Reading FC could possibly soon have a new owner, according to reports – with a British energy drink entrepreneur rumoured to be interested in a £50 million deal.
Rich Energy drink founder William Storey has reportedly agreed terms to buy the club from current owner Yongee Dai, according to the Telegraph. Mr Storey has reportedly agreed to clear the club’s debts and invest in its squad.
It comes after the club has suffered a series of point deductions over financial problems, with the Royals docked four points this season over late payments to players and staff. These issues have culminated in current owner Yongge Dai being under investigation by the English Football League (EFL) under a misconduct charge.
Mr Storey has previously attempted to buy two clubs in the EFL, with a failed bid to buy Sunderland in 2020 and a failed bid to buy Coventry City last year.
Taking to Twitter earlier this week, Mr Storey showed an interest in Reading FC, saying that he hoped former chairman Sir John Madejski would support the club’s next owner.
On Twitter, Mr Storey said: “John Madejski is a Reading legend. He did a fantastic job and showed enormous commitment to the club and the town over an extended period.”
“I hope he supports the next owner and it is important that the huge efforts and financial contribution of Dai Yongge are recognised by all.”
Speaking to BerkshireLive, a spokesperson from fans’ group Supporters’ Trust At Reading said that the group was ‘watching closely’ the development and would ‘wait and see’ before commenting further.
They continued: “We hope that any new owner would make contact with us.”
Fellow Reading FC fan group Sell Before We Dai – aimed at having Mr Dai move on from the club – has expressed reservations about the prospective new owner.
Representative Nick Houlton said: “When we set up Sell Before We Dai, we didn’t want to be just another protest group, We wanted to make fan voices heard and fight for a solution to football’s ownership problem.
“To say we have our reservations about William Storey is an understatement.”
