TAKEOVER *NOT* CONFIMRED

[Pepe the Horseman]

He has confirmed its a nonsense story

Ffs

[Pepe the Horseman]

Time for Anthony Smith to retire. Got some big calls wrong. His source is humiliating him.

Yeh, no coming back from this one.

[paultheroyal]

That’s smudger toast. Dreary me.

[shadesrwrf]

https://insidefutbol.com/2024/01/21/im- ... on/634058/

[Winston Biscuit]

I think everyone appreciates there are at times rumors etc, but to go from saying its almost done to finding out minutes later the bloke isn't even slightly interested in owning us?! What a shambles

[WestYorksRoyal]

Smudger doubling down

Just to clarify this came from a #readingfc staff member. Changes are already taking place behind the scenes, so things are clearly progressing. Not Ben Francis as believed, at least we have clarity.

Not sure how you can get it so wrong; a guy not remotely interested apparently on the brink.

[MouldyRoyal]

TBF that isn't quite doubling down

[Pepe the Horseman]

Smudger doubling down

Just to clarify this came from a #readingfc staff member. Changes are already taking place behind the scenes, so things are clearly progressing. Not Ben Francis as believed, at least we have clarity.

Not sure how you can get it so wrong; a guy not remotely interested apparently on the brink.

At least we have clarity on the rumour I made up!

[WestYorksRoyal]

TBF that isn't quite doubling down

His message definitely implies that something is close after his last story was debunked. Put it this way, if nobody else reports anything this week then he's managed to embarass himself even more which would be some feat.

[Winston Biscuit]

I am not sure 'at least we have clarity' is the rescue he thinks it is

[MouldyRoyal]

TBF that isn't quite doubling down

His message definitely implies that something is close after his last story was debunked. Put it this way, if nobody else reports anything this week then he's managed to embarass himself even more which would be some feat.

Oh yes, but he is not saying gymshark is taking over, but that some one is.

Could still be bollocks of course

[WestYorksRoyal]

In all seriousness, could this be a sinister attempt to flush out the whistle-blower? Tell staff different stories and see what gets out into the press? Colleen Rooney style.

[Brogue]

In all seriousness, could this be a sinister attempt to flush out the whistle-blower? Tell staff different stories and see what gets out into the press? Colleen Rooney style.

Exactly my thoughts

[Hound]

In all seriousness, could this be a sinister attempt to flush out the whistle-blower? Tell staff different stories and see what gets out into the press? Colleen Rooney style.

Exactly my thoughts

C Friday suggesting this is the case

Proper dodgy stuff if so and leaves a poor taste.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Seen some suggestions that it might actually be Paul Richardson. Was Chairman of Gymshark and tried to buy Birmingham a few years ago.

[blythspartan]

In all seriousness, could this be a sinister attempt to flush out the whistle-blower? Tell staff different stories and see what gets out into the press? Colleen Rooney style.

Yes, possibly as all of that info was leaked to the supporters group which contradicted Pang’s statement and helped to fuel the abandonment.

I am hoping that it’s not the case and that there is some truth to the story in that a takeover is close, but the wrong name has been leaked. I can’t help thinking something must be happening for someone at the club to leak a name albeit the wrong one.

[From Despair To Where?]

Seen some suggestions that it might actually be Paul Richardson. Was Chairman of Gymshark and tried to buy Birmingham a few years ago.

Clutching at straws?

[Orion1871]

Smith has always seemed to be a decent guy. He may have gotten it wrong, but not sure he deserves quite the vitriol he's getting. Then again I suppose that's the Internet for you.

[Snowflake Royal]

Smith has always seemed to be a decent guy. He may have gotten it wrong, but not sure he deserves quite the vitriol he's getting. Then again I suppose that's the Internet for you.

I don't think spreading nonsense on the internet to desperate people is a sign of a decent guy tbh.

He referenced that utter charlatan Storey in the tweet, so he'd obviously made no effort to judge its credibility or fact check it.

[Stranded]

Smith has always seemed to be a decent guy. He may have gotten it wrong, but not sure he deserves quite the vitriol he's getting. Then again I suppose that's the Internet for you.

It is literally the most pressing matter of all Reading fans at the moment, the future of the club. The only thing that really matters, even going down to L2 is no big deal if there is a club.

To post something, in a way as to present it as FACT, when clearly, as his follow up shows, it was nothing of the sort, is always going to illicit a negative reaction when shown to be incorrect. As a (former) journalist, he should know better than to post something with such detail unless he has absolute proof on something so important.

The best take, you can have now, is as Pepe suggested, it is actually Paul Richardson in line for a takeover, his source in the club told him Gymshark were involved, he put 2 and 2 together and made 5. Outside of that, it is either someone who knows nothing, trying to look ITK and being totally blown out of the water or someone is choosing to leak fake news to friendly sources.