‘I am absolutely heartbroken’: Sir John Madejski speaks on Reading’s situation
FORMER READING FC chairman
Sir John Madejski described the club’s situation as a ‘travesty’ and urged Dai Yongge to sell the club.
The chairman of the Royals from 1990-2012 helped the club rise up through the leagues, winning promotion to the Premier League in both 2005/06 and 2011/12.
Speaking on TalkSport, Sir John said: “I am absolutely heartbroken at the way that Reading FC has developed or not developed, I have total sympathy of every fan out there, everyone who works for Reading Football Club.
“The tyranny that is being unleashed on the club as we speak is not fair, it’s not right. The thing I can’t get my head round is that Mr Dai allegedly lives in a £100millon house next door to the king, to Buckingham Palace.
“If he can have a £100million house, one would assume, rightly or wrongly, that he should be able to do the husbandry at Reading and look after the club to his best abilities.
“He may want to sell the club but unless he looks after the club, he isn’t going to have anything to sell.
“Getting us deducted 16 points. The whole thing is a travesty, it absolutely breaks my heart.
“I spent many years of my life getting Reading Football Club into a nice position, along with lots of others on that journey.
“It’s a total slap in the face, it’s a kick in the stomach. If he wants to sell the club, he should fund it properly and we might be able to get out of this division.”
When asked whether he could have any direct communication or influence on Dai Yongge to sell the club, Madejksi replied: “Not knowing if the wages will be paid at the end of the month is tyranny, it’s cruel.
“I’ve only met him (Dai Yongge) once in passing at the play-offs against Huddersfield at Wembley.
“I’ve never had any communication (with him).
“I think he just felt, ‘well I own the club now, move on, he’s history.’
Don’t forget that he’s put £260million into the club, but that’s all wasted money. He’s built a state-of-the-art training ground, but what’s the point when you’re in the first division? The whole thing is immensely sad.
“Like fans, we are all helpless so it’s frustrating and sad.”