Football Season Guide

There was great relief and celebration in Reading when the albatross around the club’s neck was finally removed. Former Wycombe Wanderers owner completed his long-awaited takeover from the despised Dai Yongge in May. The Chinese “businessman” presided over an eight-and-a-half-year reign which saw the club relegated from the Championship in 2023, receive multiple points deductions and lurch towards seemingly inevitable administration. It was largely due to the club’s established academy that raised performances on the pitch to a level which allowed them to not only retain their third tier status, but push for promotion. Many of the graduates thrived under Ruben Selles, who moved to Hull City in December 2024, and successor Noel Hunt. It is remarkable the Royals were still in the play-off picture up until the final day of the season. It’s hardly surprising that so many talented youngsters caught the eye of suitors with centre-back pairing Amadou Mbengue and Tyler Bindon signed up by Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest respectively. Midfielder Michael Craig and striker Jayden Wareham rejected new deals in favour of moves to Leyton Orient and Exeter City this summer whilst winger Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is stalling on signing a new contract. Hunt is also resigned to losing midfielder Harvey Knibbs but has retained goalkeeper Joel Pereira and midfielder Lewis Wing. The latter has proved an influential figure, with some spectacular long-range strikes, but showed signs of fatigue having started all 46 league matches. The signing of centre-back Paudie O’Connor represents something of a coup whilst a trio of loan signings in centre-back Finley Burns, left-back Matty Jacob and striker Mark O’Mahony have created some additional excitement. Further additions are expected and required. Cleaning up the mess left by Yongge is going to take more than one season and there is already some impatience among fans, who expect a quick return to the Championship.