CONFRIMED: Latest rumours Confrimed as Unconfrimed

[WestYorksRoyal]

Well aren't all of you right? For some it's a family day out, for some it's a day on the piss with their friends, for some it's a place they can escape from life for a few hours, others something they keep in touch will from a distance and a connection to their home town. Whatever it means to you, the thought of losing it is tragic.

[blythspartan]

Well aren't all of you right? For some it's a family day out, for some it's a day on the piss with their friends, for some it's a place they can escape from life for a few hours, others something they keep in touch will from a distance and a connection to their home town. Whatever it means to you, the thought of losing it is tragic.

+1

[morganb]

Well aren't all of you right? For some it's a family day out, for some it's a day on the piss with their friends, for some it's a place they can escape from life for a few hours, others something they keep in touch will from a distance and a connection to their home town. Whatever it means to you, the thought of losing it is tragic.

Get this put on the billboard outside Reading station

[SouthDownsRoyal]

You'd rather be at home than socialising with your friends?

Not sure you've thought your answer through.

Much as I hate to agree with Bus, I've never really got the 'get away from the wife and kids for some peace at football' view some.seem to have. And I can think of far better places to socialise with friends than a Madejski concourse, or some food and beer trucks around the ground.

This. I go to watch the game.

[blythspartan]

I honestly think if the club folds that’s me and football done. As much as the thought of helping to build a phoenix club appeals, I don’t reckon I could be arsed.

I know I am probably wrong but the injustice of it all doesn’t fit well with me. Clubs spending £100m on one player, other clubs manipulating the rule book and clubs like us getting hit with points deductions. I know we broke the rules but it still doesn’t make it an easy pill to swallow.

[Stranded]

Well aren't all of you right? For some it's a family day out, for some it's a day on the piss with their friends, for some it's a place they can escape from life for a few hours, others something they keep in touch will from a distance and a connection to their home town. Whatever it means to you, the thought of losing it is tragic.

Very much this. The club is one of the few links that I have back to Reading as most of my close friends/family simply don't live there any more and when my grandparents pass away (hopefully many years yet) then the club would be it.

[leon]

Well aren't all of you right? For some it's a family day out, for some it's a day on the piss with their friends, for some it's a place they can escape from life for a few hours, others something they keep in touch will from a distance and a connection to their home town. Whatever it means to you, the thought of losing it is tragic.

Very much this. The club is one of the few links that I have back to Reading as most of my close friends/family simply don't live there any more and when my grandparents pass away (hopefully many years yet) then the club would be it.

Indeed, for me over the years it's been all of these

[Stranded]

On another note - the news over the past few days - there are 2 readings into it

1. The club truly is utterly screwed and money will definitely run out in the next couple of weeks unless they can source funding or

2. This is all part of a plan to try and get some momentum going. Over the past few days, Howe goes on a podcast and gives a relatively optimistic view of things - process moving forward (but slowly) and hoping to deliver something by end of March/April time. Puts a deadline out in the open.

He then asks a trusted colleague, who a lot of fans do like/trust (not all but most) to put out a statement via the official site, thanking fans for patience, making it clear again there are interested parties but some are more interested in the real estate. This pushes out the message that this is about the club but look at what you get with it - nice stadium and incredible facilities.

Finally, use the channel you've created with a fan group and (either with or without their agreement) push the narrative that the club literally has no money left and needs investment urgently. This could have the impact of letting prospective owners know that if they don't move fast then the club will be gone and that lovely real estate wil suddenly not be worth anywhere near as much - and redevelopment of either may not realistically be a possibility for any other use than it currently has.

So yeah, it's probably 1 but if there is a deal "close" but taking a while to get final things in place, the the above could create the urgency needed. But probably not and we'll all be either enjoying the delights of Combined Counties football or be done with it next season.

[blythspartan]

On another note - the news over the past few days - there are 2 readings into it

1. The club truly is utterly screwed and money will definitely run out in the next couple of weeks unless they can source funding or

2. This is all part of a plan to try and get some momentum going. Over the past few days, Howe goes on a podcast and gives a relatively optimistic view of things - process moving forward (but slowly) and hoping to deliver something by end of March/April time. Puts a deadline out in the open.

He then asks a trusted colleague, who a lot of fans do like/trust (not all but most) to put out a statement via the official site, thanking fans for patience, making it clear again there are interested parties but some are more interested in the real estate. This pushes out the message that this is about the club but look at what you get with it - nice stadium and incredible facilities.

Finally, use the channel you've created with a fan group and (either with or without their agreement) push the narrative that the club literally has no money left and needs investment urgently. This could have the impact of letting prospective owners know that if they don't move fast then the club will be gone and that lovely real estate wil suddenly not be worth anywhere near as much - and redevelopment of either may not realistically be a possibility for any other use than it currently has.

So yeah, it's probably 1 but if there is a deal "close" but taking a while to get final things in place, the the above could create the urgency needed. But probably not and we'll all be either enjoying the delights of Combined Counties football or be done with it next season.

A good post as always Stranded.

[RG30]

It is definitely option 1.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Probably a mix of both. I suspect things were just as dire in the autumn, we know SCL had to step in and we had a mix of late wage payments, HMRC defaults and suppliers leaving. The difference now is we have the suspended EFL penalty.

But I also wonder if in the autumn there was optimism that the club would be sold shortly and more patience, whereas now everyone is sick to the back teeth and these noises are being released to force the issue.

So it's dire, but it has been all season.

[Sutekh]

Has a phoenix club process been started or shall we just turn up for Reading City next season?

[PieEater]

On another note - the news over the past few days - there are 2 readings into it

1. The club truly is utterly screwed and money will definitely run out in the next couple of weeks unless they can source funding or

2. This is all part of a plan to try and get some momentum going. Over the past few days, Howe goes on a podcast and gives a relatively optimistic view of things - process moving forward (but slowly) and hoping to deliver something by end of March/April time. Puts a deadline out in the open.

He then asks a trusted colleague, who a lot of fans do like/trust (not all but most) to put out a statement via the official site, thanking fans for patience, making it clear again there are interested parties but some are more interested in the real estate. This pushes out the message that this is about the club but look at what you get with it - nice stadium and incredible facilities.

Finally, use the channel you've created with a fan group and (either with or without their agreement) push the narrative that the club literally has no money left and needs investment urgently. This could have the impact of letting prospective owners know that if they don't move fast then the club will be gone and that lovely real estate wil suddenly not be worth anywhere near as much - and redevelopment of either may not realistically be a possibility for any other use than it currently has.

So yeah, it's probably 1 but if there is a deal "close" but taking a while to get final things in place, the the above could create the urgency needed. But probably not and we'll all be either enjoying the delights of Combined Counties football or be done with it next season.

A good post as always Stranded.

To me the urgency just signals he'd take a lowball offer.

[blythspartan]

I just bought myself my first Reading shirt for many years. It was a bargain £22 from Kitbag and it might be our last ever one.

[Stranded]

I just bought myself my first Reading shirt for many years. It was a bargain £22 from Kitbag and it might be our last ever one.

Keep it in whatever packaging it comes in - could be worth a small fortune in years to come.

[Snowflake Royal]

I suspect if we fold, I'll bung some money at a phoenix and then quickly give up as its not the same and a shit level. Then watch a few Cambridge games before deciding a step down isn't any better and just give up entirely on football.

[Sutekh]

I suspect if we fold, I'll bung some money at a phoenix and then quickly give up as its not the same and a shit level. Then watch a few Cambridge games before deciding a step down isn't any better and just give up entirely on football.

Supporting Reading these last few seasons suggests acceptance that football is over. And it's difficult not to agree with so much "basket-casery" everywhere and what there is left being run into the ground by leading clubs and the authorities for the sake of £££££s

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Probably a mix of both. I suspect things were just as dire in the autumn, we know SCL had to step in and we had a mix of late wage payments, HMRC defaults and suppliers leaving. The difference now is we have the suspended EFL penalty.

But I also wonder if in the autumn there was optimism that the club would be sold shortly and more patience, whereas now everyone is sick to the back teeth and these noises are being released to force the issue.

So it's dire, but it has been all season.

They probably were as dire in the autumn but we seemed to be able to get the money together to pay the tax and wages, except for November when there was enough to pay the players with the remaining staff paid a couple of days later.

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure the tax has been paid on time since early autumn.

What we don't know is how far behind we got with other football creditors which could also trigger -2.

We have to hope either we get to exclusivity with the sale by the 22nd, or hope we somehow cobble the money together again.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Probably a mix of both. I suspect things were just as dire in the autumn, we know SCL had to step in and we had a mix of late wage payments, HMRC defaults and suppliers leaving. The difference now is we have the suspended EFL penalty.

But I also wonder if in the autumn there was optimism that the club would be sold shortly and more patience, whereas now everyone is sick to the back teeth and these noises are being released to force the issue.

So it's dire, but it has been all season.

They probably were as dire in the autumn but we seemed to be able to get the money together to pay the tax and wages, except for November when there was enough to pay the players with the remaining staff paid a couple of days later.

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure the tax has been paid on time since early autumn.

What we don't know is how far behind we got with other football creditors which could also trigger -2.

We have to hope either we get to exclusivity with the sale by the 22nd, or hope we somehow cobble the money together again.

HMRC were unpaid for a lot of that period. I suspect the club will be looking into options. SCL again, perhaps even a miraculous receipt of money from Hong Kong. Or perhaps we won't be able to pay. The best outcome is exclusivity and a loan from the buyer to tide us over. Perhaps Howe was putting it out in the domain to add pressure.

I worry about looking to SCL again. They're a local business done good, but if you look at their numbers they can't afford to loan large sums to an unreliable debtor. Their net profit and cash balances are measured in hundreds of thousands, not millions.

Edit: I was wrong. Their last accounts showed £1.9m cash in the bank. Still different ball park to football club owners.

[Elm Park Kid]

On another note - the news over the past few days - there are 2 readings into it

1. The club truly is utterly screwed and money will definitely run out in the next couple of weeks unless they can source funding or

2. This is all part of a plan to try and get some momentum going. Over the past few days, Howe goes on a podcast and gives a relatively optimistic view of things - process moving forward (but slowly) and hoping to deliver something by end of March/April time. Puts a deadline out in the open.

He then asks a trusted colleague, who a lot of fans do like/trust (not all but most) to put out a statement via the official site, thanking fans for patience, making it clear again there are interested parties but some are more interested in the real estate. This pushes out the message that this is about the club but look at what you get with it - nice stadium and incredible facilities.

Finally, use the channel you've created with a fan group and (either with or without their agreement) push the narrative that the club literally has no money left and needs investment urgently. This could have the impact of letting prospective owners know that if they don't move fast then the club will be gone and that lovely real estate wil suddenly not be worth anywhere near as much - and redevelopment of either may not realistically be a possibility for any other use than it currently has.

So yeah, it's probably 1 but if there is a deal "close" but taking a while to get final things in place, the the above could create the urgency needed. But probably not and we'll all be either enjoying the delights of Combined Counties football or be done with it next season.

I'm disappointed to say that the truth is 1.

Though, there is always the chance that Dai eventually just gives us what we need, as he has eventually done in the past.