Reading FC: A Royal Disaster

Fans will only have to go back ten years to see Reading were a Premier League outfit, albeit only for a year. Their ten years in the EFL since has been tumultuous for the Berkshire-based team. Reading have seen finishes as high as third and seventh, whilst also narrowly missing out on relegation on multiple occasions with two successive 20th placed finishes in 17/18 and 18/19, shortly followed by a 21st placed finish in 21/22 and finally their relegation in the 22/23 season.

The Royals currently sit bottom of the third tier, and without forgetting their points deductions, it is safe to say they are having a horrible time in League One. Reading have already been deducted four points so far this season with a suspended deduction of a further point waiting on certain terms. The campaign started on -1, a deficit that the Blues did not see as impossible to beat. That deficit soon became four. The club were ordered to pay 125% of their wage bill into an account by September 12th. The deadline was missed, and the deduction was handed to Reading. A further point deduction will be handed should Reading fail to play their players on time or in full.

On the pitch, Reading are not finding life easy. It is easy to assume the players will be distracted by the off-field interruptions but that is not a good enough excuse for the squad. Reading have accumulated 10 points all season, a tally which would only see them move up to 23rd without deductions, sitting two points clear of Cheltenham, three behind Fleetwood Town in 22nd and five off safety. The Royals have now lost five League One games on the spin, their previous two defeats coming at home within the space of a week.

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