Reading fans group hit back at chief exec's call for patience after protests

16 January 2024 , 16:00

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Reading fans protested against owner Dai Yongge at the weekend (Image: JASONPIX)

Reading fans have hit back at comments from chief executive Dayong Pang after he called for patience in the wake of protests against owner Dai Yongge at the weekend.

Frustrated fans invaded the pitch at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in the 16th minute of Saturday's match with Port Vale. The League One clash was eventually abandoned as a result of the protests against Yongge, who took over the club back in 2017.

The Royals have had 16 points deducted in the past three seasons, including four in the current campaign. The club are currently languishing in 21st place in League One, three points adrift of safety after being relegated from the Championship last term.

The EFL warned Yongge to either "fund the club adequately" or "make immediate arrangements to sell" on Monday, with Pang claiming soon after that the Reading owner remains "100 per cent" committed to selling up and is simply trying to "put the club into safe hands."

But fan-led protest group Sell Before We Dai have hit back at Pang's claims, insisting that they have been more than lenient with the club's regime as progress on a takeover continues to drag.

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Spokesperson Nick Houlton told Mirror Football: "Mr Pang has called for patience but fans have been patient, we have shown months of patience throughout Mr Dai’s poor ownership of our football club. Saturday’s protest stemmed from pure desperation as our situation worsens and fans' worries grow day by day, the thought of not having a club is unbearable and weighs heavy on us all.

"We were told in our meeting with Mr Pang just weeks ago that Mr Dai was fully committed to a sale but have since seen contrasting information suggesting he is difficult with the sale and proving reluctant, we have already seen the collapse of an agreed sale with Genevra and have gone steadily backwards within just weeks of seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

"Mr Dai Yongge is the one hurting the club, not the protests and we urge him to sell the club as a matter of urgency before we are truly run into the ground."

Reading have been deducted 16 points during the past three seasons under Yongge's ownership (JASONPIX)

The group, who met with the EFL today to discuss a way forward following Saturday's protests, have made it clear that they will continue to protest against Yongge's ownership until the club is sold.

In the wake of Saturday's match being abandoned, Reading fans have contributed more than £5,000 to a Port Vale fundraising campaign for a statue of their legendary former manager, John Rudge.

The gesture comes after Port Vale fans stood in solidarity with Reading fans at the weekend with some applauding the protests and even joining in with chants against Yongge.

Houlton added: "Following Saturday’s abandonment we have reached out to Port Vale Supporters Trust and on their behalf shared a Go Fund Me to their campaign for a statue of their legendary, former manager, John Rudge.

"Reading fans have come together and helped raise more than £5,000 within a few days. We are so grateful for Port Vale standing with us and the football community itself. There were teams suffering before Reading and there will be teams after us, Football has an ownership problem and something must change."

Dan Marsh