Reading FC

The well versed publication of Reading FC’s decline into football’s pit led by the club loon tune owner China’s Dai Yongge. Formed in 1871 the Biscuit Men known as being the third oldest club in the Football League were one of the most well run clubs in the country. Particularly under the ownership of the local boy fan come entrepreneur John Madejski, who in 2012 relinquished the club to be followed with an alarming down spiral encompassing one Premiership relegation, five Championship relegation scraps, one unsuccessful play-off campaign, two six point reductions with three different owners and 15 different managers.

Prior to the Madejski sale, the Biscuit Men gained promotion to the Premiership in the 2005-6 season with a record total of 106 points and the loss of two matches all season, remarkable stats. The sweetened biscuit theme continued with the club claiming 8^th position in the Premier League finishing one point shy of a place in Europe. The crest of a wave did not continue with the Royals banned second name being relegated the following season. The club regained their Premiership status in the 2011-2012 season which became the pivotal season for Reading to become Russian owned, during this period relegation reared it’s ugly head again and back into the Championship, Madejski returned to the club as owner for the second time before selling the club in 2014 to the present owner Dai Yongge in the 2016-17 season.

Dai Yongge three years earlier was on the cusp of purchasing the then Premiership club Hull City, but ownership was withheld at the Prem’s fit and proper persons test, the Dai Yongge quickly switched allegiance to Reading FC with the Football League’s rules on club ownership being less stringent, the D Yongge claimed a 75% stake in Reading and over the next three years the club suffered astonishing losses of 145 million pounds, inflated players wages ratioed out a staggering 234% v incoming revenue to set the bar at 100% which is an alarming gap. A further 36 million pounds imploded onto the debt with the financial fair play imposing points reductions on the club and a transfer embargo. Dai Yongge has tried to sell the club’s training ground but planning restrictions have put the sale in limbo, Wycombe Wanderers on the Manero watch bid at a 20 million pound shortfall on the training complex, the Wycombe should look at their integrity. The current state of affairs is the Switzerland sports group Chiron are in talks which have rumbled on since March, a billionaire sports group. Ironically the former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig is another interested party looking to purchase, a deal needs to be agreed to preserve the future of Reading FC, the clock is ticking.

The FA Cup Bribe

A new format has been set up with the Premiership Academy teams to play National League sides as a sweetener for the loss of the FA Cup replays, a further 3 million pounds is to be pumped into take this figure up to 6 million pounds, fair game? The Premiership club’s FA Cup bride.

The PSR

The Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules have again become transparent as fallible. The June 30^th setting with club’s accounts to be scrutinised by the Premier League for financial breaches with the points reduction rearing its ugly head. Aston Villa’s signing of Everton’s Lewis Dobbin with the Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam transferring in the opposite direction to Goodison Park has been questioned with both clubs’ integrity to perhaps seek loopholes, is that the case? Time to run the rue over the rule, the fees set for both players seems to be of equal footing ranged out at 10 million pounds. The ten million pound fees will be registered into the club’s accounts on the balance sheets which in turn will be spread over the respective players length of contracts, on 5 year contracts being signed to spread out at 2 million pounds a year to be entered against the PSR regulation. This can be termed as a loophole with the PSR both clubs’ intent or not the Premier League could endeavour to possibly prove a malpractice. The well versed Chelsea’s selling rights on the club’s hotels to avoid points reductions v the PSR has been ignored by the Premier League who themselves could be accused of malpractice. If the Premier League want to reap harvest, then the Manchester City case pending late Autumn is their go to daddy and that house of cards needs to be brought crashing down before they can be viewed with any genuine substance.

To feature in August’s edition ‘The Rise and Fall of Blackburn Rovers’ and the owner who set fire to his club’s stadium ‘Fire Balled Richardson’s Hobby Horse’.

Check out the three Manero videos on YouTube Chester Manero -> Welcome to Chester Manero, Manero’s Z Cars, and Manero in LA it’s Bloody Hot via phone access.

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The 2024-25 Premiership season kicks off on the 17^th August, the Championship, League’s 1 and 2 alongside the National Leagues and below begin their campaigns on 10^th August, enjoy the season ahead.

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