BOWEN CONCERNED BY FINANCES AS CLEAROUT COMMENCES
THE departures have continued to come at Reading following the end of the season with 14 first-team players leaving the club in recent weeks.
Of the 14 departures, the club confirmed that Jordan Obita, Charlie Adam, Tyler Blackett, Garath McCleary, Chris Gunter had departed the club following the expiration of their contracts after the conclusion of the 2019/20 Championship campaign.
Adrian Popa, Vito Mannone, Danny Loader and Modou Barrow also departed the club earlier in the month. Meanwhile Ovie Ejaria,
Lucas Boye, Ayub Timbe Masika, Matt Miazga have all returned to their parent clubs following the end of their loan spells at the club.
It was expected that Reading would make the loan deal of Ejaria into a permanent deal this summer from Liverpool, howevermanager Mark Bowen confirmed that the club may now not be able to fulfill the requirement to make the deal happen due to financial difficulties.
“I’m not sure whether the club will turn his (Ejaria) deal into a permanent tone because of financial restrictions,” said Bowen after Reading’s final day defeat to Swansea City,” said Bowen.
“The recent finishes aren’t good enough for this club. It’s a process and we’re trying to rebuild a club and a philosophy. I can’t wait to start again with my team and my players.
“The financial restraints are going to be difficult. We’ll have a two-and-a-half-week break, but my break will only be from the grass on the training ground.
“It’s a really important time or the club and we have to make sure we get things right going forward with recruitment.”
One of the more unexpected departures came in the form of Obita, who announced that contract talks with the club had been taken off the table.
In a statement released on Twitter, Obita said: “To the fans, I wanted to let you all know that my time at Reading has come to an end after 18 years.
“I was offered a contract at the start of the restart which talks were ongoing but unfortunately that was longer on the table anymore.
“I’d like to thank all the fans for the support, and for those who have always shown belief in me, especially upon my return from my two years out.”
Obita rose through the ranks in the clubs academy and went more than 200 appearances in all competitions since making his debut at first-team level in 2010.
Meanwhile, McCleary confirmed that his departure from the club after eight years was confirmed via a telephone call while on holiday.
In a message on his Instagram page, McCleary said: “After eight years and 270 appearances, my time at Reading FC has come to an end. The farewell wasn’t how I envisaged it would be, receiving a call whilst on my holiday after season finished, but ... I want to say a huge thank you to all the players past and previous I’ve played with and staff especially the people behind the scenes.”