‘Time for the statements to stop’: Emotional Reading FC call for ‘action’ made by Jobi McAnuff

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Reading FC are one of the stories dominating the EFL currently, but not for the right reasons, and former club legend Jobi McAnuff is gutted to see how things are going down at his old club.

The club have been in and around the play-off places in the League One table all season and have a fantastic shot at making it in come the end of the season despite the off-field issues and swapping Ruben Selles for Noel Hunt in the dugout.

Prior to today’s game against Wycombe Wanderers, Reading were sat just a few points away from the play-offs. That is their short-term ambition, but the long-term future of the club remains up in the air after recent developments.

The club’s owner, Dai Yongge, is thought to owe £850 million in winding up orders. The situation is such that Reading now face expulsion from the EFL due to Yongge failing to prove he is a suitable owner.

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Jobi McAnuff outlines thoughts on Reading FC and Dai Yongge

Initially, if the club is not sold by April 4, Reading could well cease to exist. Now, that deadline has been extended by the EFL until April 22. However, it remains a horrendous prospect for fans to stomach, even if they have been handed more time.

Club legend Jobi McAnuff spoke to Sky Sports pre-match against Wycombe, where he outlined his emotive and powerful thoughts on the situation.

He said: “Well, I think first of all, looking at the statement, I think it’s the right decision to extend the period given to the owner to try and sell the football club.

“Clearly, I think everybody around Reading has made their feelings very well known to the owner and want him to sell as quickly as possible.

“There’s been no shortage of interest and that doesn’t surprise me when you look at the stadium, the training ground, and everything about that football club is incredibly appealing.

“Again, now, it comes back to the mess around any potential sale. Obviously, Rob Couhig being involved which has made it a little bit more complicated, given he got to the final stages and everyone thought that was going to go through.

“Now, it’s time for the statements to stop. We’ve heard a lot of noise and a lot of talking — not enough action. Everybody has to come together: the EFL, Rob Couhig, and Dai Yongge.

“What we cannot have, is another Bury. We should’ve learnt our lessons from that as a football world. Clearly, we’ve come down this road now where we are at risk of losing a fantastic football club — 153 years of history.

“What I will say, and what we have to try and do, is to shift that focus on to how great a job everyone at that football club’s done. The fans today are going to turn out in their numbers.

“Noel Hunt, Mikele Leigertwood, all the staff, and the players, despite everything that’s gone on have been brilliant in terms of giving that club an opportunity.

“They can make an unbelievable opportunity of getting in the play-offs this year. So, hopefully a resolution is not too far away.”

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Reading FC cannot go extinct and a resolution must be found

McAnuff is absolutely correct regarding everything he said, given the desperate nature of the situation at Reading as one of the EFL’s most historic and noteworthy football clubs.

McAnuff is not the only ex-Royal to make his thoughts known on the situation this week, with Steve Sidwell also speaking emotionally about Reading and the off-field issues and a steady decline.

Having made over 200 appearances and captained the club, very few players understand what it means more than McAnuff. The potential impact could be huge for so many connected with the club.