Reading FC legend ‘in awe’ of new owner Rob Couhig

Reading FC legend ‘in awe’ of new owner Rob Couhig

Reading legend Dave Kitson has said that he is “in awe” of the club’s new owner, Rob Couhig, and his determination

to take it over.

The 75-year-old Couhig spent more than 18 months trying to buy the football team. He had anticipated finishing the

deal in August 2024, but it wasn’t until May 2025 that his name was displayed above the door.

Kitson, a frequent visitor to the SCL Stadium and ardent supporter of his old employers, assisted in propelling the

Royals into the Premier League two decades ago.

The former Stoke City and Portsmouth forward, who is currently the manager of Maidenhead United’s women’s

team, talked to The Reading Chronicle about his old team and what is expected of Noel Hunt’s team now that it has

stable ownership.

“I am really amazed by Rob’s tenacity after running into him at Barnsley. Dai was playing games that most people

would have stopped playing. That tenacity is admirable, and if it spreads throughout the team, things will return to

how we want them to.

“Getting back to where we want to be is a massive task. It’s not just the first team; the Academy is very significant to

the town, and the women’s team didn’t deserve what happened to them. Rob is the man you want to be behind and

follow into battle because of his tenacity, desire, and will to see it through to the end.

“It will take a bit of time, I’m sure he will have uncovered things that weren’t visible at the time, and they have to be

addressed. It’s like when you buy a house, there is always something leaking that you didn’t see the first time around.

I’m sure he will get there. I’m positive he will make the changes that need to be changed, I’ve no doubt about that.”

The Royals barely missed out on a spot in the play-offs on the last day of the season after battling financial

difficulties to finish eighth in League One the previous season.

Big names have left this summer, though, so it will be difficult for the team to capitalise on their great finish.

“Wareham, Bindon, Mbengue, and Craig are no longer with them. They’re major players. I’m not sure what the

transfer policy is, but I do know that we have a tremendous track record of finding people you’ve never heard of and

seeing them achieve big things. I have personal experience with the players we just mentioned.

“The trick is, can you build a team, keep them together and add to it. can you build on something and keep them

together long enough to do their thing? That’s not a Reading predicament; that’s a football predicament. Everyone

outside the Premier League has that.

It is hoped that the team would convey to the players that they are on the right track and that, regardless of what

occurs this season, the following one will be even better if they stay. You can only guarantee that to players. You have

a fantastic opportunity if you can keep players together and convince them to buy into that.

“I’ll be down there and I’m really interested to see what happens. I’ll attend a few Maidenhead Women games and

provide my support, for whatever it’s worth, over the season because they play on Sundays.”

Kitson was one of many big names to return to the SCL Stadium for the final home match of the season, with over

23,000 supporters in attendance and both Championship-winning bosses, Steve Coppell and Brian McDermott, for

the first time in over two years.

“Barnsley demonstrated, off the pitch, that there is support,” Kitson said. “Everyone wants the team to succeed.

Everyone, including the past management and players, wants the team to succeed and has nothing negative to say.

Supporters will show up if you can give them a vision. There are such fans.

“I believe we had 11,000 for a game against Rotherham in the season prior to the championship-winning season. It

was sold out extremely early in the championship-winning season, and tickets were unavailable every week.

“The fans will come out and support you without reservation if you give them a vision, not a promise, that they can

believe in and support.

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