Trapped In Trepidation
Yesterday at 06:30 AM
The situation of Reading FC's takeover saga is crippling. If we as a fanbase are to do anything, we need to be united, now more than ever.
I've written this because I'm fed up with scrolling. The ritual of going onto the Reading FC Twitter-sphere and not knowing if we'll ever see the club sold by Dai Yongge is robbing hours from my life! The same with you too, right?
This saga changes just as quickly and unceremoniously as this summer has into autumn. The back end of July into August felt great, but the chill of September has hit us suddenly like a slap in the face. It now looks as though Rob Couhig's deal to buy the club has fallen like the leaves from the trees.
At least that's what Tim Dellor has announced on BBC Radio Berkshire on Wednesday morning. Whether Reading FC or Couhig himself will make any kind of comment confirming as much remains to be seen.
Stepping away from the emotion of it all, the details as to why this happened must come to light. But as is so often the way with anything to do with Reading and Dai Yongge, nobody really knows anything and getting clarification is near impossible.
It can't be understated the harm current events and accompanying rumours are doing to the mental health of the fanbase. I dread to think about those within the club.
But I can tell you what really hasn't helped: "in the know" accounts on social media.
I'm not coming for anyone on a personal level, and it goes without saying people will undoubtedly know ahead of others. But there's a saying somewhere that fools too easily reveal themselves, while smarter people keep schtum. Surely if you find yourself repeatedly revealing the same "breaking" news, or that something's "imminent", only for nothing to happen, you'd question the veracity of your source? Not to mention how it makes you look.
It truly is the hope that kills you when it comes to football. So, to suggest to fellow eager followers that something might happen, without obvious verification, on something so critical which is bound by non-disclosure agreements, seems a bit daft to me. But then if all you're interested in is gaining a few followers online, please just go and speak to someone in person. It's much more fulfilling.
As to what on earth has gone on with Couhig's takeover, only a few will be privy. That's why we need the man himself to get in contact with either Sell Before We Dai or STAR. Speaking to journalists wouldn't do any harm either, as it's clear serious questions need to be asked and facts brought into public gaze. How does a deal that - according to those owning it - go from being "days away" from being confirmed to now being over?
It's been said so many times and few deny Reading FC sells itself. So why is it taking so long? I've lost count how many other clubs have been sold in the time we've been "on the market".
Couhig's relationship with Reading is something to write about in itself, but I do find it ironic Dayong Pang reportedly once said "people get too emotional in this country" when it comes to business. Yet it seems too coincidental this takeover hit the buffers immediately after Dai's would-be successors were cheered into RG2. Almost as if someone was jealous of the good vibes they were welcomed with…
But now we need answers and actions. Anyone professing to be "in the know" needs to get involved with SBWD. If you've got sources, put them to use. Nobody needs to be unmasked and clearly confidences will be kept, but the more informed SBWD and STAR are, the more accountable Dai and co will have to be.
In the wake of current events, imagine the likes of Jim White and Simon Jordan discussing the intel passed onto them from you... there's only so much hiding Dai and Pang can get away with.
Don't forget, the prospect of last October's march and the media coverage SBWD generated prompted Reading FC to issue a statement on Dai's intention to sell.
We are not totally powerless here and I'd argue the media coverage the movement has generated is what got us so close to finally seeing the end of the Dais.
It's unbelievably disheartening when you realise what's felt like months of progress has essentially led to nothing changing in Reading FC's boardroom. Who'd have thought with the one-year anniversary of Reading fans marching from town to the SCL just six weeks away, we'd still be here?!
But perhaps all is not lost. Information is power and, while that might do wonders for your social media account, it really needs to be shared with those who can use it for greater good.
When all this is over, those who helped won't be forgotten.
