THE reported sale of Reading’s training ground to Wycombe shows the club is “firmly on life support,” a supporters’ group has said.
The Royals issued a statement on Sunday, saying Dai Yongge was “open” to the idea of selling Bearwood in order to secure sufficient funding to keep the club running until new ownership can be found.
It has now been reported that their League One rivals Wycombe have reached an agreement to buy Bearwood, and that the agreement has led to a consortium which had been interested in buying Reading walking away.
“The news that Reading FC owner Dai Yongge, his sister and fellow owner Dai Xiu Li, and CEO Dayong Pang, are selling our training ground shows that they never intended to sell the club,” Caroline Parker, a spokesperson for the Sell Before We Dai group, said.
“They’re intent on only one thing — killing Reading FC — a club with a proud 152-year history. This club is now firmly on life support.
“Selling one of Reading’s key assets makes the club even less attractive to a new owner — and almost certainly scares off potential investors who were already having to contend with Yongge’s unpredictability, all while leaving more chaos for fans, players and staff to endure.”
The group said questions had to be asked too of the EFL, accusing the league of “walking by on the other side while our club is dying in front of them.”
The group is seeking to organise a peaceful protest outside Wycombe’s Adams Park ground this evening, and has invited any Wycombe fans to join them “who don’t want their club to become known as the new MK Dons.”
The EFL did not wish to comment when approached by the PA news agency. Reading and Wycombe have been contacted for comment.
Reading have had six points deducted from their total this season so far after a series of failures by Dai to fulfil the club’s financial obligations under EFL rules, with a further two points suspended.
They currently sit 18th, five points above the League One relegation zone.
Reading fans have been protesting against Dai’s ownership and in January around 1,000 supporters invaded the pitch during their match against Port Vale, leading it to be abandoned.