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Reading fans continue protest and post letter to CEO with concerns about club’s future

Reading fans continue their protest and a post letter to CEO Dayong Pang with more concerns about the League One club’s future.

Reading fans are actively protesting against the current ownership, demanding a sale of the club.
Concerns were raised about the club’s future through a letter to CEO Dayong Pang.

The letter questioned the CEO’s previous statements and the club’s financial and operational stability.

Fans are worried about the club’s potential administration and are pushing for new ownership to ensure the club’s survival.

The protest group, Sell Before We Dai, is organising efforts to influence the club’s ownership change, while also concerned about the impact of player sales on the team’s performance and future prospects, having seen manager Ruben Selles also leave for Hull City recently.

The letter requested confirmation on whether the current owners are willing to sell the club.

The campaign has support from various fan groups and has engaged in political lobbying and media outreach to gain attention.

THE LETTER READS:

Dear Dayong Pang,

When we met you last December, we hoped we wouldn’t be in the same position 12 months on.

Reading Football Club had cash-flow challenges when we met you and there was a genuine fear that several first-team players would be sold during the upcoming January transfer window. Nothing has changed — despite it now being more than 400 days since the club was supposedly put up for sale.
Before we released the meeting notes, a whistleblower came forward to make a series of allegations. They were:

– Players were going to be sold in January to cover Reading FC’s running costs

– What you said: Player sales to fund the club were unlikely to happen

– What happened: Four first-team players and a promising academy graduate were sold during the January window to aid cash-flow issues

– Investors have been offered sales of Bearwood and Reading FC separately

– What you said: Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li were committed to selling the club as one whole package, including the stadium and training ground

– What happened: The Bearwood training facility was set to be sold by Mr Dai in March to Wycombe Wanderers, before fan action forced then-Wycombe owner Rob Couhig to pull out of the transaction

– What’s happening: The club, with the stadium and training ground included, is yet to be sold

– Mr Dai does not seriously want to sell the club — he wants to run it down and asset-strip it to avoid repaying a debt

– What you said: Mr Dai and Dai Xiu Li are committed to selling Reading FC

– What’s happening: The club has not been sold, more than 400 days since it was put up for sale

It’s not just January sales and the Beaiwood saga that have led to this mistrust.

You also stated that Mr Dai is committed to funding the club until the completion of a takeover. However, Couhig’s consortium seemed to be keeping us afloat during the summer and the club may be relying on sell-on clauses and instalments from player sales at this point. Can you confirm whether Mr Dai is able and/or willing to fulfil all of their financial obligations until a sale is complete, including salaries and IIMRC payments?

Are you also willing to confirm whether Mr Dal and Dal Xiu Li are willing to sell the football club? We appreciate that such sales don’t happen overnight, but we are increasingly concerned about the future of Reading FC, especially considering the whistleblower’s comments and how long the sale has taken.

Last December, you claimed that the club was unlikely to go into administration, partly due to reputational reasons. Unfortunately, we are edging closer to that outcome unless a takeover materialises, and with every day that goes by without a sale, Mr Dai’s reputation is only being driven further into the ground.

We call on you to speak directly – and at length – to concerned supporters. Fans haven’t heard from you specifically since your brief talkSPORT interview back in January, shortly after the pitch incursion against Port Vale. This is why we have visited you today to post this letter.

Supporters also remain deeply concerned about the prospect of player sales during the upcoming transfer window — thereby weakening a highly performing but stretched squad.

Another fire sale would risk ruining the excellent start that the current squad has made to the 2024/25 campaign. Currently, Reading FC remains attractive to prospective buyers, and much of that is due to our on-field success. Selling any players would throw that into jeopardy, risking a relegation battle that would cripple the club and make it a far less valuable asset. The downsides of player sales far outweigh any upsides.

A sale is paramount to the future of this 152-year-old football club, which its loyal supporters will do anything to protect. For the sake of all parties, it must happen as quickly as possible.

Yours sincerely,
Sell Before We Dai

Here’s what Twitter users are saying as Reading fans continue protest and post a letter to the CEO with concerns about the club’s future…

@Savman200: Respect. Great work. Wish we had something similar at Hillsborough. Good luck with it. Hope you get your club sorted very soon.

@thejamieseymour: This is sensational, top work 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@bcf_independent: We stand with ALL clubs where the longevity of their clubs is put at risk, and the feelings of their supporters are taken for granted – something which #bcafc fans can relate to. Good luck to all, and a very happy Christmas. #standyourground #solidaritywithsupporters

@bcks109: We fight for our clubs seperately, but we fight for an Independent Regulator as one. Keep pushing guys. We stand with #readingfc and #UTS. #ClemItsTime🍊 To Sell 🍊🍊🍊

@Jack_Turner01: Love this guys. I wish you best and hope you get a sale soon.👏👏🤞

@bluebelles4: Amazing work. We stand with you. Keep fighting. 👊

@ptragedan: Football is all about the rivalry and the fans. If clubs die, the rivalry dies too. Good luck to Morecombe and that other lot. No football fan deserves to go through this However much you dislike them 💙🤍 #readingtilidie

@CraigBPodcasts: Please knock on the door or switch the screen to that video in which his like history was very suspect 😂 His neighbours ought to know what he’s upto online when he is failing (so basically all the time) to run a football club

@Nozzzaaaa: United we all stand – changed need to be made urgently. Football has a serious ownership problem

@ChrisRoony: Thank you for including Swindon Town in this and good luck with your campaign at Reading. #stfc #ClemItsTime 🔴⚪️🟠

@bobby25964151: Beg you knock on the door

@RussellBeaven: Fantastic job SBWD , I hope if it is possible to do this outside Chinese embassy with Dai on it as well. Good to pressure Pang though about time he got some

@SimonPovey1970_: Bravo…… I’ve been critical of you guys but that is outstanding work…

@benstokes1: This is outstanding work!

@SaintKate80: Desperate times. Good luck, hope it has a positive effect

@Dixeyroyal: No words, just 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@milleR27H: See Pang! We all told you we know where you live, you little weasel

@CGregular: Thank you for taking the time to bring attention to the plight of STFC and Morecambe. It’s very much appreciated considering what you are facing right now.

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