Protest group Sell Before We Dai has reacted to the latest development in Reading Football Club’s takeover debacle.
The club released an update on Wednesday morning which stated that their exclusivity period with a prospective buyer last month, believed to be American businessman Robert Platek, has now ended.
Meanwhile, they claim that the club are now in advanced negotiations with an ‘alternative bidder’, believed to be Rob Couhig.
A statement released by SBWD reads: “Starting with the positives, Reading FC’s commitment to regular communication is appreciated. We are also incredibly relieved to read that provisions have been made to satisfy wages and the taxman. However, treating these basics as “good news” is indicative of how far we have fallen. This is yet another statement which represents the staggering incompetence that has characterised this club since 2017.
“Staggering incompetence from the EFL saw Dai Yongge enter our club, staggering incompetence defined his stewardship of the club. Perhaps it is fitting that staggering incompetence has come to define his efforts to exit the club too.
“It is increasingly clear that – despite multiple assurances this was not the case – Rob Couhig’s legal manoeuvring has deterred alternative new owners, most recently including Robert Platek.
“While Couhig’s actions may leave a bitter taste in the mouth for a number of fans, it is also the incompetence of our ownership and their respective legal counsel that has allowed this ludicrous legal situation to materialise.
“We strongly suspect that Couhig is now the club’s alternative bidder. This is due to confirmation from the club that financial support has been secured – something which would have been difficult to obtain externally, except from Couhig, due to his hold on securities.
“Sell Before We Dai has always maintained an opinion of being “owner agnostic” or in less grandiose terms “anyone but Dai”, and we won’t change that now.
“Whoever the new bidder is, please just get the takeover done. Everything good about this club is being betrayed by this disastrous sale process and its distracting from a truly incredible season on the pitch.
“We have the threat of an EFL disqualification hanging over our heads and only five p[layers contracted past the summer – the need for speed cannot be understated.
“If we’ve called this completely wrong and there is a different bidder in the mix, who has a deal agreed with Couhig, and Dai has shaken his magic money tree to fund the club while as takeover progresses, we look forward to a swift completion an pigs flying over the SCL Stadium.”
