CONFRIMED: Latest rumours Confrimed as Unconfrimed

[downloaded]

The Guardian Football Weekly Podcast wasn't particularly illuminating. It more or less confirmed that the Rob Couhig take over would have been a sound move but it fell through.

It pointed out that Nigel Howe was about to be suspended for three months and the Ollise transfer gave us 1.8 million now and 1.8 mil later in the year. They didn't think that the Football League would kick us out of the League if we go into administration as they had done that to Bury and it hadn't gone well for anybody.

General consensus was this shows the importance of an independent regulator, but there was concern that all these free tickets from the Premier League for Labour MPs were a way of "influencing" them.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Bury weren’t kicked out of the league for going into administration.

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Bury weren’t kicked out of the league for going into administration.

My mistake, that was the interference I got.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Now some caller into BBC Berks and us saying the club is about to be sold to Blue River Holdings who he says are an affiliate company of Dai Yongge and Dayong Pang and owned by Ben E King (who I thought died in 2015). Anyway no doubt yet more made up bollox for those that are avoiding the bollox you get on tw@tter.

Is that the f*cktard that was droning on about relegation wouldn't be a bad thing as well. I caught the end of his ramblings, it was a bit of a Dai Yonge love in at the end.

Tbf relegation could be the reset we need.

Where have I heard that before

[katweslowski]

Is that the f*cktard that was droning on about relegation wouldn't be a bad thing as well. I caught the end of his ramblings, it was a bit of a Dai Yonge love in at the end.

Tbf relegation could be the reset we need.

Where have I heard that before

It used to fill me with rage hearing people on Twitter saying, "Relegation could be just what we need. A chance to rebuild and sort everything out"

It was highly ignorant and stupid. To think that League One was a place to go and just have a wee play about, tweak a few things, oh and the odd game here and there.

Then when we've had a rest and rebuild, we can pop back up to the Championship.

There isn't an eyeroll big enough for this particular view

[Mr Angry]

I haven't seen this anywhere else; report n the Daily Telegraph about Reading U21's being withdrawn from a competition by the club.....

Not a good sign.

Exclusive: Crisis-hit Reading pull team out of new competition after US takeover collapses

In the wake of a failed takeover, owner Dai Yongge withdraws under-21s from cup competition amid fresh concerns for the club’s future

24 September 2024 4:01pm

Reading manager Ruben Selles during the Sky Bet League One match between Bolton Wanderers FC and Reading FC at University of Bolton Stadium on September 21, 2024

Reading have pulled their under-21s out of a newly-created competition by the Premier League in another alarming development at the crisis-hit club.

Days after American businessman Rob Couhig’s protracted takeover collapsed, under-fire owner Dai Yongge will come under renewed scrutiny after withdrawing the club’s youngsters from the National League Cup.

Reading’s academy has nurtured the likes of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise in recent years and the under-21s were initially expected to take part in the competition, which starts next month, but the decision is understood to have been made to cut costs.

All of the games in the National League Cup are scheduled to be played at the grounds of non-league clubs, so Reading’s withdrawal will save costs on travel and possibly even overnight hotel stays.

However, the surprise decision to remove the under-21s will raise fresh concerns over the future of the club’s academy teams at Bearwood Park.

The Premier League have devised the new competition in a bid to boost elite development, with 16 non-league clubs to be pitted against 16 Premier League 2 clubs with Category One academies.

Reading replaced by Derby
Reading were initially selected to play in Group A with Brighton, Fulham, Southampton, Aldershot, Maidenhead, Wealdstone and Woking. They have since been replaced by Championship club Derby County.

In June, Reading’s womens’ team withdrew from the Championship amid financial concerns after savage cuts across the board.

Last week, former Wycombe Wanderers owner Couhig’s takeover fell through after an alleged breakdown in negotiations with Yongge. Couhig had agreed exclusivity months ago and even attended matches but was unable to close an agreement to acquire the League One side.

Managed by Rubén Sellés, Reading are currently 16th in League One and have incurred a total of 18 points deductions under Yongge for breaching various regulations.

[Hendo]

I haven't seen this anywhere else; report n the Daily Telegraph about Reading U21's being withdrawn from a competition by the club.....

Not a good sign.

I don't think it is good or a bad sign. It's a non-league competition, so why should we be included in the first place? The u21s already have so many competitions to compete in, along with a lot of u21s being needed for the first team as well.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

I haven't seen this anywhere else; report n the Daily Telegraph about Reading U21's being withdrawn from a competition by the club.....

Not a good sign.

I don't think it is good or a bad sign. It's a non-league competition, so why should we be included in the first place? The u21s already have so many competitions to compete in, along with a lot of u21s being needed for the first team as well.

It can even be seen as a good sign. The U21s are valuable enough at Reading, and many are ready to transition to first team football, that wasting time with some third rate competition isn't needed. Why risk inquires and exhaustion when next week they might be needed in League One.

And don't the club still fund sending them to Amsterdam, Valencia etc. for the European competition?

[Royals and Racers]

I haven't seen this anywhere else; report n the Daily Telegraph about Reading U21's being withdrawn from a competition by the club.....

Not a good sign.

I don't think it is good or a bad sign. It's a non-league competition, so why should we be included in the first place? The u21s already have so many competitions to compete in, along with a lot of u21s being needed for the first team as well.

It can even be seen as a good sign. The U21s are valuable enough at Reading, and many are ready to transition to first team football, that wasting time with some third rate competition isn't needed. Why risk inquires and exhaustion when next week they might be needed in League One.

And don't the club still fund sending them to Amsterdam, Valencia etc. for the European competition?

Not really because the PL International cup is played purely in England.

[South Coast Royal]

I haven't seen this anywhere else; report n the Daily Telegraph about Reading U21's being withdrawn from a competition by the club.....

Not a good sign.

Exclusive: Crisis-hit Reading pull team out of new competition after US takeover collapses

In the wake of a failed takeover, owner Dai Yongge withdraws under-21s from cup competition amid fresh concerns for the club’s future

24 September 2024 4:01pm

Reading manager Ruben Selles during the Sky Bet League One match between Bolton Wanderers FC and Reading FC at University of Bolton Stadium on September 21, 2024

Reading have pulled their under-21s out of a newly-created competition by the Premier League in another alarming development at the crisis-hit club.

Days after American businessman Rob Couhig’s protracted takeover collapsed, under-fire owner Dai Yongge will come under renewed scrutiny after withdrawing the club’s youngsters from the National League Cup.

Reading’s academy has nurtured the likes of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise in recent years and the under-21s were initially expected to take part in the competition, which starts next month, but the decision is understood to have been made to cut costs.

All of the games in the National League Cup are scheduled to be played at the grounds of non-league clubs, so Reading’s withdrawal will save costs on travel and possibly even overnight hotel stays.

However, the surprise decision to remove the under-21s will raise fresh concerns over the future of the club’s academy teams at Bearwood Park.

The Premier League have devised the new competition in a bid to boost elite development, with 16 non-league clubs to be pitted against 16 Premier League 2 clubs with Category One academies.

Reading replaced by Derby
Reading were initially selected to play in Group A with Brighton, Fulham, Southampton, Aldershot, Maidenhead, Wealdstone and Woking. They have since been replaced by Championship club Derby County.

In June, Reading’s womens’ team withdrew from the Championship amid financial concerns after savage cuts across the board.

Last week, former Wycombe Wanderers owner Couhig’s takeover fell through after an alleged breakdown in negotiations with Yongge. Couhig had agreed exclusivity months ago and even attended matches but was unable to close an agreement to acquire the League One side.

Managed by Rubén Sellés, Reading are currently 16th in League One and have incurred a total of 18 points deductions under Yongge for breaching various regulations.

Money is clearly very tight and I read that entry for youth games would now be charged as if that is something new?
Also I had an E-mail pushing a brunch menu at the club for season ticket holders at the bargain (?) price of £65.

On the wider issue of protests I get the feeling that something might happen again ON the pitch this Saturday.

Apart from the obvious that it won't help the club, the impact on the Sky audience would be miniscule as the game is on Sky plus where I suspect only a few thousand fans interested in either Reading or Huddersfield will be watching so a protest would get very little exposure to the rest of the world.

[katweslowski]

Personally, I am hoping that there are no on-field protests. I could understand why, but I just don't think it's right at this present moment.

I agree with you about Sky and it having very little impact just because it's televised.

It's like those who are saying to bring loads of banners and flags with "Dai Out" on, as if he's sat at home watching Sky and crying because everyone hates him. As I said about a million times, I doubt he really knows how we all feel (other than probably not liking him) and he won't care, and probably doesn't follow the games or results.

With all that said, I am absolutely lost on what else can be done.

I have seen some great podcasts this week of our situation, including some YouTube videos. It's brilliant stuff, but ultimately doesn't help beyond raising awareness. It all goes back to being powerless and at the mercy of a man who seems intent to ruin us.

[Millsy]

Bury weren’t kicked out of the league for going into administration.

My mistake, that was the interference I got.

What sort of interference? Wifi, radio?

[andrew1957]

Personally, I am hoping that there are no on-field protests. I could understand why, but I just don't think it's right at this present moment.

I agree with you about Sky and it having very little impact just because it's televised.

It's like those who are saying to bring loads of banners and flags with "Dai Out" on, as if he's sat at home watching Sky and crying because everyone hates him. As I said about a million times, I doubt he really knows how we all feel (other than probably not liking him) and he won't care, and probably doesn't follow the games or results.

With all that said, I am absolutely lost on what else can be done.

I have seen some great podcasts this week of our situation, including some YouTube videos. It's brilliant stuff, but ultimately doesn't help beyond raising awareness. It all goes back to being powerless and at the mercy of a man who seems intent to ruin us.

Agree further protest would be pointless and probably counterproductive at this stage. Whether we like it or not we are dependent upon the Dai family for the survival of the club for the foreseeable future. As any sale is many months off at best and if they stop funding, that will be it for RFC. They managed to find the money to pay Couhig and so we can only hope they can find more to run the club for say the rest of this season. The FA have said there is nothing they can do under UK company law so Dai holds all the cards.

[morganb]

So, perhaps the public display on Sky should be all about attracting a wealthy buyer who possesses dogged determination?

Now how we do that is a different matter - perhaps we need Sky to "big us up" and underline how we are fallen giants who have great potential, nice location close to all amenities, successful academy, likeable manager, a lion as a mascot, good sense of humour etc.

[Lower West]

Tbf relegation could be the reset we need.

Where have I heard that before

It used to fill me with rage hearing people on Twitter saying, "Relegation could be just what we need. A chance to rebuild and sort everything out"

It was highly ignorant and stupid. To think that League One was a place to go and just have a wee play about, tweak a few things, oh and the odd game here and there.

Then when we've had a rest and rebuild, we can pop back up to the Championship.

There isn't an eyeroll big enough for this particular view

Look how things have eventually panned though. A few years ago the club would have been investable in. Now teetering on the edge of major problems and a futher sizable decline. The longer this situation goes on the harder it will be to return to the Championship.

[katweslowski]

The recent STAR minutes from a meeting with the EFL is really interesting. https://x.com/STARReading/status/1838928748273389801

There are no outstanding debts or fines, these are all entirely settled. It also says "Dai has his conditions for sale", so it does sound promising in terms of us being fully paid up and that Dai has communicated his wishes for a successful sale. I know he's been a total d1ck but at least he has conditions, even if they (probably) are ridiculous.

[Snowflake Royal]

Tbf relegation could be the reset we need.

Where have I heard that before

It used to fill me with rage hearing people on Twitter saying, "Relegation could be just what we need. A chance to rebuild and sort everything out"

It was highly ignorant and stupid. To think that League One was a place to go and just have a wee play about, tweak a few things, oh and the odd game here and there.

Then when we've had a rest and rebuild, we can pop back up to the Championship.

There isn't an eyeroll big enough for this particular view

It's always funny when people say this. But the only reason that relegation hasn't been a good reset for us is because Dai gave up interest, pulled all semblance of funding but won't sell us.

If he'd paid our bills on time last summer and commited reasonable funding to us, or sold us, we had more good signings in the wings on top of the good ones we managed for free.

We've very ably demonstrated the pre-relegation view that our Academy could deliver L1 capable players en bulk. We wouldn't have had to firesale all of McIntyre, Holmes, Abbey, Vickers and Azeez. We could have made signings this summer.

And we likely would be competing at the top of the division for a return to the Championship with a young, dynamic side full of potential, and a much reduced wage bill.

It's like all the clubs that have done it successfully before just don't exist.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Where have I heard that before

It used to fill me with rage hearing people on Twitter saying, "Relegation could be just what we need. A chance to rebuild and sort everything out"

It was highly ignorant and stupid. To think that League One was a place to go and just have a wee play about, tweak a few things, oh and the odd game here and there.

Then when we've had a rest and rebuild, we can pop back up to the Championship.

There isn't an eyeroll big enough for this particular view

It's always funny when people say this. But the only reason that relegation hasn't been a good reset for us is because Dai gave up interest, pulled all semblance of funding but won't sell us.

If he'd paid our bills on time last summer and commited reasonable funding to us, or sold us, we had more good signings in the wings on top of the good ones we managed for free.

We've very ably demonstrated the pre-relegation view that our Academy could deliver L1 capable players en bulk. We wouldn't have had to firesale all of McIntyre, Holmes, Abbey, Vickers and Azeez. We could have made signings this summer.

And we likely would be competing at the top of the division for a return to the Championship with a young, dynamic side full of potential, and a much reduced wage bill.

It's like all the clubs that have done it successfully before just don't exist.

It made sense in the Championship. We're a relatively small fish at that level, our ambition was limited to survival and we'd got into a cycle of convenience signings on a shoestring with no long term vision.

What we did last summer with Selles, Wing, Bindon, Knibbs, academy players etc., was a clear sign how we could reset at this level and use it as a springboard. But the ownership have stopped it from happening.

If we get it sorted, we can still have the reset we want in L1. Relegation to L2 is all bad, it just means we have a bigger rebuild job.

[katweslowski]

My point is that I don't think relegation can ever be good. People saying "it may be just what we need" is the equivalent to saying "maybe a kick in the bollocks is just what I need"

Of course you can rebuild and come back better. But my view is it's always better to stay up and survive.

But completely agree and take your point that out dire ownership has completely ruined any recent attempt to bounce back.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I've tuned out as people still don't seem to want to comprehend the level of funding that is required just to keep the lights on at this level for a club like Reading.

There's a lot of entitlement flying around - if anyone is prepared to buy the club and commit to cover £10M of losses per season we should be grateful - English football is broken and relegation was always going to be an existential threat.