Reading: League One club's Chinese owner open to 'potential sale' of Royals

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Reading FC's Select Car Leasing Stadium from the touchline on an overcast day in Berkshire.Image source, Rex Features
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Reading are currently third from bottom in League One following relegation from the Championship last season

Reading owner Dai Yongge is open to "credible offers of interest" to buy the financially troubled club.

The Royals were placed under another transfer embargo on Friday after failing to settle an outstanding tax bill.

"The club continues to suffer significant cashflow issues," League One Reading announced on their website., external

"In striving to establish external investment, we can confirm there has been significant interest."

The statement added: "Discussions and due diligence processes with a number of these potential investors continue apace.

"Our owner, Mr Dai, is openly inviting further credible offers of interest and declarations of intent from parties eager to pursue a potential sale of the club."

Earlier on Friday, Reading confirmed to BBC Sport that their players and staff had been paid for the month of September by Chinese owner Dai, who took over the Royals in 2017.

The club has frequently struggled to pay wages on time, which has resulted in them being docked points by the English Football League as punishment.

"It's not excellent news, it should be normal news, for any football club or anyone with a job," boss Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"I was told [Thursday] that we didn't need to worry about wages this month."

The Royals have been docked four points already this season over issues paying players and staff.

The EFL hit the Berkshire club with a three-point deduction earlier this month because Dai failed to put enough money into an account to cover wages.

In August, the Royals were docked a point for failing to pay players on time, and in full, during the 2022-23 season.

A BBC Sport investigation during the summer revealed problems with getting money out of China and into the UK.

Friday's statement from the club thanked fans for their continued support in difficult times.

"On behalf of everyone at Reading Football Club, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our community, our commercial partners, sponsors and suppliers and, most importantly, our fans - for your continued support and patience during this extremely challenging period," the statement added.

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