More Silence

19 June 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Last week was quite a week for Reading Football Club. The club finally broke the silence with an official statement from the CEO, that appeared to match something AI might have generated, only for the next day to see the EFL issue a statement with far more bite. The Royals will certainly be punished further for financial irregularities that also include failing to pay players, but we still don't know how far future punishments will go. There will be a transfer embargo, which can't come at a worse time with the transfer window open and Reading's first team squad ridiculously thin. There could also be a substantial points deduction. Since then there has been more silence, only broken today by the club getting excited about the release of the League One fixture this week.

There have been a few mild grumblings from fans and a few calls of "Dai Out", but that could lead to further trouble, with the owner recently putting six million pounds into the club to keep it afloat. The club are in huge debt so we would need someone willing to take that on. Sure, any protest may accelerate his departure, and he is probably tired of putting his money into the club, but we might just need someone else lined up first? It would be good news if our owner sold up but what if he walks? The future of Reading Football Club hangs in the balance.

It is rumoured that the club will appeal anything handed out by the Football League, but the problem is that we probably won't have much grounds for appeal. Guilty as charged. It would be helpful it the EFL could do something more to help their members work out of these problems than simply trying to inflict a further relegation, and therefore more financial chaos.

With all the issues behind the scenes it is almost a side issue that the Royals still have no manager and Chris Wilder will not be coming to the club. Wilder was firm favourite for so long and it was alleged to be a done deal, so Reading drifted along waiting for that. And it never happened. Instead the new rumour is former Southampton manager Ruben Selles. To say that Selles failed at Southampton is an understatement after he picked up just 2 wins in 17 games on the way to getting Southampton relegated before he left the club. He is not like the man for the job.

Meanwhile, Reading will be forced to turn to young players coming up through the academy and put them straight into League One fixtures. That may be incentive to stay and get first team football, but the club can not compete when it comes to competitive contracts for professional footballers. We can only expect further departures before the new season gets underway.

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