Former Reading FC head of football operations Mark Bowen has given his first public interview since being dismissed by the club in September.
Bowen, who was previously manager at the club before he returned as head of football in May 2022, had his contract terminated by the Royals last month..
Bowen was charged by the Football Association (FA) after alleged breaches of betting rules relating to 95 bets which were placed on football matches between April 2022 – January 2024. None of the bets were in relation to Reading FC.
It was then revealed by the Times in September that Bowen is in a legal dispute with the club regarding his contract termination after he was informed by Reading that he was in breach of his contract for ‘bringing the club into disrepute.’
Speaking to the media for the first time since his dismissal, Bowen spoke to publication Al-Hayat.
Bowen spoke about former Royal Ovie Ejaria who was on trial with Egyptian side Zamalek – who are managed by former Reading manager Jose Gomes.
Bowen said: “Do I think Zamalek made the right decision regarding Ovie Ejaria? Absolutely.
““The player hasn’t competed in professional matches for about two years, and the club was right to evaluate him carefully, especially since he had a significant knee injury.
“Even if the club had decided to sign him, I would have advised them to offer a contract tied to his performance, linking his compensation to the number of games and minutes he plays. It’s a risky situation, signing a player who hasn’t played competitively in two years.
“I believe the surgery he underwent was the main reason for his absence, it was a complicated operation on his knee. Time will tell whether his injury is chronic or not.
“I was head of football operations at Reading, and in his final years, Ovie wasn’t happy. He felt he needed to play at a higher level. He met with me and requested to leave the club.
“He may have had other demands, but Reading’s Chinese owners at the time were facing financial challenges. When Ovie was playing regularly, he was arguably one of the best players in the Championship.”
Bowen also spoke about Zamalek manager Jose Gomes.
Bowen was director of football at Reading when Gomes was sacked by Reading in October 2019 and succeeded him to take the role as first-team manager.
Bowen continued: ““I’ve known Gomes for five years, and we had a great relationship. He is an exceptional person, a wise coach, and very meticulous with his players.
“He builds strong relationships with them, and I can see him doing the same at Zamalek, where he has already won the Confederation Cup. I believe he can achieve even more.
“I’d love to work with Gomes again, especially at Zamalek. It would be a great honour. Zamalek is a globally recognized club, and it would be foolish to turn down such an opportunity. Working with Gomes again would be a privilege.
“The Egyptian league is strong, with competitive clubs like Al Ahly and Pyramids. It’s a constant battle between the top teams, creating a unique competition. With Gomes, the club’s management, and the passionate fan base, I believe it won’t take long for Zamalek to return to the top.”
