Hob Nob Anyone? News and Views

Reading Stage Late Comeback To Defeat Bolton

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 10:09:02 +0100

A stunning long range strike from Charlie Savage, and a sharp near post finish from the lively and energetic Vickers, completed a brilliant comeback by the current youthful and talented Reading team. It was the perfect response to the most recent EFL points deduction setback earlier in the week. The home fans, showing solidarity in their support for the players, were right behind the team from start to finish spurring them on to a morale-boosting win and a valuable three points. At the moment the club seems to be treading water in terms of building the season's campaign, but there is an undoubted spark of energy and enthusiasm within the club in spite of the apparent shortcomings from the club's owner.
Reading 2 Bolton Wanderers 1: Match Report and Opinion

Three More Points Deducted

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:13:25 +0100

Reading have been deducted three more points to bring the total to four points removed this season so far. The latest points deduction sees Reading drop into the bottom four in the table with just two points, despite picking up two league wins this season. Reading were required to pay 125 percent of their monthly wage bill into an account by Tuesday this week to avoid a suspended points deduction, but failed to do that. The Royals have now been docked 10 points in total in 2023.

Button Arrival Confirmed

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 15:08:45 +0100

Reading have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper David Button who arrives on a free transfer having left Championship club West Bromwich Albion. Thirty four year old Button comes with mixed reviews but there is no doubting his experience in a career that saw his first appearances out on loan at Grays Athletic while on Tottenham's books in 2008. Button has played for 17 different clubs, mostly out on loan from Spurs before a move to Brentford where he came their number 1 in 2013.

He impressed at Brentford to earn a two million pound transfer to Fulham three years later. In the summer of 2018 Brighton paid four million pounds for Button but he went on to make just four League appearances for the side over two years. Button joined West Brom three years ago but only made 24 league appearances - including 13 last season in the Championship. Button could shortly be Reading's third goalkeeper to make a start after Boyce-Clarke playing in our League Cup victory and Bouzanis was in goal for Reading's opening day defeat at home against Peterborough. Button has signed a two year contract with the Royals.

Surprise Win As Young Royals Thrash Millwall

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:04:01 +0100

Reading are through to the second round of the League Cup after a huge 4-0 win awau at Millwall. The win was earnt by a very youthful Reading side that averaged just over 20 years of age, and came as a huge surprise. It was Ruben Selles first win, or anything other than a defeat, as Reading manager and only the third of his managerial career. Reading's first win since February 2023 came completely out of the blue after Selles swapped out a large number of first team players and opted to give game time to fringe players.

New signing American 18-year old Tyler Bindon was handed his first start immediately after signing and fellow 18 year old Caylon Vickers was impressive in his first starting appearance. Ehibhatiomhan put Reading in front inside the first minute after being supplied by Vickers and Reading's young team never looked back. In the second half Ehibhatiomhan scored his second and Reading looked comfortable when Charlie Savage scored his first Reading goal and his second ever competitive goal. Late on Mamadi Camara made his four with his first career goal.

League Cup Round One: Millwall 0 Reading 4 - Fan Opinion - Read More...

Tyler Bindon Is Latest To Sign

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:07:59 +0100

Reading have confirmed the signing of 18-year old American central defender Tyler Bindon. Bindon was previously at Los Angeles FC as a youth player and then Washington before recently training with the Royals. Like Rushesha, who confirmed his signing on Friday, Bindon also featured in pre-season friendlies for Reading. Bindon signs a two year contract with the club after his successful trial. Bindon is an under 19 international have played twice for the United States of America this year.

Bindon is Reading's seventh confirmed summer signing after the arrivals of Harlee Dean and Tivonge Rushesha last Friday, as the Royals continue to mix youth and experience into the first team squad. Reading have also given contracts to Charlie Savage, Lewis Wing, Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs. Reading will be waiting for Sam Smith to return from injury as he has been forced to miss the start of the season.

Reading Open League One Season With Defeat

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 10:40:24 +0100

Reading began their League One campaign with a familiar feeling of defeat - but there were plenty of positive signs as Reading were unlucky to lose their opening game of the season. Despite the huge changes of playing staff over the summer, there was a familiar feel about Reading with only two new players in the starting eleven as Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs made their Reading debuts. Later in the game Selles introduced Lewis Wing, Tivonge Rushesha, and academy player Caylan Vickers who also all picked up their first Reading appearance.

The Royals were the better side in the first half, but despite their efforts found themselves a goal behind just before the break when a cross was headed past Bouzanis in the Reading goal. Both sides had chances in the second half with Bouzanis pulling off a excellent save to keep Reading in the game but Peterborough - who finished 6th last season in League One - held out to start the season with a win.

Reading 0 Peterborough United 1 - Fan Opinion - Read More

Harlee Dean and Tivonge Rushesha Join Royals

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:00:00 +0100

Just as the new League One season is set to kick-off, and after our latest embargo was lifted as Reading settled tax debts, Reading have completed the signings of Harlee Dean and Tivonge Rushesha. Both players were without a contract and join Reading on free transfers. Tivonge Rushesha is already well known to those following Reading's pre-season campaign as he has played in our friendlies after leaving Swansea City in the summer. The midfielder played a single League Cup game for Swansea during the 2019/2020 season but failed to break through to the first team and joins Reading hoping to become a regular first team player.

Rushesha is joined by experienced 32-year old player Harlee Dean. Dean appears to be exactly the type of player we need to try and halt the slide and compete in League One. The centre back played nearly 200 times for both Brentford and Birmingham City and has a very impressive background for League One. Reading's defence looks to be strongest department this coming season and Dean will add substantially to that.

EFL Lift Embargo Again

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:45:11 +0100

Reading FC have had their transfer embargo lifted once again after settling payments relating to debts owed to HMRC. The club had been removed from the ELF embargo list last month after being listed under three charges. Those charges were reduced one by one giving the Royals a clean slate, until last week when we were placed back on the embargo list once again. Fast forward a week and the EFL are now reporting "There are currently no Clubs under embargo.".

The question is, how long until we are back on the list? Reading will feel they will have to move fast as they still urgently need more players ahead of the new League One season starting this weekend. The Royals have brought in just four players this summer and will need to add more to the first team squad to compete this season. With the club now finally owning up that new investment is needed, we can't expect any players to arrive for a transfer fee or high wages, so options will remain limited.

Club Confirm Hunt For New Investment

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 16:50:45 +0100

Reading FC have today issued a short statement to acknowledge the on-going financial issues at the club and confirm they are looking for new investment to continue to operate. The same statement says that current club owner Dai Yongge is "fully committed to the club". It's not clear if Dai Yongge is looking to move the club on or looking for someone to share the burden as the club struggle to clear their debts.

The club are currently back under a transfer embargo, enforced by the EFL after another failure to pay money owed to HMRC. The new embargo was imposed at the end of last week, but the club are looking to settle the debt "in the coming days" to lift the embargo to enable paid for incoming transfers as the new season gets underway.

The Royals currently have the thinest first team squad in League One with the season kicking off on Saturday as Peterborough United visit the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Despite a huge number of players departing during the summer, the Royals have only added four new senior players with Charlie Savage signing last week from Manchester United, following Lewis Wing, Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs into the club.

Official club statement:

Reading Football Club can confirm that it is currently in the process of seeking investment to provide significant financial support to the business.

Our owner Mr Dai Yongge remains fully committed to the club and both he and Chief Executive Dayong Pang have been extremely active in recent weeks in trying to establish a sustainable source of financial backing for the football club going forward.

Despite ongoing complex cashflow constraints - related in part to the intense and protracted effects of the global pandemic which continue to impact business in China - the full wage bill has been satisfied for both players and staff at the end of the month and a late payment to HMRC - which temporarily placed the club back under a strict embargo at the end of last week - is due to be personally resolved by Mr Dai in the coming days.

Wing Is Latest Incoming Transfer

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:29:08 +0100

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

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:09:54 +0100

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.

Clean Slate As Final Charge Lifted By EFL

graham@royals.org (Graham Loader) — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:12:11 +0100

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.