CASH CRISIS WON’T WRECK VELJKO PLAN

Olise 18 pen, Meite 26

MANAGER Veljko Paunovic says he cannot allow Reading’s financial worries to cloud his preparation for next season.

The Royals reported a £43million loss for the year 2019-20 and are one of several Championship clubs concerned about a transfer embargo or points deduction next term.

Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation to League One by three points, having had six docked for financial fair play breaches, showed how damaging EFL sanctions can be.

But Paunovic says the club have worked to slash the wage bill since those accounts. “It’s concerning,” said the Serb after the draw with Huddersfield. “But let’s not worry about it now, because there are things that are out of my control.

“I know the club is working very hard to fix that, and let’s see how that goes. We’ll worry about it when we have to worry, if we have to worry. We’ve already talked about possible reinforcements for next season.”

One way of raising funds could be to cash in on Michael Olise, 19, who is being watched by big clubs and put in another man-of-thematch display.

Paunovic (top) added: “Michael has shown his talent and huge potential.

“We all know in football every player is on show and anything can happen, so I won’t dwell on things outside of my control.”

Josh Koroma put Huddersfield in front but Royals playmaker Olise, with a penalty, and Yakou Meite turned the match around, only for Rarmani Edmonds-Green to salvage an injury-time point.

READING: Southwood 6, Esteves 6, Yiadom 6, Holmes 6, Richards 6, Laurent 6, Rinomhota 6, Olise 8 (Moore 77), Swift 6 (Tetek 66, 6), Semedo 6, Meite 6 (Joao 66, 6) HUDDERSFIELD: Schofield 5, Keogh 5, Vallejo 5, Sarr 5 (Bacuna 77, 6), Holmes 5 (Thomas 60, 6), High 7 (Edmonds-Green 77, 5), Hogg 6, O’Brien 6, Aarons 5 (Eiting 60, 6), Koroma 7, Ward 6 (Phillips 70, 6) REF: Jarred Gillett

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