Martin Allen and Sam Allardyce questions how Dai Yongge was allowed to purchase Reading

Martin Allen and Sam Allardyce questions how Dai Yongge was allowed to purchase Reading after previous troubles at clubs he’s owned.

Since his purchase of Reading in 2017, two other clubs (Beijing Renhe FC in China, and KSV Roeselare in Belgium) have both been placed into administration after being owned by Dai, but under the current system. there was no mechanism for the EFL or FA to consider if this should be a cause for concern for the ability of Yongge to properly fund Reading.

The recent attempted takeover of Reading by former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig fell through last month after a breakdown in negotiations.

The American lawyer and businessman had a long period of exclusivity with Yongge but was unable to finalise an agreement with the club saying “alternative options” would now be pursued.

“Mr Dai remains committed to the sale of Reading Football Club and provisions are in place to fund the club until a transaction is completed,” the statement added.

“The club acknowledges and appreciates the financial support provided by the potential purchaser during recent months. All loans have now been paid back to the potential purchaser in full along with the accrued interest.”

According to BBC Radio Berkshire, money received from a sell-on clause in the contract of former player Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich earlier this summer, is helping to keep the club financially stable for now.

Reading’s recent financial struggles under the current ownership meant the club’s women’s side withdrew from the Championship in June, and now have to begin next season in the fifth tier.

Reading’s men’s senior team were also deducted six points for financial issues last season as they finished 17th in League One.

The Royals currently sit 17th in England’s third tier with 13 points from 9 games played.

Martin Allen has questioned how Dai Yongge was allowed to purchase #ReadingFC despite previous ownerships going terribly…

🗣️ “He’s had two previous clubs that have gone completely bust… How was he allowed to buy Reading?”

📹 @NoTippyTappyPod pic.twitter.com/tYB1ifsfUK

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) October 16, 2024

Interviewer Natalie: Quickly want to touch on Reading as well, there it’s tough times for Reading at the minute, what are you making of the current situation?

Sam: Who are the owners of Reading?

Natalie: They are in need of new owners, they’re desperate for new owners aren’t they the go

Martin: The man’s called Dai, what’s happening at Reading Sam, it’s in a lot of debt, it was going to be taken over, it’s been an administration how many times, how many points they’ve been lost, the threat of Reading Football Club going

Sam: Like Bury then

Martin: It’s right there, I’ve got friends from school that are season ticket holders, got their children that go with them, got their grandchildren now that go with them to watch Reading at the Madejski Stadium fantastic stadium and this guy called he his name is Dai, I don’t know I can’t remember what his second name is, but he’s had two previous football clubs that have gone completely busted and finished in other countries, now he’s got Reading, how he’s been allowed to take it Sam and buy Reading

Sam: Well they always seem to do don’t they I mean

Martin: I thought they had that fit and proper persons test

Sam: Yeah it sometimes football seems to attract the wrong type you know

Martin: I don’t know why they just don’t sell it, I don’t know I cannot understand the amount

Sam: Because they lose so much money for what they paid for it that might

Martin: If it goes under they’re going to lose it

Sam: Yeah but they always think there somewhere they’re going to rescue football along the line

Martin: It’s a multi-billionaire and for what we’re reading he sort of shrugged his shoulders and well

Sam: Nobody likes losing money in the end do they but you know if you’re multi-billionaire you’re never going to be able to spend it at all are you, so if you like football you might as well spend it on the football club

Natalie: It’s just it’s just worrying I think sometimes people get out of touch about what football clubs mean to the to people and communities

You can watch the full topics and more in the video below…

Former Barnet, Brentford, Leicester and Notts County manager ‘Mad Dog’ Martin Allen is the next guest to feature on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.

Martin Allen say down alongside Sam Allardyce and Natalie Pike to discuss all things football from his record breaking 5 times in charge of Barnet to his ‘unusual’ training methods.

Martin and Sam spoke about how the ‘Mad Dog’ nickname came to be, how Big Sam was an innovator in football as well as the importance of learning from George Graham.

The two then discuss in detail West Ham’s early season struggles under Julen Lopetegui, why David Moyes wasn’t the biggest fan of Martin Allen and how Martin almost got arrest whilst playing Preston away!

They then both chat about the difficult ownership situation at Reading, what are the most important things when saving a team from relegation & how Martin drastically improved the standards at Brentford.

Finally we end the show with a hilarious version of ‘True or false?’ which features practicing set pieces with a slice of toast, giving players mars bars in training and swimming in rivers to motivate players.

Nigel Howe, Ruben Selles, Jeff Stelling and fans addresses Reading’s takeover collapse

0:00 – Intro with Martin Allen, How Martin got the ‘Mad Dog’ nickname & Managing Barnet 5 times.

12:33 – Big Sam the innovator, Learning from George Graham & Playing out from the back.

24:00 – West Ham’s struggles, Issues with David Moyes & Police trouble at Preston away.

34:20 – Reading’s financial issues, Saving clubs from relegation & Improving standards at Brentford.

48:00 – True or false