‘Reading not able to promote to Premier League because of Chinese take-over’

Reading and headcoach Jaap Stam are currently battling for their chances for promotion to the Premier League. The Royals are performing very well in the Championship this year and look to be earning their spot in the play-offs. If they manage to win those, promotion to the Premier League might be stopped, according to the Daily Telegraph.

This has everything to do with the Chinese take-over, that has been approved by the English Football League (EFL) last weekend. The EFL are the association responsible for the Championship, League One, and League Two. Talks about a possible Chinese take-over are dating back to last november. As of november 2014 the club is under Thai ownership, but Reading are looking to change that.

The Chinese investors that are now close to getting full ownership over Reading, earlier tried taking over Hull City. This take-over did not go trough, partly because the Premier League had concerns about the structure of the deal. Despite the fact that the structure of the Reading take-over would be different, as it has been approved by the EFL already, the Premier League will be taking the previous attempted take-over of Hull City in regard. According to the Daily Telegraph this could be reason for Reading not to be allowed into the Premier League.

Both the Premier League and the EFL refused to comment on the issue. Reading coach and former Manchester United star Jaap Stam has had his concerns about the take-over. “At a club you need clarity, a certain structure. When I started at Reading I was hoping to be able to build on a team that was capable of competing in the Premier League. But with new owners you never know what might happen”, Stam said last januari to the BBC.