Reading fan ‘can’t stop smiling’ after deal struck

She “can’t stop smiling” after a deal was reached, according to an activist and Reading supporter who has spent years

trying to get the club sold by its owner.

The Sell Before We Dai fan group’s Caroline Parker expressed her “absolutely delighted” feelings about the

possibility of Rob Couhig, the former owner of Wycombe Wanderers, taking over the team.

Included in the transaction are the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the Bearwood training facility, and the shares held by

Dai Yongge, who has controlled the team since 2017.

A meeting on Thursday is anticipated to ratify the agreement, which was announced on Saturday.

Reading finished 17th in League One in 2023–2024 after losing six points due to financial difficulties.

The club’s women’s team, which was a Women’s Super League team as recently as May 2023, withdrew from the

Championship in June due to financial concerns. As a result, they currently play in the fifth division.

Ms Parker said: “I can’t stop smiling. All I can think is it’s finally over.

It’s difficult to express how much of a relief all of that campaigning by so many individuals is. I am ecstatic.

According to her, it was a “real team effort”

“It wasn’t just Sell Before We Dai or STAR [Supporters’ Trust at Reading], all of the fans, there’s a list of hundreds of

people to thank,” she stated.

“Unfortunately, we are not the only sad story,” she added.

“Other football teams are currently having problems. I have no doubt that some of the members will try their best to

support rival clubs.

The Royals almost missed the play-offs by three points after finishing seventh in League One on Saturday.

Brian McDermott, the former manager of Reading, praised Couhig for being “consistent and persistent” in his

pursuit of the team.

He said, “It’s fantastic news for everybody,” on BBC Radio Berkshire.

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