CONFRIMED: Latest rumours Confrimed as Unconfrimed

[Snowflake Royal]

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.

Well, there are literally loads of examples where clubs have been better off afterwards.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

[Snowflake Royal]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

[Brogue]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

Still banging this old drum I see. If it’s such a good tactic won’t don’t more clubs do it

[stealthpapes]

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.

Agreed.

Even with everything going on, the team put together and playing in the second half of the season was probably capable of contending for playoffs.

The players we signed have, by and large, contributed - just looked at the list on wikipedia for last season. Harlee Dean stands out. There's a few young lads - Wareham, Rushesha, Ryan - where its too soon to tell. The rest all basically good. So the scouting and recruitment not a problem and, as Snowflake says, we have produced L1 players and have moved players on when they haven't quite come up to scratch - Carson comes to mind.

But young sides will have their bad days, there's going to be a point, and we may have already passed it, where the uncertainty starts dominating. There was a bit of a vibe last season of 'get through this season, there's a takeover in the offing, things will be different' - if that promise isn't delivered upon, that will be hugely detrimental.

TLDR: there hasn't been a reset, there's just been more of the same off pitch.

TLDR part 2: blaming the manager and players is insanely short-sighted.

[stealthpapes]

On a semi-serious level, how much could the fans seriously put in? Like if we had a mega whip round to launch a hostile takeover?

Nothing. We spent it all on a statue for Port Vale.

lol.

[Winston Biscuit]

boring. can we just pretend there is a great takeover happening?

[SouthDownsRoyal]

boring. can we just pretend there is a great takeover happening?

Pretending is all we’ve got!

[katweslowski]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

If someone said: "Would you rather be in the same situation but in the Championship or still in League One"
What would you choose?

It's clear to me which is the preferable option

[blythspartan]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

If someone said: "Would you rather be in the same situation but in the Championship or still in League One"
What would you choose?

It's clear to me which is the preferable option

Purely based on going to most games last season, League One. Our youngsters wouldn’t have got the same chance in the Championship. At least we can be competitive in League One, but we’d be getting annihilated in the Championship in our current position and I don’t find that enjoyable to watch. Obviously, I want us to player in the highest league possible, but I want us to be competitive.

[katweslowski]

Purely based on going to most games last season, League One. Our youngsters wouldn’t have got the same chance in the Championship. At least we can be competitive in League One, but we’d be getting annihilated in the Championship in our current position and I don’t find that enjoyable to watch. Obviously, I want us to player in the highest league possible, but I want us to be competitive.

We'll agree to disagree there I think, but I appreciate your view.

My focus is more on marketability and future prospects. To be in the Championship is way better to attract players, buyers, fans, probably more money I am guessing. Where as League One is a very big step down, way smaller clubs, smaller budgets, less TV coverage, etc.

[rabidbee]

Yes, smaller budgets. This is perhaps attractive to a club that is struggling to pay its way, no?

[East Grinstead Royal]

Smaller valuation on the club as well, which might mean there are more potential buyers. Unfortunately, Dai hasn’t cottoned on to that aspect and seems to think we have same valuation as we would have in the Championship.

[On Strings]

Smaller valuation on the club as well, which might mean there are more potential buyers. Unfortunately, Dai hasn’t cottoned on to that aspect and seems to think we have same valuation as we would have in the Championship.

Not sure that's the case. The club has whatever the valuation is, and then he has a valuation for the stadium and then the training ground; and his small % of land ownership/car park. The club itself is worth next to feck all.

[Forbury Lion]

On a semi-serious level, how much could the fans seriously put in? Like if we had a mega whip round to launch a hostile takeover?

Not enough.
A hostile takeover is where the board lose control because a 3rd party has bought up a controlling number of shares and can call the shots because they can out-vote all the other shareholders...... In our case, Dai Yongge owns all or nearly all of the shares in Reading FC and the associated companies so we can't buy a controlling interest unless he wants to sell it to us. Even if he gave us the shares for free we will be in no position to fund the wage bill, pay HMRC and payoff existing debt, not to mention running costs.

[stealthpapes]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

If someone said: "Would you rather be in the same situation but in the Championship or still in League One"
What would you choose?

It's clear to me which is the preferable option

I don't think we would be in the Championship for long. In hindsight, it's possibly noteworthy that we (and Birmingham City maybe more so) managed to survive so many relegation fight seasons. Blues have got through 9 since 2013-14, we managed 6 and failed at the 7th attempt.

I think our away fan attendances also support the view expressed by a few on the thread.

Anecdote first, I typically only go to away games and to my mind been a step change in both numbers and volume of support. Games I could easily attend have become games where I'm tapping refresh at 13:59 Friday for my Silver LOLoyalty to come through.

To the best of my research, the averages are:

2023/24 - 1198
2022/23 - 854
2021/22 - 958
2020/21 - N/A
2019/20 - 920 (average of games not behind closed doors)
2018/19 - 715
2017/18 - 729

Hat-tip to Clyde1998 for some of these.

[Silver Fox]

Isn't that partially a result of lots of new grounds to go to?

[stealthpapes]

Yes.

[stealthpapes]

Pre-empting the obvious follow up - too soon to tell.

Might as well put this up. I'm not bothering with average attendances by club at this stage as one or two games doesn't really tell us anything.

2024-25 Reading away followings (allocation in brackets; midweek evening matches in italics)
Birmingham - 1,650 (2,200)
Colchester (LC) - 639 (988)
Wrexham - 1,259 (1,284)
Bolton - ON SALE - I've found 585 (1,430)

Given the question was "Would you rather be in Championship or League One", a valid answer could well cite the plethora of new grounds including those with terraces, safe standing etc.

A final anecdote - I've done Derby away a few times over the last decade. By far and away the best of those games was last season, packed out by both sets of fans on a Tuesday night.

[Snowflake Royal]

Of course there are, but not necessarily because they were relegated.

Do you think Ipswich would be in the Premier League if they weren't relegated from the Championship?

No. They'd done nothing for years, with no real significant prospect of improvment. They went down, where they were a big fish in a smaller pond, their youth had a better chance of transitioning, they were more attractive to the better players at that level, they rebuilt, got into winning ways and completely turned their fortunes around.

It's funny how no one is laughing at the people who said relegation would be a disaster, we'd be relegated straight down to L2 etc.

The issue is all about Dai. Not the relegation.

It's almost universally accepted last season was far more enjoyable than most of our recent Championship seasons. The only problem again being Dai.

Still banging this old drum I see. If it’s such a good tactic won’t don’t more clubs do it

Sorry for being right.

I didn't bring it up.