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Reading: How Their Russian Billionaire Made The Championship Quake
Reading are going up thanks to their benevolent billionaire. Here's how it happened...
After a magnificent run Reading are going up. The sudden threat to return to the Premiership for the first time since 2008 can all be attributed to one factor: the new Russian billionaire owner, Anton Zingarevich. Since this multi-million pound deal was struck in January everything has gone right and the team and fans are enjoying some great days. So, how exactly has this takeover influenced the club so far?
Reading Fans sense something special is happening
Since Sir John Madejski saved the club in 1990 it has been run prudently and efficiently. Reading have never spent big money on transfers or paid large wages. The focus was always on bringing in unknown cheap players to do the business, the 100 grand spent on Kevin Doyle and Shane Long being a very successful case in point. Sadly this approach has rather limited clout in a money-dominated game and Sir John always spoke about a “Benevolent billionaire” coming in and taking the club off his hands. Now this has finally happened it seems clear that a history of budget transfers and wages is over, leading to a level of hope and excitement among the fans that hasn’t been seen since the record breaking 106 team. Attendances are up, with the crowd getting behind the team more than ever. Essentially, everyone wants in on the Billionaire Brigade.
With a defence that refuses to concede and the best strike partnership we’ve had in a while, I personally think Reading will win the league
Jimmy Kebe signed a new contract
Kebe is Reading’s best player, a lightning quick Malian gazelle of a man who, when in form, can beat any defender in the league. Back in December, Jimmy wasn’t too bothered. The fans were getting on his back, fellow players were annoyed and Brian McDermott expected him to leave at the end of the season, if not earlier. Then the Russian billionaire turned up and suddenly Jimmy had a whiff of gold. He soon signed a new contract and was back on top form in no time. Money talks and Kebe listened, the speedy greedy git.
Jason Roberts joined on loan
Reading FC have no history of signing well-known or established players. It has only ever been a team that has produced future big names such as Keith Curle, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Robin Friday. Yet when Zingarevich initially purchased the club, Reading were finally able to pay top flight wages and unexpectedly loaned in Jason Roberts, long-term Premiership player and part time media celebrity, a far cry from one time supermarket shelf stacker Dave Kitson. Celebrity aside, Roberts has really performed since coming in, scoring goals and forging a productive partnership with the underrated Noel Hunt up front.
Brian McDermott signed a new contract
When a rich foreign owner takes over a club it can often bring uncertainty. Nervous managers tend to be the first casualty as the new moneyman seeks to bring his vision to the club. Brian McDermott was clearly aware of this and cleverly touted his wares to Wolves, which ultimately led to bagging a new contract for him and his assistant Nigel Gibbs at Reading. Despite losing his best players each season, McDermott has again managed to create a tightly knit over performing squad and now with his future secured can really go about producing a top-flight team.
The Answer
So basically the honest answer is: Money and lots of it. This extra money has made it possible to retain our best player, bring in a quality signing and spark an excitement around the club not seen for years. Whether Reading are promoted this season or not, things will never be the same again for one of Britain’s oldest clubs. Though, with a defence that refuses to concede and the best strike partnership we’ve had in a while, I personally think Reading will win the league.
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COMMENTS
Your comments about Kebe being greedy are unfounded. The contract that he signed was the same as originally offered to him before Zingarevich appeared. Secondly, the Russian hasn't yet completed the deal for the controlling share in the club. It could still go sour..... You also said that Reading has no history of signing well known players....?? Martin Keown, Les Ferdinand, John Salako, Shaun Goater ring any bells....??
Roberts isn't on loan, he signed permanently. Also, terrible examples of 'future big names'. What about Neil Webb and Shaka Hislop,
Hmmm... where to start? Firstly, the takeover deal (51% of the club) is not yet done. It was only announced in January and is expected to go through by the end of March. Some money was provided with goodwill for the acquisitions of Roberts (not on loan) and Connelly (on loan). Secondly, the real catalyst to the form has been McDermott's emphasis on defence. Thirdly, whilst we may have more money once the deal is done, it has been repeated ad nauseum that we will not abandon our sensible habits with the wallet. You won't see many - i any - spectacular signings even if we go up.
i like reading. i like mcdermott a lot. i do hope this russian doesn't mess up the club like many other clubs have been by "rich" benefactors
Ian, fair point on Kebe. I originally mentioned Ferdinand, and his spectacular miss, but still feel that Reading don't have much of a history of signing well known players. Bob, those are also good examples. Who moved the goalposts,you are right the takeover deal isn't completed but is in the bag and the goodwill money is proof of that. I agree with what you say about Madejski claiming to keep the club being run in a prudent way, but the rumours of who we were looking at in January such a Wayne Bridge etc seem to suggest a completley different approach to signing players.
Surely you mean Nigel Gibbs?! WOW! This game of "Bash Tom" is fun ;O)
I have no idea how that ended up as Brian Gibbs. I deserve all the flak for that.
“Benevolent billionaire” you say. You don't know how wrong you are. Anton Zingarevich has absolutely NO verified wealth of his own - his total value is estimated at approx. £10M -less than Madejski's, wealth, and he's bailing out because it cots too much. Any money in the Zingarevich family is Boris' - and he's not giving any away for football. He proved that at Everton.
The key thing for me is the positive atmosphere around the club. Having such a calm manager helps, having a decent Academy "spine" helps and having a sensible chairman helps. The promise of extra money seems to have added that little bit extra push and brought everything together. Great atmosphere last night, and brilliant theatre with the West Ham result coming through and Ledge's winner following shortly afterwards!
Reading's remarkable run started before the TSI deal was announced. Its influence helped maintain the run, especially with the permanent signing of Roberts and the loan signings of others. Kebe's decision, we are told, to sign was based on the takeover but only because Kebe wanted to be at a club who'd be able to keep hold of their best players. This article appears to have been written under the influence of not enough information and a little too much alcohol.
Reading. The most plastic, flat-pack football club in the land.
Adam Why do you and others call us a plastic club and plastic fan your properly a west ham fan like the rest of them who live on their history. We might not have a lot of history but were making it now and people will have to live with it! Reading have built themselves up honestly from near bankruptcy by sending right and investing in players in our academy which some have been sold for millions which now with the new owners ( if it ever goes though) will not sell them but keep them and thats how you build a good solid club all our managers have built teams that work as a team as we are seeing now.
such fans ...really created a storm
Adam, Reading were a lower league club for most of their existance but in the last 20 years have been managed superbly both on and off the field. They have no real debts, produce alot of their own players, buy unknown talent cheaply and sell high. The clubs support has grown accordingly, they have a functional modern stadium. I'm no fan but i have to admit i admire what they've achieved. and i'm a west ham fan!!
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