I've always tried to keep this series of articles focused on "on-the-pitch" matters. That's partly because it's always a lot easier to moan about "off-the-pitch" issues and fanzines generally concentrate on those. Obviously the main reason is that the team's results are what is important to me, and if the team's going well then I don't really care whether the pies are cooked properly or not.
But I've learned this week of some really disturbing things that mean I'm going to change tack this time. By now you all know of the disastrous decision to take on another set of egg-chasing tenants. As Royal-T covered in his column, we can only hope that this will not cause the same damage to the pitch as happened during the season before last.
What I have learnt covers other issues and I've saved the worst until the end of the article. The first matter concerns the fact that the rah-rah team's handful of supporters have always said that they want a proper bar area at the place they play. They don't like Shooters because they think it's too small and because it shuts too early. Obviously, the fact that there is no entertainment on offer at their games means that social facilities are rather more important to them than they are to us.
It seems that they have got a two-part deal. The first is that they intend to build their own clubhouse at the MadStad. This would suggest that they were going to be with us for a long time, which we definitely do not want. Such a building is obviously some way off, and they will presumably still have to go through the planning application process. Hopefully we can arrange a reasoned argument against that when the time arises. If you think that seems a bit harsh, just consider what it would feel like to see OUR stadium with a clubhouse for a non-Reading team whilst there is nothing for loyal Reading fans.
However, they also have a short-term solution. That is to build a bar within the East Stand concourse. I have no idea what form this will take, but it is clear that they really do mean building work rather than just putting out a couple of trestle tables. In other words, what appears to be happening here is that the cuckoos are coming into our nest and altering it to suit themselves.
Just when are Reading fans going to be told about these changes?
Why do the rah-rah boys know about it before we do?
But that's by no means the worst. The other piece of information I've picked up is that the egg-chasers got a subsidy to move to the MadStad. That's right, they are getting PAID to come to our home.
THE WORD IS THAT MADEJSKI HAS GIVEN THEM £500,000 TO SWEETEN THE MOVE.
Alright, so it's his money and it's up to him what he does with it. It's also far less than the amount he's given to Reading, and it appears that at least some of it will find it's way to Reading's coffers via the low rent that the rah-rah scum are paying.
But that's not the point. At the same time as this generosity is benefiting the tiny number of foreign London egg-chasers, Reading Football Club are told to tighten the belt. We've been told to reduce the wage bill, not make any more big cash signings and make general economies. We even sold Shaun Allaway.
It's just not good enough. If John Madejski wants to give his money away, and not give it to Reading Football Club, there are plenty of worthy local projects he could have supported. He didn't get his OBE for supporting upper class, Range Rover-driving hooray henries from South West London.
Or did he?
PS I've heard of one other request that the egg-chasers have put in - they want the capacity reduced by 23,500 so that they can play to full houses every now and again.
Home . Columns Index . The Cube's Corner Index
News . First Team . Opposition . Reserves . Academy . Where Are They Now? . Kingsley . MadStad . Interactive . Links . Site Map