Reading legend Jobi McAnuff took to national television to speak after the impact owner Dai Yongge has had on the club, stating that the 'spirit and culture has eroded.'
McAnuff played over 200 times for the Royals in five years with the club, captaining the side to Premier League promotion in 2012.
Leaving in 2014, the club have been on a downward spiral- speeding up since Yongge's arrival in 2017.
🗣️ 'These are people three weeks before Christmas being told they're not being paid on time'
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 3, 2023
🗣️ 'The owners have previous in this, they've had a club dissolved in China, a club in Belgium go bankrupt - the mismanagement is on such a scale'@IanWright0 on @ReadingFC's owners pic.twitter.com/HXxyypIhA0
Now staring at relegation to the fourth tier for the first time in over 40 years, supporters protested for millions to see on Sunday during their 2-1 defeat to non-league Eastleigh.
Speaking about the impact of having a careless owner, the former winger said: "That’s another disappointing thing since Dai Yongge has been there, the real spirit and culture of the club has been eroded. They have gotten rid of a lot of good people behind the scenes and eventually, it filters down onto the pitch as you can see with points deductions and a bunch of kids which it is now. It’s inevitable really in terms of the downside."
There are hopes that the club are to be sold in the coming weeks, but interested parties remain in negotiations.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here