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RE: Away Day Tales: Episode 10 - Ashton Gate (30th Mar 2002)
Hello! Are you currently attending Reading's away matches? Is it left in a carefree past?
In your opinion, what is the reason for Reading's current 16th place in the Championship? Is it a change of generations or problems with funding? Although funding problems are probably a problem for Ukrainian clubs. Our club usually has one sponsor, and the future of the club depends on him. In England, as far as I read, the system is different.
I've not been to any for a couple of seasons (because of Covid and I've been to most of the grounds and a 2nd child all make it difficult). In my younger days, I went to every game home and away but I don't live in Reading any more and it's all a bit more difficult. I try to go to grounds that I haven't been to before though.
Over the last few years, the owners have spent loads of money trying to get us promoted and we're now paying the price for that. We've had a transfer embargo because we breached Financial Fair Play and because we sold our stadium to ourselves (a cheeky scam to try to trick fair play), we'll get a points deduction soon too (6 points probably). Derby did the same thing and got deducted 12 points (although they lied about it so their penalty was bigger).
We needed to get promoted last season and we didn't so we had to sell our best player (Michael Olise to Crystal Palace) and Omar Richards left for free (to Bayern Munich). I expect us to have a difficult season.
I think that we can have sponsors for pretty much anything. Our Stadium is now called "The Select Car Leasing" stadium (which is a horrible name) as well as the main shirt sponsor and various match day sponsors. It's all about the money!
Wow! Quite an unexpected answer for me. Such things are very similar to those that happen in my country.
6 points is a lot. Apparently Reading this season should focus on not leaving the Championship.
The transfer embargo is good news for the youth team and a good incentive for the youth football school.
Are you still a fan of Reading or do you support the team where you live?
Unfortunately, I think most of life is dominated by money and as much as it's made the Premier League as fantastic as it is, it's taken so much away from our beloved game but that's a whole new topic in its own right.
I wrote this article some time ago which was interesting to research. I couldn't believe the numbers involved and it shows how important money is in today's game.
Reading have always been good at bringing youth players through - the 2 players I mentioned (Oliseh and Richards) are both products of our youth academy so we get a lot right. Luckily, we've still got enough quality to stay up but we don't know how many years we'll struggle for.
I'll always support Reading - it's the town I grew up in and the team I've watched for the best part of 20 years. I'd like to go and watch Eastbourne at some point (they're currently non-league) with the-toddler-gorilla (if he ever starts liking football).
I read your article. It upset me. I believed that in economically developed countries everything is different.
I share your opinion that money kills football. It ceases to be a sport, and becomes a sphere of entertainment. If it was a sport, each club would train its players and play with them. And now if there is money, the club buys stars and shows results, earning even more money. Business.
Sadly not. The amount of money that the rich have still isn't enough for them. They always want more, until they have everything. This seems to be true the whole world over - never satisfied.
Football's definitely business now which is why most clubs are owned by businessmen who know little about what it's like to stand on a terrace in the pouring rain. I remember Kroenke (Arsenal owner) saying something about a cold night in Stoke - a place he's never been.
We recently had a good club Dnipro. It played well in the Europa League, brought Ukraine points. But it belonged to a very cynical oligarch. At one point, he hung a bunch of debts on the club, declared it bankrupt. Immediately after that he founded a new club Dnipro-1 (even the name is cynical and without imagination), but in the lower division.
Android on my phone now thinks I'm a fan of Reading (probably after I became interested in the club while reading your articles). So, apart from Ukrainian clubs, yesterday it showed me the result of Reading's match :) Unfortunately, Reading lost by missing one goal.
Once an owner declares a club bankrupt as a result of their business dealings, they shouldn't be allowed to own a club again.
Welcome to our Fan Club. I'm hearing rumours that our 9 point deduction will be announced soon which will drop us into the relegation zone ☹️ The good news, is that if we get relegated, I'll have plenty of new grounds to visit 🥳
A good idea.
You can find a positive in everything :)