would surely be negotiated alongside the sale. Any sensible buyer would want to lock in a fair rent for 5-10 years. So whilst it's not the best outcome, it would not be the disaster some fear.

This. If it gets a deal done, then continuing to pay rent (remember the club pay Dai rent now) is not a big deal esp if the deal is worded along the lines of "Rent will be X for Y years. Club will have the right to purchase the stadium at (set price) at any point up to and including (agreed date)"

That's what Ashley did with Headingley and why he was interested in the SCL