Councillors have spoken about the social value of Reading Football Club, and how that could be at risk.
Instability over caused by club owner Dai Yongge has seen the club hit by financial penalties and points deductions.
Reading Borough Council recently voted on a motion calling for Mr Yongge to sell the club and to see the creation of an Independent Regulator which could launch elevated tests on potential club owners.
It has also listed the Select Car Leasing Stadium as an Asset of Community Value as a symbolic act to highlight its importance.
Councillors that represent Whitley, where the stadium is located, have spoken about the positive impact the club has on the area.
“I fell out of love with football years ago, not with the football or indeed with the results,” said Cllr Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley). “I physically puked at a loss, and I cried with a victory.
“I fell out of love because of the greed. Don’t be confused, I’m not talking about the players, many from working class backgrounds getting paid what they deserve, but the corporate greed.”
He went on to argue that while football has been commodified, it still has the power to unite people.
He said: “Social democracy can only work if it convinces people that they are part of something together, I think football achieves this very well.
“I thank fans personally for reigniting my passion for football, I’ve come a bit of a regular down there. But we only really appreciate something when we think we’re going to lose it forever.”
He continued: “Football doesn’t do the democracy really well, but it does the engagement really really well.
“It makes people feel as though they are part of something which is something we should try and do in politics.”
And Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles (Labour, Whitley) spoke about the social function of the club, which provides employment for young people, including roles of parking attendants and food servers.
She said: “Young people from Whitley would walk across and help with the parking, you get £5, those who are 16 young boys and girls are serving burgers are hired.
“After you get your own pocket money while you are still going to school, it’s huge.”
Cllr Leng added: “It’s not just about the football, it’s about everything that’s wrapped around it, all the supply chains that are linked to the football club.
“I went to a midweek game, and it’s got so bad there was no milk for the tea at the kiosk.”
The club is facing financial difficulties as a result of multiple fines from the English Football League due to regulation breaches.
There are fears these difficulties could have a knock-on impact Whitley and Reading as a whole.
Cllr Mpofu-Coles said: “There’s a knock-on effect on hotels. People used to come and stay in hotels and make the business grow, there was buying of food as well.
“It’s a big, big chain and it’s all gone.”
She added that football comes from the grassroots, and praised the Reading amateur club Giveback FC for its work on tackling violence, and Sanctuary Strikers FC for its work to give relief and exercise for refugees.
Talks on the sale are ongoing.
