Former Reading CEO, and current Property Projects Manager, Nigel Howe, has labelled Sir John Madejski 'remarkable' as he continues to look for a new buyer.
Howe, who was brought to the club by Madejski back in 1995, has been tasked with selling the club after seven turbulent years under Dai Yongge ownership.
Madejski, who made his money founding AutoTrader, owned the Royals for 24 years and took them into the Premier League twice, as well as funding the move from Elm Park to the SCL Stadium in 1998.
Speaking on the Battle and Bunce Talking Property podcast, the experienced property expert has 'optimistically' stated that he targets 'something' by the end of March or into April regarding a club sale.
According to Supporters Trust at Reading, the current cash within the club will be unlikely to get the Royals through March, so time is not on Howe or Reading's side.
READ MORE: Reading FC ownership update issued by Nigel Howe on podcast
Discussing Madejski and his strong feelings toward the club, Howe has called for any potential owner to attempt to keep the 82-year-old long-time owner involved.
"He comes to every match still, and that is when I see him apart from the odd social event around Reading, which he still enjoys," Howe said. "He is remarkable. He’s fit as a flea and busy as you like. I can’t see that changing. He says ‘I’m not the same as I used to be, I’m getting older’ but when you talk about his diary it is as busy as it ever was and socially, he is as busy as he ever was.
"The first questions he asks me every game, without fail, are ‘Where are we with the sale, Nigel?’ and ‘How can I help?’ You’ve got to give credit to Sir John, he continues to put Reading and the football club front and centre. In his mind, although we haven’t had this discussion, he desperately wishes it hadn’t gone the way it has, I suppose.
"It would be great, if any new owner in some way, keeps Sir John involved in some way. There are lots of people that should be kept involved in football clubs. I’d like to think I’m kept involved. People become the fabric of a football club for the future. It is about players, owners, directors and senior staff being kept involved. At the football club, Bryan Stabler has been kept involved, the former FD, I hope there are many, providing they are able, are kept involved because they are part of the fabric of the community."
According to Howe, there is one clear front-runner in the race for the club, but three or four parties remain close behind.
A two-point deduction remains hanging over the club for HMRC-related issues, with two taken off the tally last week.
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