Wing Is Latest Incoming Transfer

21 July 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading have been busy building up their first team squad ahead of the new League One season, and have today added midfielder Lewis Wing to the list of incoming players. Wing has signed a three year contract with the Royals after being released by Wycombe Wanderers this summer. Wing is the latest in a set of sensible transfers that sees the club bring in players that are familiar with football at this level and, importantly, at the right salary level. It is another sign that perhaps the club has finally turned the corner after clearing a set of debts that saw the club placed on the EFL's embargo list. Reading have had all three charges removed, have a new manager in place, and are effectively building up their squad. The mood of doom and gloom seems to be slowly lifting as Reading fans look ahead to the new season.

Wing, at 28 years old, turned professional at Middlesbrough and went on to make approaching 100 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. He also had loan appearances at Yeovil, Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer in January 2022. Last season Wing was a regular starter for Wycombe, scoring 9 goals. Wing's arrival follows the news that popular defender Amadou Mbengue has agreed a new two year contract with the club.

The Royals have already brought in forward players Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs who were both at Cambridge United last season. Sam Smith makes a return to the Royals after being at the club as a youth player before departing two years ago for Cambridge United. After two seasons with Cambridge, Smith is back where he began after making 11 appearances for the Royals, and scoring twice, in his first stint with the club. Smith scored 35 times for Cambridge in his two year spell, and before that played at Cheltenham, Tranmere, Cambridge, Shrewsbury and Oxford on loan.

First Summer Signing Confirmed As Knibbs Joins

13 July 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Things are starting to look up at Reading FC after the club confirmed the first signing of the summer transfer window. Forward Harvey Knibbs has today signed a three year contract with the Royals to keep him at the club until the summer of 2026. Knibbs was known to be training with the club and has been expected to sign for a few weeks, and now his transfer has been confirmed shortly after the ELF removed Reading from their embargo reporting. There is no doubt it has been a good week for the club with the final of three charges removed by the Football League after the club settled their tax debts. That followed confirmation that Reading's Academy was back to Level One status.

Reading are now expected to be allowed to pay transfer fees again, but Knibbs arrives on a free transfer as he is out of contract this summer. Twenty four year old Knibbs has spent four seasons at Cambridge United - two in League Two and the following two in League One - after playing at Aston Villa during his youth career. Last season Knibbs made 47 appearances in all competitions and scored five goals.

Read All The Discussion...

Clean Slate As Final Charge Lifted By EFL

13 July 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Reading have had their final charge lifted by the Football League, meaning that all three items listed on the EFL Embargo Reporting Service have now been removed, giving the club a clean slate. As Reading are no longer listed, this means the transfer embargo has been lifted and Reading can at last pay for incoming transfers. The Royals had recently settled payments overdue to loan players and have now settled outstanding tax debts owed to HMRC. Things had been looking bleak for the club but things appear to be moving in the right direction as the club work to sort out financial issues ahead of the new season. A court hearing was scheduled for 9 August over the unpaid tax, and that is now expected to be scrapped.

It has been a positive week for the club after confirmation earlier this week than Reading's Academy has regained its category one status, which is the highest available rating. The club has invested a lot of money in the Academy and improving training facilities to the highest standard, which should hugely benefit the first team. Despite all the recent aggression towards the club's owner the club continue to be a fantastic community club with excellent facilities and hard working staff - there is a lot to be proud of. Reading fans will be hoping that the positivity continues as they await for new manager Selles' work permit to be confirmed, which is expected this week. Hopefully this will be followed by some sensible transfers to bolster our squad before the season gets underway.

EFL Charges Down From Three To One

06 July 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Good news appears to be emerging today with the EFL Embargo Reporting Service removing two previous charges and leaving just the single one: "Regulation 17: HMRC Reporting". The update appears to indicate that the club have settled their debts with payments to previous loan players and probably, even more significantly, are no longer in breach of the profit and sustainability rules.

The club have been heavily criticised for their news black out and have only been reporting on the first team squad's pre-season trip to Spain. However, behind the scenes the club appear to have been working to resolve the issues with the football league in an attempt to lift any transfer embargo and avoid a points deduction. Perhaps things are starting to look up before the new season gets underway?

Previous EFL Embargo Reporting Service (23 June 2023)

The EFL Embargo Reporting Service previously has the following regulations that have not been complied with by Reading FC:

• Breach of Profit and Sustainability Rules
• Non-Payment of Loan Wages
• Regulation 17: HMRC Reporting