Fans of Reading FC are waiting for a new chapter in the club's history to start.

I have been a Reading fan for the best part of 40 years and my late Dad, former Reading director Brian Roach, was part of the team of people who helped Roger Smee block the proposed merger with Oxford United in 1983.

I've worked for the club, was the PA announcer on match days for a season in the 1980s and I host the 1871 Podcast, which focuses on all things Reading FC and is now in its third series, with former Royals Phil Parkinson and John Salako two of our latest guests. 

(Image: Mark Roach)

After such a long and agonising wait for news about the takeover, we finally seem to be getting close, but at the time of writing we are still not over the line. 

The latest news is that Rob Couhig will be announced as Reading's new owner. Hopefully, by the time you read this, that will have been confirmed, and we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief and look forward to better times ahead.

But as things stand, it's a waiting game for Reading fans. Things have gone a bit quiet over the last couple of weeks. On a recent episode of the 1871 Podcast, I compared the takeover to buying a house in a chain - and we have our fingers crossed that the chain holds firm.

It's been a tortuous journey for Royals fans in the post-Sir John Madejski era, with a number of overseas owners failing to get anywhere close to the sound management of the club since Sir John's reign.

Being a football fan is a roller coaster ride. 

I witnessed the magnificent 'Record-Breaking Royals' win their first 13 games in the 1985-86 season. The likes of Michael Gilkes, Trevor Senior and Martin Hicks are my Reading FC heroes.

I was at Wembley for the Simod Cup win in 1988, and I was back at Wembley as we were agonisingly pipped to a place in the Premier League by Bolton in 1995.

There have been plenty of ups and downs since then. The 106 season, finishing eighth in our first Premier League season and another Championship title in the 2011-12 season are some of the highlights. But, since the departure of Sir John, it has been a downward spiral.

Like many Reading fans, I am viewing Rob Couhig as something of a saviour figure for the club. When (and dare I say it, if) he does become our new owner, the overriding feeling seems to be that he will immediately start work on putting right some of the gross mismanagement of previous ownership and making sure there are solid foundations in place. 

Don't expect a quick fix. We got to a point where, 40 years on from being on the brink of the club we support going out of existence, Reading fans had concerns that it might not end well this time. 

Now there is optimism, but still some nerves. When is this actually going to happen?

Our prospective new owner has some good material to work with. Yes, it will be a rescue mission initially, but there are also plenty of positives. 

We still have a fantastic training facility, a good manager who has coped admirably in very challenging circumstances, and the team are performing. It's been a good start to the League One campaign.

I think we will all be happy with stability this season - and will view success on the pitch as a bonus.

And I am sure I speak for many Reading fans when I say that if Rob Couhig is announced as the new owner, it will finally feel as if we have our club back.

 

If you would like to contribute with a fan-written piece, please email: james.earnshaw@newsquest.co.uk