Reading FC chief on ‘misunderstandings’ with former targets
Rob Couhig, the owner of Reading, has told players that if they mess with them, they won’t want to work with them.
Following Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Noel Hunt acknowledged that they had lost out on several
targets who were requesting more money after agreeing to a price.
In an exclusive interview with The Reading Chronicle, the former Wycombe Wanderers manager confirmed this
while speaking candidly about how he and his team adhere to the handshake protocol.
“I think they misunderstand us,” mentioned Couhig. Joe, Noel, and I all adhere to the same philosophy: when you
tell me a deal is done, it is done. I’m also fairly laid back. So you want more money all of a sudden when you walk up
here and look around to meet me or the other guys?
Don’t do that because that’s what happened and we don’t want you right now. It doesn’t matter if we could have paid
more; there was just one person in particular. But I would never have agreed, Joe would never have come up to me,
and Noel would never have proposed it. We are the type of individuals who think that if you give a person your word,
it’s done without even a contract.
The Royals have already added two permanent players, but Couhig still believes they will have a “very very good
squad” on August 2, the first day of the season at Lincoln City. He does admit, though, that it takes time to recruit
effectively.
him after making sure your own guys are restrained when it first opens. After that, it takes time for everyone to
negotiate with their respective clubs and put out their oars to see if they would be interested.
“I don’t think people realise that League One and League Two are no longer the scope of our recruitment. With
certain loans, we have performed admirably, but we are searching globally. Making sure the immigration and work
permit personnel are good comes with its own set of challenges. We must ensure that everyone we desire can
complete that process, and I believe that we are now feeling content with that.
“There are those supporters who want you to sign 12 players by June 3 and wonder why you haven’t done so, even
with the EFL. I’m not sure if this is a hold-up. When are the top players available, if you look at it? Immediately,
immediately, and then just before the end of August. At each of those moments, we will be poised.
“I believe it is in the top five, six, or seven, and we do work within a budget. We most definitely are if I compare it to
last year. Birmingham and Wrexham are two examples of teams that set an excessive budget last year. This year, I
doubt you’ll have anyone at those levels. But who can predict what Luton, Cardiff, and Huddersfield will do now that
they have decided to follow in Ipswich’s footsteps and buy their way up? We’ve all seen clubs try it, fail, and the
owner doesn’t want to do it again, so good for them if they can pull it off.”
A few games will have been played by the time the window closes on September 1.
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