Reading Football Club was a hot topic in the Houses of Parliament yesterday as MPs discussed the incoming Independent Regulator for Football.

The Football Governance Bill has been a key part of changing the future of football, particularly for Reading protest group Sell Before We Dai.

Royals supporters and staff have been enduring a horror 18-months under Chinese businessman Dai Yongge, with off-field issues continuing to dominate front and back pages.

However, it is hoped that an independent regulator can have more powers over preventing, or ousting, unfit owners and prevent supporters from suffering like those of Bury, Macclesfield, Reading and many others.

Local MPs James Sunderland [Bracknell, Conservative] and Matt Rodda [Reading East, Labour] have been campaigning for almost nine months alongside Royals supporters to push through the Bill.

Both had their say in Parliament last night.

"Before I speak fully, I’d like to pay tribute to our wonderful Reading Football Club- to its players and its fans," Rodda started. "The men's and women’s teams were both relegated last year through no fault of their own. The crisis at the club is entirely due to the club’s current owner, Dai Yongge. Despite being relegated, and with the fear of further relegations or worse hanging over them, players and fans have battled through and, we hope, sustained the future of the club. Thankfully, Mr Yongge appears to be selling the club and we hope a brighter future lies ahead. I hope that this bill will ensure that other clubs do not have to face what Reading has been through and that football can move on to a brighter future.

"When we were in the Championship, Mr Yongge started his period as owner of the club by investing in the future. However, his behaviour changed over time and this story we face is one of a failure to pay wages and national insurance. This led to a series of winding-up petitions from HMRC and ultimately 16 points being deducted. This, rather than anything on the pitch, was what was determining the situation at Reading.

"This season, financial problems have continued with further points deductions made, however, I would like to add that they have been suspended and we are grateful to the EFL for that decision. In an incredible effort, players have battled hard and avoided relegation from League One, and we hope to have secured the future of the club.

"The pressure on players, fans and the whole town has been awful. We have been through, and are still going through, the worst crisis in our club’s history. Reading Football Club were founded in 1871 and is one of the oldest in the Football League. Our history includes scoring the highest points in the Championship- 106 points- three seasons in the Premier League and glorious cup runs, including winning the Simod Cup in the 1980s and FA Cup runs.

"During this period of great difficulties, emotions have run very high. 1,400 people joined a march to the stadium in October and there have been numerous protests. Fans simply want their Reading back, and I would encourage Mr Dai to speed up the sale.

"We must ensure that what happened at Reading never happens again. We need a better test for owners and a better assessment of cub finances. Above all, we need to make sure that clubs, players and fans aren’t penalised for the actions of owners, however irresponsible those owners are."

Sunderland, a regular match-goer himself, added: "As a fan myself, these last few years have been galling. We’ve seen freefall from the Premier League, 18 points deducted, huge fines, players not being paid, bills not being settled and fans in despair. I feel their pain. On the record, I want to personally commend every single Reading fan. You’ve been magnificent and supported the club through thick and thin.

"I want to mention the brilliant Sell Before We Dai group which has been instrumental. Does lobbying work? Absolutely yes. Credit to members in this place too, particularly the members for Reading West, Ashford, North-East Hertfordshire and in particular, Reading East."

Damian Green, Conservative MP in Ashford, Kent, was raised in the town and has been a supporter of the club since the 1960s. He labelled this current period "as miserable time as any, even if supporting Reading is thick and quite a lot of thin."

Click here to listen to the full debate from the House of Commons.