According to national reports, Mark Bowen is currently in a legal dispute with Reading Football Club after he had his contract terminated by the club.
The Times have reported that the former head of football operations has been dismissed by the club after he was found to be in breach of the FA’s betting rules.
Their report says: “The Times understands that in July he was also informed by his employers that he was in breach of his contract for bringing the club into disrepute.”
Their report also states that he was informed by the club that he was in breach of his contract for ‘bringing the club into disrepute’
Bowen, who was first-team manager from 2019-2020 before he rejoined as head of football in 2022, was suspended by the club in July after he was found guilty of placing 95 bets on football matches between April 2022 to January 2024.
It is expected that lawyers acting on Bowen’s behalf are likely to point to other disciplinary matters at the club that have not resulted in similar action that Bowen has faced.
The club were fined £200,000 in May after an independent disciplinary committee concluded that the club and three staff members – former CEO Nigel Howe, head of academy Michael Gilkes and club secretary Sue Hewett – had breached FA regulations.
Howe was fined £5,000 and given a six month suspension from involvement with transfer activity and contract negotiations with a further six month suspension from all football activity once the first suspension expires.
Therefore, Howe is still allowed to oversee the current takeover after he was tasked by current owner Dai Yongge to conduct negotiations to sell the club.
A statement from Reading FC in May admitted that the clubs conduct had ‘fallen short of the high standards we usually operate’ and that that three employees had represented the club in ‘exemplary fashion for over 20 years.’
The club has not yet formally announced. Bowen’s departure, while first-team manager Ruben Selles said he was not able to comment on the situation.
Reading Football Club has declined to comment.
