League One - clubs in crisis

[longmover]

Strong rumours that Reading are close to going down the plughole. Catering staff at the training ground have left and players are eating microwave meals. Office staff are sat in coats because the heating has been switched off. And the club are planning a January firesale of players to help pay the bills. All according to The Athletic.

Lewis Wing, Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs, Tom Holmes, Nelson Abbey and others all expected to be made available for up front payments.

Relegation is now looking the least bad outcome this season because it would at least mean the club hasn't folded. Hard to see how they wouldn't be absolutely nailed on for finishing bottom if their remaining half decent players leave.

wasn’t really worth it all was it.

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Also “the November payroll for players being met thanks to a loan from sponsors Select Car Leasing — the second time this season the local firm has stepped in to help avoid another points deduction.”

[Artemis]

Strong rumours that Reading are close to going down the plughole. Catering staff at the training ground have left and players are eating microwave meals. Office staff are sat in coats because the heating has been switched off. And the club are planning a January firesale of players to help pay the bills. All according to The Athletic.

Lewis Wing, Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs, Tom Holmes, Nelson Abbey and others all expected to be made available for up front payments.

Relegation is now looking the least bad outcome this season because it would at least mean the club hasn't folded. Hard to see how they wouldn't be absolutely nailed on for finishing bottom if their remaining half decent players leave.

Shame we've played them twice now.

[Shade]

Strong rumours that Reading are close to going down the plughole. Catering staff at the training ground have left and players are eating microwave meals. Office staff are sat in coats because the heating has been switched off. And the club are planning a January firesale of players to help pay the bills. All according to The Athletic.

Lewis Wing, Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs, Tom Holmes, Nelson Abbey and others all expected to be made available for up front payments.

Relegation is now looking the least bad outcome this season because it would at least mean the club hasn't folded. Hard to see how they wouldn't be absolutely nailed on for finishing bottom if their remaining half decent players leave.

Shame we've played them twice now.

If they go under then everyone will have their points wiped that they picked up against Reading. We'd only lose one point. Quite a few teams would be worse off, even if they have only played them once.
If they don't go under, that's one relegation spot taken, anyway. And as Reading looked the most likely to escape out of the bottom 4, it's all good news for us.

[Jerry St Clair]

Keep an eye on the game at Reading on Saturday. There is highly likely to be an on pitch demo. Just a question of whether it’s during the game attempting an abandonment or after the game. There is a split among the fan base on this, but disruption during the game will have potentially further repercussions.

[Swiss-Robin]

Strong rumours that Reading are close to going down the plughole. Catering staff at the training ground have left and players are eating microwave meals. Office staff are sat in coats because the heating has been switched off. And the club are planning a January firesale of players to help pay the bills. All according to The Athletic.

Lewis Wing, Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs, Tom Holmes, Nelson Abbey and others all expected to be made available for up front payments.

Relegation is now looking the least bad outcome this season because it would at least mean the club hasn't folded. Hard to see how they wouldn't be absolutely nailed on for finishing bottom if their remaining half decent players leave.

Shame we've played them twice now.

If they go under then everyone will have their points wiped that they picked up against Reading. We'd only lose one point. Quite a few teams would be worse off, even if they have only played them once.
If they don't go under, that's one relegation spot taken, anyway. And as Reading looked the most likely to escape out of the bottom 4, it's all good news for us.

I agree of course.
But I knew many Reading fans down the years. All decent fellas.
Of course, whilst I wish us to stay up, it'd be sad if it was at the demise of Reading's mismanagement. Would be more at ease if we can do this on merit rather than profiting from their misfortune.
Sorry to say, but I feel for their fans at the moment.

[ctfc-fan]

Shame we've played them twice now.

If they go under then everyone will have their points wiped that they picked up against Reading. We'd only lose one point. Quite a few teams would be worse off, even if they have only played them once.
If they don't go under, that's one relegation spot taken, anyway. And as Reading looked the most likely to escape out of the bottom 4, it's all good news for us.

I agree of course.
But I knew many Reading fans down the years. All decent fellas.
Of course, whilst I wish us to stay up, it'd be sad if it was at the demise of Reading's mismanagement. Would be more at ease if we can do this on merit rather than profiting from their misfortune.
Sorry to say, but I feel for their fans at the moment.

But they’ve had their moment of glory from overspending and bad management so they deserve everything they get. They wouldn’t give two hoots about us whilst they’re winning.

[Ihearye]

Shame we've played them twice now.

If they go under then everyone will have their points wiped that they picked up against Reading. We'd only lose one point. Quite a few teams would be worse off, even if they have only played them once.
If they don't go under, that's one relegation spot taken, anyway. And as Reading looked the most likely to escape out of the bottom 4, it's all good news for us.

I agree of course.
But I knew many Reading fans down the years. All decent fellas.
Of course, whilst I wish us to stay up, it'd be sad if it was at the demise of Reading's mismanagement. Would be more at ease if we can do this on merit rather than profiting from their misfortune.
Sorry to say, but I feel for their fans at the moment.

Maybe to ease their sorrow we should just give them back any points deducted. I am sure they were all out on the streets protesting when they were 'winning' points because of spending money they didn't have

[Shade]

Reading's pitch invasion happened after 20 mins.

[Jerry St Clair]

Reading's pitch invasion happened after 20 mins.

Match abandoned.

Reading fans stayed in the centre circle for more than an hour.

[Shade]

I don't get it. It's a bit late for this kind of thing and they're just condemning their club to further sanctions.

[Robin]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

[Jerry St Clair]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

Probable that Port Vale will be awarded the win. That’s, allegedly, what a Port Vale member of staff told the travelling fans before the abandonment had been officially announced.

Can’t fathom that it’ll be replayed, unless behind closed doors.

[Si Robin]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

That's exactly what they want.

[ctfc-fan]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

Probable that Port Vale will be awarded the win. That’s, allegedly, what a Port Vale member of staff told the travelling fans before the abandonment had been officially announced.

Can’t fathom that it’ll be replayed, unless behind closed doors.

From BBC:

EFL will 'discuss the implications'

"Every effort was made to restart the game," said an EFL spokesperson. "But it became increasingly obvious that this would not be possible. We will now discuss the implications of this afternoon's events with the clubs."

The fixture is likely to be restaged later in the season on a midweek date - but Selles warns that all such talk right now is pure speculation until the EFL have convened a panel to discuss the afternoon's events.

[Robin]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

That's exactly what they want.

Yes I meant bitter sweet in the sense that that this will likely force the owner out but come at the expense of a points deduction which would likely send them down (assuming it's 6points or so).

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

It benefits us as you'd imagine they'll get hit with a points deduction now which surely sends them down. Also got to feel for their fans as it will likely force their owner to sell up soon.

That's exactly what they want.

Yes I meant bitter sweet in the sense that that this will likely force the owner out but come at the expense of a points deduction which would likely send them down (assuming it's 6points or so).

They are at the stage where relegation doesn’t matter, I think. I.e. happy to get relegated if it means getting the club back from the owners.

[Jerry St Clair]

That's exactly what they want.

Yes I meant bitter sweet in the sense that that this will likely force the owner out but come at the expense of a points deduction which would likely send them down (assuming it's 6points or so).

They are at the stage where relegation doesn’t matter, I think. I.e. happy to get relegated if it means getting the club back from the owners.

Yes. The catalyst for this is that over the past week it's become clear that a pattern of events is unfolding that is eerily similar to what happened at KSV Roselare in Belgium - Dai's last club. And he ended up liquidating them. It's escalated fast since the turn of the year and relegation is now a minor concern.

[longmover]

Dai Yongge’s £50k (suspended) fine has been activated for failing to deposit the monthly wage bill, again this farce lurches on and on. At the back of my mind if Reading are sold and funds are pumped into the club (again) three or four years down the line this will be happening again, meanwhile we could have been relegated instead of these clowns.

[Jerry St Clair]

Things seem to be bubbling up at Swindon. Fan protests, although isolated, starting up against the owner. Suspicions about cost cutting (Liam Kinsella's move to us being a prime exhibit) unquantified spending on legal fees and, most interestingly of all, the Supporters Trust under fire for being, some fans believe, less that robust the club. More serious accusations are that the Trust is in the pocket of the owners.

A club in turmoil. Watch this space.

[Red Duke]

Things seem to be bubbling up at Swindon. Fan protests, although isolated, starting up against the owner. Suspicions about cost cutting (Liam Kinsella's move to us being a prime exhibit) unquantified spending on legal fees and, most interestingly of all, the Supporters Trust under fire for being, some fans believe, less that robust the club. More serious accusations are that the Trust is in the pocket of the owners.

A club in turmoil. Watch this space.

Nothing new there. Why does history keep repeating itself with Swindon? Are there no lessons being learnt.

[longmover]

Things seem to be bubbling up at Swindon. Fan protests, although isolated, starting up against the owner. Suspicions about cost cutting (Liam Kinsella's move to us being a prime exhibit) unquantified spending on legal fees and, most interestingly of all, the Supporters Trust under fire for being, some fans believe, less that robust the club. More serious accusations are that the Trust is in the pocket of the owners.

A club in turmoil. Watch this space.

tat attracts tat, swindon should have been wound up years ago and the ground should be a much needed recycling centre.

[longmover]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68341348

Just cheat, there really is no penalty for it. second in the league, players you've sold loaned straight back to you, absolutely stinks!!!

[bigdavejambo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68341348

Just cheat, there really is no penalty for it. second in the league, players you've sold loaned straight back to you, absolutely stinks!!!

a lot of clubs do that to help develop the player if he isnt quite ready for the step up

[QED]

Yeah, there’s plenty of dodgy stuff around but that Max Bird deal seems fine to me. He’s out of contract in the summer but Derby would get a fee as he’s 23 (similar situation to Will Ferry) - they were prepared to let him run his deal down so long as he didn’t leave in January. This way City avoid competition in the summer and get the deal done so they can plan ahead, Derby get a slightly higher fee than they would later AND keep him until the end of the season.

[Jerry St Clair]

Torquay United’s owner has walked away and put the club in Administration today. Looking grim for them.

[Fuller]

Torquay United’s owner has walked away and put the club in Administration today. Looking grim for them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68372224

Uncertain futures for Gary, Downesy, Dawson and Asa.

[paperboy]

Torquay United’s owner has walked away and put the club in Administration today. Looking grim for them.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68372224.amp
Uncertain futures for Gary, Downey, Dawson and Asa.

Well the owner had put a million pounds per season in for seven years in the hope that he could build a new stadium.
The council weren't playing ball so along with poor performances and the inevitable fan unrest he's had enough, picked his ball up and gone home.
The fans were organising an aptly named " we want our club back" yellow card protest for Saturday so they've got their wish, but they're now thinking "oh sh**, now what".
Doesn't often pay to bite the hand that feeds you.

[asl]

See also "Other Footy"...

[paperboy]

Check out this post from EFL https://www.efl.com/news/2024/february/ ... ai-yongge/

[duckers]

Live fast and Dai Yongge

[Uppy]

Perhaps looking at it selfishly but seems crazy that three violations in a season only equals a total of six points.

[Jerry St Clair]

Live fast and Dai Yongge

There's an infamous photo of Yongge from about 5 years ago in a pub with fans pre-match with precisely this slogan. Happier times.

[Jerry St Clair]

Check out this post from EFL https://www.efl.com/news/2024/february/ ... ai-yongge/

Strong words, but ultimately the EFL are completely impotent in dealing with this owner whom their own p!## poor fit and proper person test failed to prevent ruining a football club. A complete omnishambles.

[Swiss-Robin]

Check out this post from EFL https://www.efl.com/news/2024/february/ ... ai-yongge/

Strong words, but ultimately the EFL are completely impotent in dealing with this owner whom their own p!## poor fit and proper person test failed to prevent ruining a football club. A complete omnishambles.

But, I'm sure most on here would agree with me.
I would much prefer us to survive without taking the points deductions of other poorly run sides into account.