Ex-Wycombe owner Rob Couhig calls EFL club Queens Park Rangers ‘a screwed up organisation’ and talks about the Reading takeover rumours.
He spoke exclusively to the Bucks Free Press and the Reading Chronicle, making some interesting revelations on when then-Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth left for QPR back in February last year.
QPR went on to sack Ainsworth at the end of Octobeer 2023, following a run of nine Championship games without a victory which left them six points from safety.
In my exclusive chat with Rob Couhig on Monday, we spoke about all things Wycombe and Reading.
One of topics of discussion was Gareth Ainsworth’s departure to QPR and hiring Matt Bloomfield.
Fair to say that the American didn’t hold back.#Chairboyshttps://t.co/sY1pzopIHz
— James Richings 🏴 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) June 19, 2024
Couhig spoke to the Bucks Free Press on Ainsworth’s exit from Wycombe, of whom he had been with since 2012, after two spells as caretaker and a 7 year stint as player with QPR : “Gareth was sought after and we discussed each of those [approaches].
“To his credit, he only wanted to leave for a club that meant something to him.
“So when the call came in from QPR and I took it, I told Gaz that ‘this is the one you’ve been waiting for.’
“I never said that he should go, but I believe you need to help your employees on their personal journey as it all comes back.
He was like ‘I don’t know, we’ve got something going’ and he was right, but on the other hand, when does this opportunity come up again?
“I called the CEO and one of the owners at QPR and said ‘he’s as good as you can get but I don’t think this is a great chance for him, as you’re a screwed up organisation’, and they’ll tell you that I was brutal with them.
“But if he wanted to go, then I would help him pack and that’s what we did.”
Couhig on Ainsworth’s replacement: “My main job was to know who my next guy was and a few months before that, I had told Matt Bloomfield [who was now a coach] that he should apply for the Colchester United job.
“He said ‘why? Am I not doing a great job?’ And I said you’re doing a great job, ‘but you’re never going to be the manager here if you stay here’.
He then went to Gaz [Ainsworth] and said ‘I don’t think Rob likes me’ but Gaz said ‘no, he’s trying to help you.’
“I gave the guys at Colchester a ring and said ‘I think we have one of the best young managers in the making’ and they hired him.
“He won a manager of the month award and saved them from relegation, so when Gaz left, I called Robbie [Cowling, Colchester’s manager director] and said, ‘remember when I said this guy was good? Well, I need him back’.
“The guys at Colchester were good about it as they knew Matt was special [to the club].
“Pete and I spoke every year about what we would do if the manager left.
“You need to know your next step.
“I never understand why some clubs fire a manager without an idea of what they’re going to do next.”
🚨 EXCLUSIVE🚨
Ex-Wycombe owner Rob Couhig has publicly addressed the Reading rumours for the first time.
“If it’s run right, it is one hell of a club.”#ReadingFC #Chairboys https://t.co/alIRxAiSOU
— James Richings 🏴 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) June 18, 2024
On speculation regarding his interest in a Reading takeover, he said, per Reading Chronicle: “We’re looking at helping some people with possible acquisitions in the UK.
“I’m looking at a variety of options but I’m back at the law firm [in New Orleans].
“I’ve learned a lot about football because when I first started, I didn’t know much about it at all, as I don’t compare my knowledge to anyone else.
“But I have an idea of the budgets that go into it, so we’re consulting with a few people, and I think there are some opportunities which will come around and if they do, we can fit ourselves in.”
Regarding the enquiry to purchase Reading’s training ground, accusations of taking advantage of Reading’s struggles and protests from Reading fans only for the deal never to go through: “One can make the mistake of taking what some people say and doing as speaking for all of the community.
“Some people see things differently, and therefore they respond differently.
“I think those who were particularly aggrieved [about Bearwood] didn’t have a clue about what was going on, so they read a rumour which made them feel good to parade by Adams Park.
“One guy on vacation went through the trouble of posting something up outside my law office, but the joke was on him as I hadn’t been there for about a month and I’m on the 36th floor.
“I doubt I would have ever seen it!
“Look, around 90 per cent of the Reading fans know that the club is in real trouble.
“How it saves itself is yet to be determined, but I think outsiders looking at it, making suppositions about what are the sellable assets and what is not, and what attracts a buyer, are speculating unless they put down their own money.
“It couldn’t have escaped anyone’s notice that there’s a parade of people trying to buy the club.
“I suspect if I did get involved there, there would be a big discussion where we can talk and yell at each other like we did at Wycombe occasionally, and move on.
“If it’s run right, it’s one hell of a club, and people need to understand that this is a business.
“So we shall see.”
SEE MORE: Pundit tells Reading fans to accept ex-Wycombe owner who leads way in takeover talks
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