93 CommentsFormer Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has finalised an agreement to buy Reading ending the controversial reign of previous owner Dai Yongge The transaction includes Yongge's shares of the Royals the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood training ground Couhig's imminent arrival will bring to an end a tumultuous period under Yongge, who became a majority shareholder of the club in 2017. the English Football League (EFL) extended its deadline for Yongge to divest his shareholding until its next board meeting on Thursday the League One club said that they were "pleased to announce the sale in principle of the club" to Couhig's Redwood Holdings Limited "The formal completion of the transaction is subject to final legal technicalities but is fully expected to be completed shortly," the club said., external Reading were docked six points for financial issues last season as they finished 17th in League One Those financial difficulties also saw the club's women's side - a Women's Super League outfit as recently as May 2023 - withdraw from the Championship in June Yongge unsuccessfully tried to secure an injunction against Couhig as he claimed the American businessman was blocking his attempts to sell the club At that hearing it emerged that Yongge had been given a deadline to sell the club after being disqualified under the EFL's owners' and directors' test Throughout that time the Royals had been in a period of exclusivity with another unnamed potential buyer, but on 9 April they announced that period had elapsed and an "alternative bidder" was being spoken with Couhig had already attempted to buy Reading but the previous deal fell through in September 2024 after a breakdown in negotiations 'Never been involved in anything like this' - Couhig Yongge and sister Dai Xiu Li completed their takeover of Reading in May 2017 just days before the club lost the Championship play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield Town That proved to be the high point of their time in charge of the Royals Seventh place in the Championship in 2020-21 was the highest Reading finished under Yongge as financial problems began to bite They were first deducted six points by the EFL for breaching profit and sustainability rules in November 2021 A further six-point penalty followed in April 2023 for failing to comply with the terms of an agreed business plan for the previous breach contributing to their relegation from the Championship at the end of that season The club were placed under a series of transfer embargoes, and were deducted a further six points last season for a combination of failing to pay wages and a tax bill on time Reading were deducted 18 points under Yongge's ownership Fans carried out a series of protests last season, including throwing tennis balls on to the pitch at matches, and their home game against Port Vale in January 2024 was abandoned after hundreds of supporters invaded the pitch. The club's financial problems saw Yongge make cuts and put the club up for sale In announcing the women's team's withdrawal from the second tier Reading said that maintaining the club's status was "just not possible without significant owner funding" Couhig (right) pictured with former Reading owner Sir John Madejski Couhig is the former owner of Reading's rivals Wycombe Wanderers and US side New Orleans Storm The 75-year-old is an American lawyer who has been involved in a vast number of businesses across fields such as real estate Couhig has also been involved in politics as a Republican campaign manager for former State representatives Garey Forster and Sam LeBlanc and served as a campaign co-ordinator for US Representative Bob Livingston He also twice stood unsuccessfully for election as mayor of New Orleans In March 2024, Reading announced that they were in discussions with Couhig's former club Wycombe to purchase their Bearwood Park training facility. with Wycombe instead moving their training base to Harlington the Chairboys were promoted to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history in 2020 although their stay in the Championship lasted only one season BBC Radio Berkshire's Reading commentator Tim Dellor Reading fans have got through the past couple of years of turbulence and after a couple of aborted landings The nightmare that has been the Dai Yongge era is behind them and now there is a bit more certainty about what the future has in store unpaid wages and points deductions should be a thing of the past It will take years for the club to fully recover from the impact of the Chinese businessman whose tenure has seen the men’s team relegated to League One the complete dismantling of the women’s team following relegation from the Championship and a long list of other significant issues let’s celebrate the heroes in this sorry tale staff and current squad have been dignified and professional throughout and have stuck to their task admirably some of whom were noisily involved in a pitch invasion during a game last season and some of whom more quietly supported from the sidelines stood up and chanted after 18 minutes of each game (representing the number of points docked under Yongge’s tenure) or bombarded social media with passionate views and suggestions Yongge is no longer owner and everyone connected to the club will be celebrating that For Reading fans a great weight has been lifted To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser View comments | 93Top storiesHis stats are better but will Yamal build legacy to rival Messi 'Calamity keeper' or 'human wall' - which Donnarumma will Arsenal face Who will qualify for the Champions League as Forest draw at Palace The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Is the risk that Mercedes took with Antonelli paying off Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Solskjaer on Besiktas Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A young man and woman were attacked by a group of teenagers in Reading who demanded money on Wednesday, April 30. Thames Valley Police are now appealing for witnesses after the robbery was reported by a member of the public. The witness described the victims as a young Asian man and woman who were attacked and then the group demanded money from them before letting them leave. The male victim sustained an injury to his face. The incident took place in Highbridge Wharf, Reading between 6-7pm. The offenders have been described as aged between 14-17, with one wearing a face covering, Investigating officer Chris Birkitt, said: “I am appealing to anybody who may have witnessed this incident, or who may have dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage to please get in touch with Thames Valley Police. “It is understood that there were a number of people walking by at the time who may have witnessed the incident. “You can submit digital evidence via our dedicated portal for this investigation, report online, or via 101, quoting reference 43250212172. “If you wish to remain anonymous, you can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it. RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage. Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. 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Complete digital access to quality FT journalism Get essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Which of these five players gets your vote We’ve got one more of these to do before we run our player of the season vote this week Overall April/May was a mixed period results- and performance-wise for Reading winning four of them (Wycombe Wanderers at home plus Lincoln City and Barnsley at home) and drawing once (Northampton Town away) While there were some very good away performances that led to comfortable wins (Shrewsbury Reading were also comfortably beaten by sides that bullied them somewhat (Blackpool our player ratings average of 5.6 for April/May is in fact dead on the season-wide average who was your standout from April and May in the Reading squad We’ve narrowed it down to a shortlist of five players man of the match voting done by you guys and goal involvements Average rating: 6.43 / Man of the match awards: 1st (Wycombe Wanderers H) It’s not a player of the month vote without a Bindon inclusion Again the most highly rated outfield player the young centre-half was also the winner of one MOTM award when the Royals shut out the Chairboys for a big clean sheet at the SCL Average rating: 6 / Man of the match awards: 3rd (Blackpool A) One of the highest-rated players in the squad over April/May Knibbs was a consistent performer in the heart of midfield He also popped up with a few goal contributions netting a vital penalty against the Chairboys before also setting up Billy Bodin and Chem Campbell for goals at Mansfield and Bristol Rovers respectively Average rating: 6.75 / Man of the match awards: 2nd (Blackpool A) An absolutely outstanding month for Pereira who pipped Bindon to the highest average rating of anyone in the squad Besides doing an awful lot to help the Royals earn three clean sheets finished as runner-up twice and only missed out on the top three when Reading stuck five past Mansfield Average rating: 5.88 / Man of the match awards: 1st (Blackpool A) who continued his upturn in form under Noel Hunt in the heart of midfield taking his season-long league tally to nine The pick of the bunch was a lovely little pass for Wing before Savage’s midfield partner slotted home for 1-0 Average rating: 6.13 / Man of the match awards: Joint-2nd (Mansfield Town A) He was also a lot stronger for goal contributions with five being his best monthly return (I know ‘April/May isn’t a month but ignore that bit) of the entire campaign Wing contributed a goal and an assist at Shrewsbury before netting once in each of Reading’s final three games of the season Who was your POTM for April/May? Vote below or through this link with CEO Scott Kirby saying it has “no other choice in order to protect our customers.” Equipment and staffing issues at Newark are not new They highlight the broader air traffic controller staffing crises raging across the country combined issues specific to the New York City airspace The Air Current is providing a curated list of essential reading on the topic that explains the background behind the Newark airspace’s longstanding management issues why equipment failures keep happening and the effects they have on controllers At the center of the issue is a controversial decision by the Federal Aviation Administration to relocate the radar sector that controls Newark out of the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control facility on Long Island to a radar facility in Philadelphia last year. TAC’s deeply reported feature, The long and uncertain road to fixing America’s most snarled airspace examines exactly how the agency has executed on that plan — one it was banking on to fix the systemic staffing and culture issues at the Newark radar sector Shortly after publication, radar system outages roiled the area over the September Labor Day holiday in 2024, exposing cracks in the technology used to complete the move to Philadelphia. TAC was first to report that the FAA knew of the potential for radar issues before the Labor Day Newark failures occurred The agency said at the time it would be implementing a temporary fix within “months,” yet TAC also found that the agency internally estimated it would take five years to implement a more permanent solution The severity of the Labor Day outages somewhat subsided, but aftershocks continued in the months following. In November 2024, several Newark controllers claimed equipment outages caused workplace trauma after some in the sector briefly lost the ability to communicate with aircraft over the radios The claims activated workers compensation law protections allowing the controllers to take medical leave exacerbating an already acute shortage of staff TAC understands that several controllers also took trauma leave following last week’s equipment failures Do you have a question about the Newark air traffic control issues? Do you work at the FAA or in the ATC industry and have feedback about TAC’s reporting? Reach out to will@theaircurrent.com  The Air Current is a subscription-based aviation news service that combines the highest standards of journalism with the level of technical detail and rigor expected by a sophisticated industry audience We have deep expertise in the subjects we cover and an outstanding network of sources both of which allow us to break important stories that are typically overlooked by other publications Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Contact Us beautifully designed and comes with everything you need to engage your visitors and increase conversions How To Wear It The Cartier Tank Cintrée In-Depth Examining Value And Price Over Time With The ‘No Date’ Rolex Submariner Watches In The Wild The Road Through America, Episode 1: A Model Of Mass Production Behind the scenes at one of the world's most unique and comprehensive archives of horology Today's post was written by library intern Freddy Thompson These items can range from exhibition flyers to diaries to T-shirts and jigsaw puzzles (all real examples in HSNY's holdings) so they need to be broken up into categories and described in finding aids One of the biggest collections we have within the archives is our brand catalogs and it's been my job these past few months to organise and describe them but this particular collection has taught me more about the history of watch and clock advertising than I thought there was to learn so I thought I'd share some highlights with you Bulova's Spring 1980 catalog and (one of) Swatch's 2010 catalogs Much like comparing a Great Pyrenees and a Chihuahua you'll have to take my word for it when I say these are the same species Brands release these periodically — often once a year or (for brands going for a fashion angle) seasonally — to show off their current products Sometimes they have prices — whether printed directly into the catalog or in an attached supplement — but sometimes they don't you can't afford it (and it might be sold for different prices in different markets) they tend to exist somewhere on the continuum between "booklet" and "magazine" though some of the bigger ones look just like a book and some of the smaller ones are flimsy enough to approach the pamphlet label What separates them from a leaflet or a brochure or another form of advertising is usually just their size and extent — we definitely have a few gray areas but I tend to make the call that a brand catalog must be showing off more than one model of watch in order to count And what separates them from the big showcase volumes of brand watches we have is their manner of publication: our main library room has books with ISBNs that were printed to be sold whereas the brand catalogs in the archives were printed as advertising material without ISBNs (and sometimes But as for what's actually in them: that varies a great deal and the way that it varies can reveal quite a lot about not just watches and clocks but the way advertising — and the society it targets — has evolved over the years Catalogs as a medium came into being around the middle of the 18th century right as this whole "mass production" thing was starting to kick into gear but they weren't super common until the 19th century Our oldest catalogs are both from 1852 — one from Jerome & Co and his disparate businesses and attributions went on to become the New Haven Clock Co.) and they're even well adapted for use in dwelling-houses These tiny pamphlets were fragile and ephemeral intended to last for the year and then be discarded as is the case for most of our catalogs from before World War II there's no color (in either the images or the copy) — you're told the basic facts of the clocks Whether you want to buy one or not is up to you catalog copywriters began to realise that they could put some spin on the facts they were stating in order to make these clocks and watches more appealing to potential buyers With the limitations on photographic technology brand catalogs from this era were restricted to detailed illustrations and — through this limitation — were restricted in turn to purely representational depictions of the products Techniques like dramatic angles and mood lighting customers had to take the seller's word that their illustration accurately depicted their product Too much stylization and you risked someone arguing that they didn't get what they paid for Throughout the first half of the 20th century photography became possible thanks to inventions like the halftone process The spread of photography in advertising was not a uniform process — it varied greatly depending on location and even on the target audience of the ads photography was seen as a kind of vulgar tool and high-end brands (as well as newspapers and magazines) would position themselves as elegant and cultured by making sure all their images were engravings that only referenced photos Even when showing off technical information like the workings of this two train chime mechanism it was seen as uncouth to use a photograph instead of an engraving Picture from The Herschede Hall Clock Company's 1923-1924 Hall Clocks catalog It didn't take too long for photography to catch on Even before the post-World War II consumerism boom American brand catalogs were branching out into photos that did more than just show you what a clock looked like: they were realizing they could show you what a clock meant While engravings aspired to exacting representation without the vulgarity of just being what the thing actually looked like photographs could capture the surroundings of the product The 1939 Seth Thomas catalog takes advantage of this to stage little settings for many of its featured clocks Clocks shaped like ship wheels are placed next to model ships to capture the attention of their maritime audience traditional mantel clocks are positioned between fine silver jugs atop a fireplace to attract fancy people who like fancy things At the risk of sounding like the first few minutes of Mad Men the 50s and 60s were a golden age for advertising and not just in the emerging realm of television New technologies were changing print media too — color printing was becoming cheap enough to be viable for advertising material and with audiences now thoroughly used to interpreting visual media photos and illustrations were becoming more stylistic and depicting not just the products they were aiming to sell but the audience they were aiming to sell to This spread from the July 1961 Ingraham catalog not only shows off its products in glossy colour teen-agers" to imagine themselves as the smiling and watch and clock brands were willing to pay up to stand out but catalogs were still ephemeral pieces of advertising And color printing may have gotten cheaper so when something went wrong in the printing process companies might not have been willing to completely overhaul the run This was even true in the case of a minor printing error like the one found in the Alpha Watch Co. Inc.'s 1962 catalog where the colors look slightly offset with the result that the image becomes soft and blurry But that imperfection allows us to see how these early color photos were printed revealing how each color print was actually multiple prints — each of a single color — printed over each other In an age when the average American was reading color magazines and could even have color TV it was better for brand catalogs to have imperfect color than risk having no colour at all Even with the pared-down copy in the Alpha Watch Co. advertising language is still doing heavy lifting — everything is "acclaimed" but with improvements in print and photography technology it wasn't long before the most effective indication of quality became saying nothing at all Bulova's April 1977 catalog refuses to ask demanding that the reader seek them out if they want to know more Bulova's April 1977 catalog includes some copy but it also includes whole pages of watches identified solely by their model number The layout demands that the watches speak for themselves and in a market since saturated with fawning copy it suggests that the watches have plenty to say on their own This lack of information places the watches in a privileged position — they know something you don't you would know something other people don't IWC's 1974 catalog stands at an interesting crossroads it was well and truly positioning its products as something to aspire to While using human models — whether drawn or photographed — would soon become as gauche as an un-engraved photograph in the 1900s IWC had beautiful women model some of its featured pieces in this catalog All of the models specifically avoid eye contact with the viewer desirable things — and they're wearing IWC watches back to the bare basics that we saw in early trade catalogs but it's up to you to know how good that is IWC's 1974 catalog does more than just objectify women it also displays an early example of the "luxury gradient" that would characterise luxury watch photography of the eighties and nineties This trend continued through the end of the 20th century and with a focus on details of the pieces against simple backgrounds Often these backgrounds were a kind of mood-lit gradient evoking a kind of evening-wear elegance even for stationary household pieces This L'Epée catalog from the mid-nineties (exact date unknown) puts its carriage clocks on a plain black plinth in a mood-lit void All this simplicity and implication is all well and good for the second millennium and everyone wants to know everything about everything It's hard to say when exactly the switch flipped but technical information is now back in vogue It'd be weird to drown this page from Swatch's 2015 catalog  in copy when the watches don't even have numbered dials Chopard's Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2008 catalog is a celebration of Chopard's relationship with the Monaco Grand Prix and its product listings read like the technical specs of a top of the line race car Some brands stuck to their stripped-down guns — brands like Swatch present themselves as modern and their 21st-century catalogs still reflect that It might be too soon to say — our brand catalogs do only go up until 2019 — but the combined influences of everything from the prominence of sports watches to the profligacy of data about everything in the 21st century suggests that we might be seeing spec-riddled catalogs for a good while to come HODINKEE is a sponsor of the Horological Society of New York Introducing The Doxa Sub 200, Now With A Steel Bezel Introducing Seiko Prospex 1968 Heritage Diver’s GMT 60th Anniversary Edition SPB519 Watch Spotting The Watches & Fashion Of Met Gala 2025 Business News Rolex Will Raise U.S. Prices In Response To Tariffs Six Of The Coolest CPO Rolex Watches I Saw In London's Old Bond Street Rolex Boutique Reference Points The Cartier Tank Louis Introducing The Christopher Ward C12 'Loco' (Live Pics) Hands-On Tudor's Black Bay Pro Gets A Surprisingly Dramatic Facelift With An Opaline Dial Black cab drivers queuing at a taxi rank at Reading train station The record has been set straight on Reading being the ‘most expensive place’ for taxis in the country Research from vehicle leasing company Nationwide Vehicle Contracts claimed that Reading is the most expensive place to get a taxi in the UK They stated that an average journey costs £18.06 in a Reading cab which are officially called hackney carriages But the figures in Reading have been found to be lower than those claimed The figures published by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts were calculated using Numbeo the world’s largest cost of living database and a crowdsourced global resource for quality of life data the fare is actually lower according to Reading Borough Council’s table of fares for hackney carriages The amount for cab rides varies according to tariffs: one three and four which are the day and night tariffs for Christmas Tariff one has a ‘flag drop’ starting fee of £3.60 which covers the first 278 yards (256.94 meters) or two minutes and 24 seconds of the journey a 20p charge comes into effect for every 123 yards travelled The Nationwide Vehicle Contracts claim is that an average journey of 2.6 miles (four km) would cost £18.06 based on a starting charge of £4.50 with £3.39 charged per kilometre the council’s licensing department calculated that such a journey would instead cost approximately £10.50-£11 or even lower at £9.90 if there is no waiting time That is approximately £7 cheaper than the average journey cost calculated by Numbeo The journey would be more expensive if undertaken overnight between 10pm to 6am as the flag drop begins at £4.60 for the first 281 yards (282.55 meters) or two minutes and 22 seconds of the journey The fares for cabs were last increased following a decision by the council’s licensing applications committee in September 2023 The rise made no change to ‘the flag drop’ instead adjusting the 20p charge so it comes into effect every 123 yards rather than the 133 yards travelled previously Numbeo’s website states: “The prices provided are based on data submitted by Numbeo users and may include both official rates and informal rates negotiated with drivers “This section is useful for travellers and locals who want to budget for transportation expenses The yards travelled fare increases to 30p for tariffs three and four We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online If it is not resolved to your satisfaction you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220 Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed or need advice on how to frame a complaint Please enter your username or email address to reset your password © 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved Andoni Iraola’s side came from behind to boost their European hopes with victory at the Emirates He also reports that “there is a chance” Jurriën Timber won’t be available for the PSG match on Wednesday. 3d ago20.25 CESTFULL TIME: Arsenal 1-2 BournemouthBournemouth’s hopes of European football are real They complete their first-ever league double over Arsenal 3d ago20.23 CEST90 min +5: Kerkez wins the ball out on the left and passes to Semenyo. The full back wants a return pass, and he’s in space on the underlap, but Semenyo plays it cool, turning back and running down some clock. 3d ago20.22 CEST90 min +4: Raya hoicks long, straight out of play for a goal kick. There goes that rare period of sustained Arsenal pressure. 3d ago20.21 CEST90 min +3: … Odegaard blasts witlessly into the wall. But Arsenal come again, Sterling twisting down the left and cutting back for Odegaard, whose first-time shot is blocked immediately by Scott. 3d ago20.20 CEST90 min +2: An Arsenal committee of Odegaard, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Sterling and Nwaneri discuss their options. And then … 3d ago20.20 CEST90 min +1: Odegaard spins into space down the middle and draws a foul from Scott, who clumsily shoves him from behind. A free kick in a dangerous central position, just outside the D. 3d ago20.18 CEST90 min: Bournemouth are six additional minutes away from completing their first-ever league double over Arsenal. 3d ago20.18 CEST89 min: Nwaneri jinks down the inside-right channel and into the box, but can’t get past Kerkez and concedes a free kick. Pressure off. 3d ago20.15 CEST87 min: Bournemouth make a change of their own, replacing the potential match-winner Evanilson with Jebbison. 3d ago20.14 CEST86 min: Arsenal make a triple change, replacing Saka, Martinelli and White with Nwaneri, Sterling and Zinchenko. 3d ago20.13 CEST85 min: Arsenal probe. Bournemouth push them slowly back up the field. The home fans groan. Their team on the verge of dropping more points from a winning position. Second place not locked down yet. Far from it. 3d ago20.10 CEST81 min: Bournemouth knock the ball around the back to a chorus of olés from the away end. Hey, we’ve got two Spanish managers here, why not. 3d ago20.05 CEST77 min: This might have pinged off Evanilson’s elbow. If so, Arsenal are off the hook. 3d ago20.04 CEST76 min: … but VAR will have a look at a possible handball by Evanilson and an offside. Cue some Stockley Park rock-and-roll. 3d ago20.04 CESTGOAL Arsenal 1-2 Bournemouth (Evanilson 75)The corner’s sent in from the left wins a tussle with Odegaard and forces the ball through Raya and in 3d ago20.02 CEST73 min: Now it’s Ouattara’s turn to cross from the left. Tavernier takes up possession and shoots. Deflected. Over. Before the corner can be taken, Ouattara goes down and requires treatment. Updated at 20.40 CEST3d ago20.00 CEST71 min: Bournemouth are suddenly first to everything. Kerkez crosses from the left but Saliba eyebrows clear just in time. 3d ago19.58 CEST69 min: That was Bournemouth’s first attempt on target. And now look. Arsenal are a bit shocked by that. Shell-shocked, in fact, when you consider the aquatic theme on Bournemouth’s shirt. 3d ago19.55 CESTGOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Bournemouth (Huijsen 67)From the resulting throw, Semenyo launches long. His throw finds the head of Huijsen, who directs a simple header towards the top left. It loops over Raya and in. Easy as that! What an instant impact Semenyo has made! 21 CommentsFormer Reading head coach Ruben Selles says he hopes the Royals can be "successful" under their incoming new owners On Saturday morning, Reading announced the sale in principle of the club to Redwood Holdings Limited - owned by Americans Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair Couhig had a previous attempt to purchase the League One club fall through while Selles - now boss at Championship side Hull City - was in charge at Reading "I spoke with Rob (Couhig) when I was at the club and I think he wanted to do it (the takeover) last season," Selles told BBC Sport hopefully Rob alongside [head coach] Noel (Hunt) can make a really powerful project together and be back in the Championship in a short period of time "Rob was very clear in what he wanted a year ago when we spoke hopefully it is the same - the moment I met him he wanted to build a powerful team and give us all the tools to be successful I hope he can do the same with Noel." Selles - who was a popular figure during his time at the Royals - left back in December to take up the position of head coach at the MKM Stadium On Saturday, he was unaware of the news of incoming new owners at his old club, as he was tasked with keeping Hull in the Championship on the final day of the season - something they achieved. Selles saw numerous protests by the fans against their now outgoing owner Dai Yongge threw tennis balls on to the field during games and loudly protested online and offline to share their distaste of Yongge's ownership it means a lot for the fans," Selles added "My time at Reading was very difficult but one of the most amazing periods of my life with those fans I think the feeling we created was really powerful "They have gone through a lot and hopefully the next period for Reading they can enjoy football and not worry about anything else." Reading say the formal finalisation of the takeover is subject to legal technicalities but is "fully expected to be completed shortly" Ex-Wycombe owner Couhig agrees Reading takeover View comments | 21Top storiesLive Watch Arsenal in Champions League training - Calafiori and Odegaard involved before PSG Stunning stats and 'Ronaldo behaviour' - is Yamal cut out to rival Messi Real seek to sign Alexander-Arnold for Club World Cup A gritty crime saga set in Liverpool starring Sean Bean Stacey Dooley explores Britain’s shoplifting epidemic The EFL has received confirmation from all parties that a sale has been agreed in principle with Redwood Holdings Limited with the transaction expected to be completed shortly once final legal technicalities have been completed the EFL Board has agreed to extend the time allowed for Mr Dai Yongge to divest his interests until Thursday 8 May subject to compliance with all other EFL regulations.  Reading’s season fell to a bitter end at home to Barnsley The FOMO I’ve had for the last week in the run-up to this game has been almost tangible I’m travelling a bit of the world and are currently in Bali with my better half I know I’ve probably found the one as she’s been completely fine with me harping on about what I’d do to be in RG2 instead right now That pang of jealousy and want increased tenfold when that news dropped this morning and another couple of percentage points when I first saw the packed-out SCL on my laptop screen As incredible and ridiculous as it would’ve been if it had come to fruition and despite how much we craved it and these players deserved it our playoff hunt has always been a side plot in the ongoing drama series that was Reading Football Club this season That is by no means to take away from how big of an achievement it is to even be in with a shout of nicking a playoff spot on the final day I think it’s the best achievement from any team across any league in the country Given what these staff and players have had thrown at them for them to keep coming out and performing week after week is simply staggering the main story has of course been Dai Yongge’s tenure and making sure it’s ended as quickly as possible I can’t sit here and say anything new about what we’ve endured over the last God knows how long Our former owner deserves no more air time or wasted breath from us We can finally go back to being normal football fans again Supporters who don’t fear that their club won’t exist and who don’t genuinely wonder how many times they'll be able to watch their team again and no set of football fans should ever be in that place the overriding feeling among the fans as we reflect on this season It is hard of course to brush off the disappointment of missing out on the playoffs - of which there absolutely is a substantial amount - particularly in the way it transpired Today had all the ingredients for a truly monumental day - takeover announced As someone whose only chance of seeing Reading again this season was a playoff game I must admit typing that out does sting quite a bit But in a season when so often we’ve tried not to let matters off the pitch negatively impact what’s happened on it Although I very much doubt you all need reminding of that For full transparency I started writing this when we went 2-0 down so hearing Tim Dellor and Brian McDermott (king) describe the remaining Barnsley goals as they go in has made it the aftertaste slightly sourer than it needed to be but I’m sure more than a few of you will go and get yourselves a fresh pint at the Purple Turtle to wash that away This team has taken us on a hell of a ride this season Lewis Wing playing every minute of every game Harvey Knibbs popping up time and time again Savage using the SCL pitch as his marathon route Rolls-Royce Tyler Bindon (we’ll miss you kiddo) Ruben Selles lighting the torch and Noel Hunt picking it up and carrying it valiantly - I could go on We were there when the club was riding its biggest wave and you best believe now that we’ve been there when it’s navigating the seabed of it’s rockiest lows but there are brighter days ahead now - and for a long time we didn’t think that would that be case As my other half has just rightly and beautifully pointed out to me after saying I’m pretty gutted I won’t be able to go back to the SCL until next season at least I know that’s something I definitely get to do now You have reached ESPN's UK edition. Stay on current site or go to US version Former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has reached an agreement to buy Reading the English League One club said on Saturday The 75-year-old American lawyer has a varied investment portfolio which includes businesses in industries such as pharmaceuticals and real estate Chinese businessman Dai Yongge was ordered to sell the club in March having been being disqualified under the EFL's owners' and directors' test Reading announced last month they had agreed terms over the sale "Reading Football Club is pleased to announce the sale in principle of the club to Redwood Holdings Limited," the club said in a statement Rob Couhig is set to complete a takeover of League One club Reading. Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images"The takeover includes the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground The formal completion of the transaction is subject to final legal technicalities but is fully expected to be completed shortly "Based on the agreement between the parties the EFL has agreed to extend its deadline for the divestment of Mr Dai Yongge's shareholding until its next board meeting on May 8 "Redwood Holdings Ltd is a subsidiary of Dogwood Football LLC which is owned by Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair of New Orleans has been blamed by fans for the club's problems after they had six points deducted last season for financial mismanagement They also withdrew from the Women's Championship due to financial issues one place behind Leyton Orient who are in possession of the final playoff place thanks to their superior goal difference The 12-day festival brought together global creators Sharjah: The 16th Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival (SCRF 2025) has concluded after twelve days of creativity Held at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme “Dive Into Books” this year’s festival welcomed 125,700 visitors from 167 countries transforming the venue into a lively hub where literature Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) SCRF 2025 translates the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah and the directives and guidance of Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs whose longstanding commitment to empowering youth through knowledge and fostering a passion for reading and self-expression was reflected in the festival’s rich cultural programming remarked on the significance of this year’s edition saying: “SCRF is more than just a festival; it’s an integral part of a larger cultural vision that sees children as active participants in the present rooted in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr has allowed SCRF to evolve into a global platform for promoting knowledge With the support of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi Chairperson of SBA we continue to build meaningful partnerships and positioning Sharjah as a world leader in books and culture.” The final day featured the Sharjah Children’s Book Illustration Award ceremony honoured the winners across two age categories Sharathvignesh Senthilkumar secured first place highlighted how the festival reaffirmed the transformative power of books and the arts in shaping the next generation’s minds “This year’s diverse programme reflects Sharjah’s unwavering commitment to fostering a cultural vision that transcends generations and borders,” she said “Our goal was to ensure that every child left SCRF with a book that not only spoke to their passions but also empowered them to explore their creativity SCRF 2025 brought together 122 publishers from 22 countries and over 133 experts from 70 nations offering a comprehensive programme of 1,024 activities Visitors enjoyed everything from workshops and theatre performances to storytelling sessions and live entertainment covering a wide spectrum of interests from literature and arts to science and technology In a further show of support for the publishing industry allocated AED 2.5 million to purchase books from participating publishers for Sharjah’s public libraries ensuring access to the latest Arabic and international titles This year’s festival treated attendees to 85 theatrical and roaming performances along with interactive workshops in cooking fostering a dynamic environment where fun and learning went hand-in-hand Over 50 cultural sessions brought together creative minds from 17 Arab countries giving young audiences the chance to engage with inspiring authors New to SCRF was the ‘Sherlock Holmes Exhibition’ which transformed the festival into an immersive Victorian-era playground spanning 10,000 square feet Among the festival’s standout attractions was the “Future Makers Museum,” an interactive educational space where children explored science and innovation through hands-on activities “Junklandia,” a musical theatre production captivated audiences with its blend of comedy Philippe Bougard’s “Magic in the Air” amazed young audiences with breathtaking illusions and visual effects whisking them away on a journey of discovery The festival also celebrated 25 years of Spacetoon with a musical tribute “The Golden Generation,” performed by the Spirit of the East Choir which resonated deeply with audiences of all ages “The Greatest Science Show,” led by popular YouTuber Abdullah Anan captivated with an engaging and educational scientific display that had both children and adults mesmerised The festival also recognised exceptional young talent celebrating the winners of the “Poetry Knight” competition for their remarkable recitation and memorisation skills the Children’s Book Illustration Award spotlighted emerging illustrators fostering the next generation of artistic talent in children’s literature Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox 35,000 aided by Sharjah centre for child abuse victims Sharjah: Kalimat Group unveils new initiatives Sharjah Ruler allocates Dh2.5m for emirate’s libraries Sharjah Ruler launches Reader of the Century platform An agreement in principle has been reached for Reading to be sold to Redwood Holdings Limited Both the English Football League (EFL) and the League One club confirmed the development on Saturday shortly before the final matches of the league season The proposed takeover includes the club’s home The formal completion of the deal is still subject to final legal technicalities but is fully expected to be completed shortly Redwood Holdings Ltd is a subsidiary of Dogwood Football LLC an American lawyer who previously owned fellow League One side Wycombe Wanderers Couhig’s investment will be made alongside business partner Todd Trosclair Couhig, who came close to completing a deal to buy the club earlier this season is expected to be present at Reading’s final league game of the campaign against Barnsley on Saturday afternoon where a positive result could see them earn a place in the playoffs Should the takeover proceed as planned it will end Dai Yongge’s controversial eight-year ownership of the club which has included multiple points deductions for financial irregularities and relegation from the Championship a year ago The Chinese businessman has been disqualified under the EFL’s owners’ and directors’ test and has now been given until May 8 to divest his interests in the club (Steve Bardens – The FA/The FA via Getty Images) Jacob is a football reporter covering Aston Villa for The Athletic. Previously, he followed Southampton FC for The Athletic after spending three years writing about south coast football, working as a sports journalist for Reach PLC. In 2021, he was awarded the Football Writers' Association Student Football Writer of the Year. Follow Jacob on Twitter @J_Tanswell Reading have avoided defeat in 16 of their last 18 matches Barnsley have won 1 in their last 11 matches Barnsley have scored more than 1 goal in 3 of 11 matches With Reading battling it out with Leyton Orient for that final spot in the League One playoffs this is definitely a game which could produce drama albeit significantly lower on goal difference even a win here is unlikely to suffice in guaranteeing a spot in the playoffs; rather Reading will likely be relying on results going their way elsewhere sit in 12th position with an admirable 58 points their final position could look significantly worse if they were to suffer a loss in this clash Barnsley can only defend 12th and are unlikely to progress any higher whilst the worst plausible outcome would be to finish in 16th Other than claiming the bragging rights of a top-half finish there is little for Darrell Claarke’s men to play for although that’s certainly not to say they’ll be brushed aside We also have our EFL Final Day free bets live now — see the best bookies you’ve not joined. Reading enter this clash as merited favourites priced at 1.73 - a price we’re comfortable backing them at and all indications are that they should be up for the challenge Barnsley have been priced at 3.75 to win the corner match bet They’ve managed this in 56% of league games who have exceeded their opponent’s total in just 31% Neither side’s record is affected by whether they play at home or away Barnsley have averaged 1.64 corners more than Reading Reading have demonstrated remarkable consistency in recent times although their run-in has been plagued by disappointing draws A more recent stunt to their promotion hopes came as Reading narrowly fell in a 1-0 loss against Lincoln rendering the possibility of a goal-difference tie break significantly more likely notably putting five past Mansfield two weeks ago despite maintaining just 35% of possession conceding only three goals across their last six in the league managed their sole win over the last 11 games They’ve picked up one point from their three games since Barnsley have consistently struggled to maintain the form they found in the early part of the season they’ve shifted to a dynamic more focused on controlling possession although they have often struggled to convert this possession into chances This has been particularly evident over their last 11 games over which period The Tykes have managed to score more than one goal on just 3 occasions spectators were treated to a fascinating 2-2 draw with Barnsley arguably the better of the pair but since his January move to Wrexham prompted by the clubs' ownership issues Reading have been significantly less efficient up front That result was pretty consistent with the typical expected outcome in clashes between these sides with three of the last four ending in draws For a longer read see our EFL Final Day Permutations Guide as well as the rest of our EFL Betting Tips & Bet Builders * I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets * All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing Log in to your bookmaker accounts here so you can place bets without leaving ABC Use my expertly crafted tools to get started Sign up to undefined by claiming this offer exclusively for new customers You can find a record of your bet within your undefined account If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org Critic Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 promising titles even when they’ve received little to no care This month’s literature also blooms with hope whether that’s easily spotted — as in Alison Bechdel’s witty autofiction and Ron Chernow’s biography of a great American humorist — or needs careful observation as is the case with Yiyun Li’s reckoning with grief and Madeleine Thien’s stunning novel of ideas (Counterpoint) The Words of Dr. L.: And Other Stories By Karen E. BenderCounterpoint: 304 pages, $27(May 6) Bend it like Bender and you get stories that are straight out of “Black Mirror” — sci-fi that’s immediately relevant — yet unlike that bleak series, Bender’s work always includes timeless empathy for characters, especially those struggling with invisibility. From families in quarantine during the global pandemic to a kidnapped therapist, her characters combine the familiar with the strange in fresh ways. Books Celebrity authors and special guests Jenny Slate Wil Wheaton and more came by to get their portraits taken at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio (Penguin Press) The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel By Ocean VuongPenguin Press: 416 pages Vuong (“On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous”) examines inherited trauma with a lyrical narrative set in Connecticut When the desperately depressed 19-year-old college dropout whose Vietnamese families escaped to America realize how much Lithuanian refugee Grazina can teach them about psychic survival (W. W. Norton) The Book of Records: A Novel By Madeleine ThienW John Mandel’s “Station Eleven” and Anthony Doerr’s “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” Thien’s new work almost seamlessly integrates literary recalls the years she and her father Wui Shin spent in a place known as the Sea where inhabitants cross space and time as they help fellow exiles consider the possibility of redemption (Mariner) Spent: A Comic Novel By Alison BechdelMariner Books: 272 pages Bechdel (“Fun Home”) turns her gimlet eye selfward in this hilarious account of a slightly autobiographical “Alison Bechdel,” who lives on a pygmy goat farm with her partner finds middle age exhausting: Making a living maintaining artistic integrity and coping with other people (Graywolf Press) That’s All I Know: A Novel By Elisa Levi The end of the world is supposedly at hand and a young woman speaks from her home at the edge of a strange and menacing forest in Spain although narrator Little Lea doesn’t know in 2013 that her mayor’s Mayan calendar-based predictions won’t come true (The New Press) Decolonizing Language and Other Revolutionary Ideas By Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’oNew Press: 224 pages These essays by the acclaimed African novelist and post-colonial theorist include pieces on important contemporaries including Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka but also delves into the links between language and identity Child,” was published under the name James Ngugi stopped writing in English in the 1970s and began composing in Gĩkũyũ (Doubleday) Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age By Amanda HessDoubleday: 272 pages Internet cultural critic Hess might have written about pregnancy in a number of ways but in 2020 she found herself vulnerable to the very aspects of life online she covered when a last-trimester ultrasound detected an abnormality apps to chat rooms to influencers (including “freebirth” advocates and pronatalists) but also connects her experiences to excellent research (Simon & Schuster) What My Father and I Don’t Talk About: Sixteen Writers Break the Silence Edited by Michele FilgateSimon & Schuster: 320 pages This new collection follows Filgate’s 2019 “What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About,” which grew out of a powerful essay she wrote and includes pieces by the editor herself as well as Maurice Carlos Ruffin ill or estranged; but each writer approaches him with understanding and intention rather than anger or confusion (Penguin Press) Mark Twain By Ron ChernowPenguin Press: 1200 pages so instead of writing about a towering figure of politics or finance this time he picked author and humorist Samuel Clemens whose nautical nom de plume “Mark Twain” comes from the Mississippi River setting of some of his famous novels has as many ups and downs as that river’s tides; expect to be enthralled (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Things in Nature Merely Grow By Yiyun LiFarrar, Straus and Giroux: 192 pages, $26(May 20) “There is no good way to state these facts, which must be acknowledged. My husband and I had two children and lost them both: Vincent in 2017, at sixteen, James in 2024, at nineteen. Both chose suicide, and both died not far from home.” Li’s astonishing record of how she has chosen acceptance over despair shows why artists among us sometimes offer more wisdom than any other spirituality. Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map According to a new NPR/Ipsos poll, reading is something a majority of Americans enjoy heard from a representative sample of more than 2,000 American adults 82% of respondents think reading is a useful way to learn about the world 76% say reading is relaxing and a whopping 98% of respondents with children in their household want their children to "develop a love of reading." Reading is "certainly aspirational," said Mallory Newall "We certainly want to be a reading nation." And yet 51% of people read a book in the past month about 80% of people watched streaming services used social media or watched a short-form video respondents who classify themselves as readers are also more likely than non-readers to consume other forms of media So it's not necessarily a direct competition between When asked about the "reasons you don't read more," "other life activities" was the most common answer which could mean anything from doing chores to sleeping to hanging out with friends "I think reading is up against the fact that we just don't have enough time in the day It's not one particular thing," said Newall But for many Americans it's not going to take precedence When asked what they'd do with one extra hour of leisure time the top of the list is spending time with family Below that is a tied race between watching TV "Women are significantly more likely than men to say that they would spend that extra hour reading," Newall said "Folks with a higher education are much more likely than those with lower educational attainment to say the same thing." mystery category of books is the clear winner with 37% of respondents choosing it as their favorite genre There's a second tier of favorites with 24% of respondents choosing historical non-fiction and memoir and historical fiction tied at 21% While reading tastes vary by gender and age Newall said it was women and respondents over 50 years old driving the thriller genre to the top of the list But women's tastes tend to vary more than men who "coalesce around nonfiction or historical nonfiction," she said Respondents over the age of 65 are the ones actually carving out time in their day to read Newall said there's a transition of sorts we undergo over the course of our lives reading is more ingrained in our daily or weekly routine," she said Which is understandably easier if you don't have young kids Meghan Sullivan contributed to the development of this poll and edited the story for radio and the web Become an NPR sponsor This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 284 CommentsReading have agreed terms with a buyer over the sale of the club and the English Football League has extended the deadline to complete a deal to 5 May This is the second time the EFL has given the Royals more time to complete a sale since owner Dai Yongge was disqualified under its Owners' and Directors' Test. and the club have now been given another 13 days to complete a deal Reading re-entered talks with a buyer in early April who they said they were in "advanced dialogue" with The club have now confirmed "further progress" has been made towards the sale including the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park training facility "The terms of the deal have been agreed between the club's current owner Mr Dai [Yongge] and the buyer whose identity must remain confidential at this stage Both parties will now work to complete the necessary steps to complete the takeover," the club said "The buying party will be supporting the club's immediate financial obligations until the transaction is complete day-to-day running of the club will be unaffected." The EFL confirmed the second extension had been given for Yongge to "divest his interests" in the club If he fails to do so within the agreed time frame the EFL has to power to stop Reading from playing matches "Earlier today, the EFL board granted a further extension until Monday 5 May for Mr Dai Yongge to divest his interests in Reading FC," the EFL said., external further progress has been made in respect of the proposed sale of the club the board deemed it appropriate to agree to the club's request to allow more time for matters to be concluded in accordance with EFL regulations." Reading are seventh in League One and level on points with Leyton Orient who sit in the final play-off place above them View comments | 284Top storiesLive Report from Nielsen and HarperCollins shows that parents see reading as a literacy skill rather than something to encourage their children to love Less than half of parents find it fun to read aloud to their children, new research shows. Only 40% of parents with children aged 0 to 13 agreed that “reading books to my child is fun for me”, according to a survey conducted by book data company Nielsen and publisher HarperCollins. The survey shows a steep decline in the number of parents reading aloud to young children, with 41% of 0- to four-year-olds now being read to frequently, down from 64% in 2012. A significant gender disparity was identified, with 29% of 0- to two-year-old boys being read to every day or nearly every day compared with 44% of girls of the same age. “Being read to makes reading fun for children”, said Alison David, consumer insight director at HarperCollins. “So, it’s very concerning that many children are growing up without a happy reading culture at home. It means they are more likely to associate reading with schoolwork, something they are tested on and can do well or badly, not something they could enjoy.” Gen Z parents are more likely than millennial or Gen X parents to say that children’s reading is “more a subject to learn than a fun thing to do”. HarperCollins said that parents in this age group grew up with technology themselves, so may think “fun comes more from digital entertainment than from books”. However, most Gen Z parents still overwhelmingly see children’s reading as a fun activity, with 31% saying reading is more a fun thing to do than a subject to learn and 35% saying reading is equally a subject to learn and a fun thing to do, compared with 28% who said reading is more a subject to learn. The survey asked 1,596 parents with children aged 0-13 about reading in December 2024. HarperCollins said that many parents focus on the literacy element of reading, seeing it as a skill, rather than encouraging a love for reading in their children. Some parents stop reading to their children once they can read by themselves, assuming that their children will choose to continue reading, or that if they continue to read to their child who can already read, “it will make them lazy and less likely to read independently”, reads a report accompanying the survey. “None of these beliefs are true.” Free weekly newsletterDiscover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you Read moreA third of parents with children aged 0 to 13 reported wishing they had more time to read to their children and the number of parents saying their children have too much schoolwork to read books has risen significantly 44% of all parents agreed with the statement that “reading books to my child makes me feel close to them” “The good news is when children are read to frequently they very quickly come to love it and become motivated to read themselves” “Children who are read to daily are almost three times as likely to choose to read independently compared to children who are only read to weekly at home The survey results come as the Publishers Association, in its capacity as the secretariat of the all-party parliamentary group on publishing, releases its proposals for how to revive children’s enjoyment of reading The report suggests that the Department for Education ensures the curriculum prioritises reading for enjoyment alongside reading skill development and says that teachers should be able to access training on how to “confidently and sensitively” teach texts by writers of colour Season three offers up clues to characters’ psyches – or perhaps their fates – by showing us their holiday reads Online discussion around the critically acclaimed TV show has centred on the paperbacks glimpsed in the hands of several of the show’s characters and whether they offer clues about their psyches or fate Take Lochlan Ratliff, played by Sam Nivola, the younger brother of the protein and porn addict Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), who is seen perusing Knut Hamsun’s Hunger The winner of the Nobel prize for literature in 1920 is described by the London Review Bookshop as “a disturbing and darkly humorous masterpiece of existential fiction” leaving many questioning if it mirrors Lochlan’s own deepening identity crisis Read moreThese type of details are known as “Easter eggs” – the term used in pop culture for covert messages planted within TV shows, films, music and video games. They are widely used by the popstar Taylor Swift with her fans deciphering everything from lyrics to jewellery The White Lotus creator, Mike White, has long been a fan of the technique. In the second series, for example, the testa di moro busts warn of a lover’s doomed fate while a floral dress from the 1972 film The Godfather foreshadows the fate of Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya The characters’ holiday reads have played a key part in previous series a social media influencer who describes himself as “the internet’s librarian” says that BookTok – a corner of TikTok devoted to reading – particularly enjoys discovering them I like that Mike White wants us to slow down and linger giving us time to theorise and delve into the mise en scène.” Surrounded by Narcissists the book choice of Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) is more on the nose than other reading choices Photograph: Fabio Lovino/HBOIn the new series Chelsea (played by Aimee Lou Wood) is seen leafing through a book of poems by Rumi – the 13th-century Persian poet whose works explore love and spiritual reflection – as she lounges by the pool of a luxury hotel in Thailand’s Koh Samui It’s fitting for a star-sign obsessed 24-year-old who believes her shady 50-year-old boyfriend Free weekly newsletterGet our weekly pop culture email, free in your inbox every Friday says he and White worked together on choosing the titles White suggested Hunger for Lochlan and Outlive Some of the books were made by the props team including those by the fictional monk Luang Por Terra and the resort owner “Mike loved the idea of creating Sritala’s book Glowing so that she would leave a copy in Jaclyn’s room,” says Cory “We not only created the fake cover but one of the Thai producers wrote part of the book itself.” the books are so pivotal to characterisation that not every one is even in shot Cory says one title would have given too much away about a character “but it makes me happy knowing it’s in their bag” This article was amended on 30 March 2025 to give the correct title for F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel On Wednesday Reading confirmed they were in “dialogue with an alternative bidder” after an exclusivity agreement with Robert Platek, the owner of the Portuguese club Casa Pia, expired. It is understood the unnamed party pressing ahead to buy the promotion-chasing side is the former Wycombe owner Couhig. Couhig, an American businessman and lawyer who was an integral part of Wycombe winning promotion into the Championship for the first time, wants to buy Dai’s shares in the club, the stadium and the training ground. Reading have been formally for sale for approaching 600 days and Couhig’s previous deal to buy the club collapsed in September. In a statement on Wednesday Reading said: “Negotiations between the parties are proceeding in a professional and positive manner, with full recognition from all concerned of the need to bring a sale of the club to a conclusion for all stakeholders, including players, staff and supporters.” Last month Couhig said: “Reading is a challenge of much bigger proportions than most people realise, when you start to turn the rocks over there are lots of snakes there … it has all the assets necessary to be a club that is customarily in mid-table of the Championship, with the potential of being in the Premier League.” Reading are targeting promotion via the playoffs. Noel Hunt’s side beat Shrewsbury on Tuesday to move into sixth and visit Northampton on Saturday aiming for a third straight win. the EFL has agreed to extend its deadline for the divestment of Mr Dai Yongge’s shareholding until its next Board Meeting on 8 May. Redwood Holdings Ltd is a subsidiary of Dogwood Football LLC Our writers provided all the latest football news as we counted down to Saturday’s football action Updated at 13.59 CEST3d ago13.36 CESTMatchday Live will return tomorrow when Ewan Murray will be doing a Scottish football Q&A in the build-up to the Old Firm game. Post your questions BTL or keep them in your heads and send them in tomorrow, if you’d be so kind. SG: “Like handing Jannik Vestergaard a new three-year deal?” Updated at 13.46 CEST3d ago13.28 CESTIt’s nearly time for 12 referees to blow their whistle, thus commencing one of the most consistently dramatic days in the football calendar: game 46 of the EFL Championship. In addition to those 16, Opta has calculated that another nine teams before the move to three points for a win in 1981 would have got to 100 points under the current system: 3d ago13.14 CESTLouise Taylor has written about Sandro Tonali’s impact in Newcastle’s midfield this season: There cannot be many, if any, better No 6s in Europe than the 24-year-old. It is easy to forget that, either side of the 10-month worldwide ban Tonali received last year for breaches of betting rules, the former Milan playmaker struggled to impose himself in a No 8 role to the right of Bruno Guimarães in Newcastle’s 4-3-3 formation. Howe probably sensed the Italy international would be better deployed in a deeper role but managers need to be diplomats as well as tactical choreographers. Perhaps an awareness that Guimarães desperately wanted to serve as a South American Pirlo explains why he resisted handing Tonali the No 6 job until 30 November last year at Selhurst Park. “The kick-off time has been agreed in collaboration with the competing clubs, broadcasters, local authority, police, and the Safety Advisory Group,” says the FA in a statement. “The showpiece event is going to be broadcast live in the UK on ITV1, ITVX, UTV, STV, STV Player, BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The FA will announce where it can be watched around the world in advance. The winners and the runners-up will receive £2,000,000 and £1,000,000 from the competition’s prize fund respectively.” Updated at 13.10 CEST3d ago12.54 CESTThe pre-match view from Villa ParkPeter LansleyNews from Villa Park Plenty to play for at Villa Park as Fulham keep sights set on the top-eight finish that should bring them European qualification and their highest Premier League finish How will Aston Villa bounce back from the crushing disappointment of their no-show at the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace any Wembley last Sunday Maatsen replaces Digne at left-back but spare a thought for Ollie Watkins whose sustained excellence over the past 18 months plus in leading Villa to this stage had resulted in his being demoted behind Marcus Rashford in Unai Emery’s favoured starting XI - only for the on-loan Manchester United man to be ruled out with a hamstring injury Watkins is said not to be angling for a summer move despite interest from Chelsea following that from Arsenal He’s scored in his last three meetings with Fulham and one more today will take him clear of Gabby Agbonlaor (both on 74) as Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer Robinson and Lukic return for Fulham but Sessegnon keeps his place just higher up the pitch instead of Willian Salford have turned getting out of League Two into quite the chore since promotion six years ago and it wouldn’t surprise me if they suffered another hiccup today. I’d quietly fancy Chesterfield – Paul Cook knows how to get the job done. And fair play to Mark Hughes – plenty would have turned their nose up at Bradford and Carlisle given the career he has had, the bright lights he has experienced. On days like these we tend to give our flowers to those promoted or securing playoff berths. But before diving headfirst into the action, a word for Gary Bowyer, who has worked a miracle in saving Burton Albion. They were 11 points adrift of safety in January and spent five months in the relegation zone before escaping last week. Relegated Bristol Rovers will be having Burton-shaped nightmares for a while. Updated at 12.49 CEST3d ago12.42 CESTRob Smyth is covering the Championship’s denouement, with kick-off in those games about 45 minutes away. You can find his liveblog here: Birmingham have blown away League One - it really has been quite easy. I’ve been very impressed by head coach Chris Davies, who previously worked as an assistant to Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou, but I expect them to make some bold calls this summer. They will spend big - chair Tom Wagner has promised as much - but they need to be ruthless. The current squad must be strengthened if they’re going to compete at the top end next season. 3d ago12.33 CESTTeam news is in for the early Premier League game, and here it is: Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Tielemans, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins. Subs: Olsen, Mings, Barkley, Digne, Garcia, Malen, Onana, Bailey, Ramsey.Fulham: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Berge, Lukic, Sessegnon, Wilson, Iwobi, Jimenez. Subs: Benda, Reed, Cairney, Traore, Vinicius, Cuenca, Castagne, Willian, Smith Rowe.Referee: Robert Jones. John Brewin is your man for live coverage of this one, here: Walsall have imploded and while Bradford have made a meal of things in recent weeks psychologically Mat Sadler’s team must be floored by the way their season has capitulated arrest the slide but they have opened the door for Bradford and Notts County Notts would probably be my pick if I had to choose Walsall twice hit the woodwork in defeat at home to struggling Accrington and it feels luck is against them I think they have won just three matches since Nathan Lowe returned to Stoke after his loan spell - at which point the striker was the joint-top scorer in the EFL Today’s League Two fixtures (3pm kick-off) 3d ago12.16 CESTBen FisherWho’s the Championship manager of the season? Scott Parker has got his career back on track at Burnley, whose defensive record has been borderline ridiculous. If - and it’s a big if - Bristol City make the playoffs then Liam Manning will have overachieved with a thin squad. Régis le Bris too: we possibly forget about his work at Sunderland given they’ve been coasting for a while. 3d ago12.10 CESTBen FisherAway from the top six, has anyone in the Championship had a particularly impressive season? 3d ago12.08 CESTBen FisherSheffield United and Sunderland are in I fancy Coventry to get the job done over Middlesbrough and even if Bristol City fail to beat Preston I’m not convinced Blackburn or Millwall will win today Today’s Championship fixtures again (all 12.30pm): Updated at 13.00 CEST3d ago11.53 CESTBen Fisher will be here in a matter of minutes to answer any questions about goins-on in the Football League. Please send you questions to me by email (link in standfirst above) or post them BTL. Cheers! 3d ago11.48 CESTHere’s a thing I wrote earlier this week about what can be decided this weekend in the third, fourth and fifth tiers of English football. The final round of fixtures in Leagues One and Two kick off at 3pm today, in the National League at 3pm on Monday: We are incredibly relieved and happy that Reading Football Club are finally under new ownership. It’s a day which we thought, at times, may never happen. In the eight years of the Dai Yongge era, every single element of our club went backwards. The first team were relegated, the women’s team were essentially folded and staff were made redundant as every operational element of the club was cut back to the bare bones. Those who remained were forced to work with tight budgets and under immense pressure. Sometimes they weren’t even sure if they’d be paid at the end of the month. Today is a day for celebration and that starts by welcoming Rob Couhig. Thank you for not giving up on us, thank you for saving our 153-year-old club from oblivion. While Wycombe Wanderers owner, the Bearwood fiasco saw him come into direct conflict with our powerful, passionate fanbase, culminating in the training ground remaining under Reading’s control (we imagine he’s quite grateful for that now!). Rumours of his views on both the academy – the jewel in our crown – and women’s team have also left some fans unsettled. However, the training ground issue is now in the past and Couhig should now be judged by his actions as our owner, not by rumours which arose while he was trying to buy the club. Some of these actions are already plain to see. The takeover process has been tortuous and – at times – ill-tempered. We know several bidders came and went, but Couhig remained, and for that alone we are incredibly grateful. He was determined, dogged and incredibly savvy. Having someone with those qualities in your club’s corner can only be a good thing and it is also worth stating that Wycombe Wanderers fans say he left them in a better place. Reading fans are now excited to hear in an open forum from Couhig about his plans. Our gratitude is immeasurable but cannot be unconditional. We are under no illusions that steps will need to be taken to undo the damage Dai has done to this football club, but we hope Couhig runs Reading transparently, prudently, in collaboration with Reading fans and with regard for the club’s identity. 3d ago11.30 CESTReading sale agreed in principleBen FisherBig, positive news for Reading before a potentially pivotal final day in League One: Rob Couhig has signed a deal to buy the troubled club who can qualify for the playoffs this afternoon “The EFL has received confirmation from all parties that a sale has been agreed in principle with Redwood Holdings Limited once final legal technicalities have been completed,” reads an EFL statement the EFL board has agreed to extend the time allowed for Mr Dai Yongge to divest his interests until Thursday 8 May subject to compliance with all other EFL regulations.” Yeah, I thought about [bringing Haaland on] but decided for energy, in the last moments. I was thinking but it was just two training sessions with us and in that moment it was a little bit [difficult] so I decided for the other type of players. Updated at 11.26 CEST3d ago11.00 CESTAston Villa v Fulham (12.30pm) “Your nothing-to-play-for correspondents have overlooked the gripping contest for eighth and the Conference League place (unless Palace win the FA Cup, so come on City),” says Richard Hirst. “It all kicks off, literally and metaphorically, at 12.30 with the mighty Whites at Villa. It’s on.” the TV commentary to this game, which for long periods was just Rio Ferdinand saying “OH MY GOD” a lot. 3d ago10.55 CESTAnother plug for Barney Ronay’s column on Lamine Yamal So Lamine Yamal is brilliant. Brilliant is fine. We’ve seen brilliant before. But he is also fascinating in other ways. Mainly he’s something new, the first outright superstar to emerge entirely in the terminally online world, out there to be consumed, worshipped, pulled apart, and never ever left alone from his earliest years, obliged to mean something, to always perform, to a degree of soul-melting intensity only this version of the world has ever managed. What is it going to do to him? Indeed he did, from 1977-80. I think he scored four on his debut, though I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. 3d ago10.45 CEST“I’m on the train on the way to Lord’s to watch Middlesex v Kent,” writes Matt Emerson. “A day spent in the pavilion with my old friend Shep, who is now a member. “I’ve always said that late April to early May is the best time for sport. The culmination of the league title race, the FA Cup & Champions League semi-finals (which are usually better than the finals), the snooker, the Grand National and the start of the flat season, the start of the cricket season, the Masters. It’s bliss.” And best of all, endless pub chat about who England should/will pick for the first Test match of the summer. 3d ago10.41 CESTWhat's at stake in the big European title racesBundesligaBayern Munich will win the title with two games to spare if they beat RB Leipzig away from home this afternoon Kane is set win his first major trophy at the age of 31 and the Banterverse may never be the same again “It’s kind of my story that I’ll miss the Leipzig game,” he said Napoli have stolen a march on Inter, thanks in no small part to the goals of McAdona They are three points clear with four games to play and both teams are in action today: Napoli visit Lecce at 5pm Scott McTominay after scoring for Napoli. Photograph: Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/ShutterstockLa LigaBarcelona are four points clear of Real Madrid – who they meet next weekend – with five games to go. Barça are away to the bottom club Valladolid tonight; Real host Celta Vigo tomorrow afternoon. Updated at 10.53 CEST3d ago10.30 CEST“Off to Goodison,” says Gary Naylor. “Only going to say that once more after today.” 3d ago10.29 CESTFootball League Q&AAt 11am, Ben Fisher will be here to answer your questions about all things EFL. Let’s be havin’ them: email matchday.live@theguardian.com or post below the line. 3d ago10.23 CESTBristol City – who last appeared in the top flight in 1979-80 – are at home to relegation-threatened Preston, knowing a win will guarantee a playoff place And so it has come to pass. The day dawns for the 46th and final game of the seemingly endless Championship slog that at regular intervals opens up the tantalising prospect of my team, Bristol City, ending up in the top 6 and causing a flurry of excitement and the downing of even more cider than we might already sensibly avoid. As usual however there is the tantalising prospect of a last match City collapse and today's final game is a home tie against Preston North End who are at a huge risk of relegation if they lose and Luton and Hull win. It would be vaguely entertaining to be in the play offs and we do actually have an outside chance of coming out on top against Sunderland, as opposed to playing Sheffield United. So just imagine if our lads were able to put 4 wins together to end the season and give the West Country something to shout about after the relegations of the Gas and Plymouth. That would be the perfect time for our decent but ultimately unambitious owner Steve Lansdown to flog the club to a US consortium. 3d ago10.19 CESTEbere Eze couldn’t be any more likeable, right? Wrong! Updated at 10.23 CEST3d ago10.17 CESTNot the football department Most of the Premier League has been decided. It's a long weekend and the weather looks pretty good. The perfect opportunity to finally get off the couch and go out and see the world in all its glory. Except the snooker is on so that won't be happening. Judd Trump and Mark Williams will resume at 8-8 in their semi-final; it’s the best of 33. Xintong Zhao is already into the final after a ruthless demolition of Ronnie O’Sullivan. A win for blues in L1 (or even a draw ) will see them set a global record for most points in a professional football league season I think that's special enough to be worthy of a mention.. Well done Falkirk on back to back promotions 3d ago10.05 CESTThe Fantasy Premier League deadline was last night, ahead of Manchester City’s game v Wolves. Did you forget? I forgot, mainly because I’m seventh in the Smyth family league and I’m used to fighting for the title and I’m not handling it well. On the plus side, I left Kevin De Bruyne as captain, so there’s that. There aren’t really any standout choices this week; most of the top teams have tough games and you’d expect some, certainly Arsenal, to rest players. 3d ago10.01 CESTIn the last few seasons, Leeds, Burnley, Southampton, Leicester and others have been trapped in a cycle of promotion and relegation. Philippe Auclair looks at the slippery problem of parachute payments. Only once before this season and last had all three promoted clubs immediately returned whence they came, in 1997-98. It was more common for them to remain in the top division together, which has happened four times since 2002, last and most remarkably in 2021-22 when Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest not only survived but prospered and grew into contenders for a place in European competitions. This, however, looks like an aberration. 3d ago09.54 CESTFootball League Q&A with Ben FisherAt 11am, Ben Fisher will be here to answer your questions about all things EFL. Let’s be havin’ them: email matchday.live@theguardian.com or post below the line. 3d ago09.50 CESTYou think the life of an algorithm is easy? Try being an as-it-stands table on the last day of the season. Manchester City is now nailed on to finish in top 3. 4th and 5th place race between, Newcastle, Chelsea, Nottingham and Villa is the only talking point left now in the Premier League and still there are four games to go. This may be most unexciting Premier League ever with only 4 teams now having some sort of interest left in the remaining games. The 2000-01 season is another contender for this dubious award. The biggest thing at stake on the last day of the season was whether Liverpool would qualify for the Champions League ahead of Leeds (they did). Man Utd won the title on New Year’s Day, pretty much; and though the bottom three weren’t quite as far adrift as this season’s, they were all relegated with games to spare. 3d ago09.45 CESTLeicester and Southampton have had miserable seasons, picking up 18 and 11 points respectively. But at least one of them will add to that total at the King Power Stadium today. Premier League regulations prevent players who were not 15 at the start of a season from playing, meaning Dowman will not be able to surpass Ethan Nwaneri’s record as the competition’s youngest player, set in September 2022 when Nwaneri was 15 years and 181 days old. But Arteta was asked whether the attacking midfielder, who has drawn comparisons to Martin Ødegaard, could be an option for next season after the success of the academy graduates Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. “For the near future, yes,” he said. “Now he is involved in the squad. He trains with us a lot. Does that mean he will play in the Premier League many games? I don’t know; depends how good he is and how impressive he is and how much he offers the team like Ethan, like Myles, like any other player in the squad. Let’s see how this evolves but we certainly got a big, big talent there. 3d ago09.37 CESTOn this day in 1998, Tony Adams writes his own script as Arsenal win the Premier League Lamine Yamal was the buildup, the takeaway and also the TV commentary to this game, which for long periods was just Rio Ferdinand saying “OH MY GOD” a lot. In the second half you kept having to check the score to make sure it wasn’t actually 6-1 to Barcelona (Lamine Yamal 6), as opposed to a 3-3 draw and a good away result for Inter. Barney Ronay has been looking at how the pandemic changed sport – for richer and poorer The pandemic had a start date. But the closest we got to a national throwing-off of the shackles, our own VV day, was July 2021 and the sight of a lone England football supporter placing a flare between his buttock cheeks before releasing it into the air of central London Guardiola to take a break from football when he leaves City De Bruyne sinks Wolves to move City up to third Five teams fighting for Championship survival Government to back plan for ban on games abroad Negative Spurs narrative can change, says Postecoglou Updated at 09.18 CEST3d ago09.00 CESTPreambleHello and welcome to live coverage of another super soccer-filled Saturday This is our home for all the latest news and previews ahead of today’s action which begins at 12.30pm with Aston Villa v Fulham and the last day of the regular Championship season Then we have the final round of fixtures in Leagues One and Two plus Bayern Munich’s chance to win back the Bundesliga after a shocking one-season drought At 11am we’ll have a special Q&A with Ben Fisher, who knows more about the Football League than 99.82 per cent of sentient beings, so please send in any questions for that. You can contact us at matchday.live@theguardian.com or post below the line these are some of the key matches we’ll be following today You can peruse a fuller fixture list here. Consecutive wins on the road at Mansfield Town and Bristol Rovers have set up a mouth-watering tie with the Tykes as Noel Hunt's side fight for the final Play-Off place It's set to be the highest home crowd of the season as we reach the business end of the campaign we've compiled all the information you need to know in the below Match Guide: It's set to be a bumper home crowd for Saturday's game Much of the Select Car Leasing Stadium is sold out thank you for your tremendous support for the boys in blue and white Limited tickets are available in certain areas you can see what's up for grabs by visiting the ticketing website below Please note matchday prices start from 11am on Saturday so buy before this point to save on the price you pay You can buy your tickets online by clicking below The Select Car Leasing Stadium is set to host the biggest crowd in years this Saturday and supporters are encouraged to arrive early and plan their trip to RG2 accordingly To aid your visit to the Select Car Leasing Stadium the club have put together a Top Tips guide to make your entry to the ground as seamless as possible Please also scroll down further for an indicative graphic showcasing the optimum times to enter the stadium TOP TIPS FOR ENTRY GUIDE Whatever the outcome of Saturday\'s fixtures it\'s been a season of real growth for our First Team and following the game the club will present the Player and Goal of the Season Awards and their families will take part in a lap of appreciation to show their thanks for your support throughout the campaign.  Supporters are kindly asked to remain in their seats following the final whistle The players will initially head into the tunnel momentarily before re-emerging for the presentation of the awards the lap of appreciation will follow shortly afterwards with the full ceremonies expected to last approximately 15 minutes.  the departure of Reading Buses Urban Services will be delayed to allow supporters extra time to say their thanks to our loyal supporters The 2024/25 season has been one of defying the odds for our Football Club the club are asking for your support to ensure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for all Please be respectful of the rules and regulations on matchday A MESSAGE TO FANS This Saturday see The Amazons perfoming live on the Purple Turtle Stage at 1:30pm giving supporters fantastic Fanzone entertainment in the build up to kick off We cannot wait to welcome the local band ahead of the launch of their highly anticipated fourth studio album The live performance will ONLY be accessible to Season and Match ticket holders so if you haven\'t already secured your ticket Before the biggest game of the season so far we have put together a special compilation to a song made famous to Royals fans during our 2011/12 promotion season We would encourage all supporters to be in place for 2:45 where our new compilation will make it\'s debut on the big screen.  For full details of the up to date bus services are available via the button below Due to the lap of appreciation and awards ceremony after the game the buses will leave at a slightly later time MATCHDAY BUS INFORMATION All on-site parking is sold out for Saturday\'s game Alternative provision is in place with the Mereoak Park & Ride open for the match - please find details below TRAVEL & PARKING GUIDE We are delighted to welcome Swings & Smiles to Saturday\'s fixture who will operating a Sensory Room for the game The area offers supporters a dedicated space designed specifically to cater for children and young adults with autism and other special needs Full details of how to get involved can be found below SENSORY ROOM INFORMATION A whole host of food & drink options will be available to supporters both inside and externally to the Select Car Leasing Stadium located outside the Sir John Madejski Stand you will find all the refreshment requirements you need ahead of and during the game MATCHDAY KEY INFORMATION Your final opportunity to score points in the regulation season don\'t miss out on claiming a fantastic Royals prize or experience PLAY ROYAL RESULT Take a snap and submit it using the link below to be displayed on the big screen SEND YOUR SELFIES The Golden Gamble gives supporters the opportunity to win cash prizes whilst also raising funds for the fantastic work undertaken by the Reading FC Community Trust Our sellers will be in their yellow t shirts and jackets If you are interested in selling Golden Gamble tickets on a matchday and watch the game, please contact Dave Evans on devans@readingfc.co.uk If you can\'t make it to the Select Car Leasing Stadium you can keep up to date with all the action on RoyalsTV Supporters in the UK & Ireland can listen to Saturday\'s action with a Royals TV Audio Match Pass which gives you access to BBC Radio Berkshire commentary for just £2.50 Monthly subscriptions are also available for £4.49 per month International supporters can purchase RoyalsTV Video Match passes to watch all of the action wherever you are Full subscription details in your region can be found below Protect yourself when streaming Home & Away with a NordVPN pass NordVPN Details It is important to reiterate to our supporters that it is unacceptable for any supporters to enter the field of play before during or after the match or to throw missiles of any description onto the pitch Ahead of the game please read our message to our supporters which can be found here imagesA Reading FC supporters group has reacted with delight after an agreement was finalised for the club to be taken over was formed to try to get rid of owner Dai Yongge the group said: "We are incredibly relieved and happy that Reading Football Club are FINALLY under new ownership every single element of our club went backwards "The takeover process has been tortuous and - at times - ill-tempered and for that we are incredibly grateful." The takeover will include the football club the Royals said that they were "pleased to announce the sale in principle of the club" to Couhig's Redwood Holdings Limited "The formal completion of the transaction is subject to final legal technicalities but is fully expected to be completed shortly." 'Sell Before We Dai' said: "Reading fans are now excited to hear in an open forum from Couhig about his plans "Our gratitude is immeasurable but cannot be unconditional "We are under no illusions that steps will need to be taken to undo the damage Dai has done to this football club but we hope Couhig runs Reading transparently in collaboration with Reading fans with the regard for the clubs' identity." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. READING has finally been sold which spells the end of Dai Yongge's controversial ownership The Royals confirmed in a long-awaited statement on Saturday morning that a deal was finally agreed Yongge became majority shareholder in 2017 but was given a latest deadline of May 8 by the EFL to divest his shareholding Redwood Holdings Limited will become the new legal owners of the League One outfit under their parent company Dogwood Football LLC A Reading statement said: "Reading Football Club is pleased to announce the sale in principle of the club to Redwood Holdings Limited "The takeover includes the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground "Based on the agreement between the parties, the EFL has agreed to extend its deadline for the divestment of Mr Dai Yongge’s shareholding until its next Board Meeting on 8 May. "Redwood Holdings Ltd is a subsidiary of Dogwood Football LLC, which is owned by Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair of New Orleans, Louisiana." Couhig - former owner of Wycombe Wanderers - tried to buy Reading for £30million before the deal collapsed in September 2024. Another unnamed potential buyer had come in to try and secure Reading However, the time period elapsed on April 9, allowing Couhig to re-enter the race, as revealed by SunSport Yongge had attempted to secure an injunction against Couhig alleging the American had blocked his attempts to sell Reading Couhig denied the allegations and the case was thrown out The EFL gave Yongge an April 4 deadline to sell up after he was disqualified by failing the EFL's Owners' and Directors' Test Reading were deducted six points for financial rule breaches last season and finished 17th in League One They are seventh this season going into the final game of the season with a chance of nicking the final play-off spot Couhig is expected to be in the 24,000-seater stadium for this afternoon's clash against Barnsley were playing in the Women's Super League in 2022-23 - but had to pull out of the Championship in June amid the monetary woes and now compete in the fifth tier Reading fan group Sell Before We Dai welcomed the news of the club's sale and Yongge's exit - and hope the arrival of Redwood Holdings Limited will bring a period of stability in Berkshire The protest group said: "We are incredibly relieved and happy that Reading Football Club are finally under new ownership "In the eight years of the Dai Yongge era, every single element of our club went backwards the women’s team were essentially folded and staff were made redundant as every operational element of the club was cut back to the bare bones "Those who remained were forced to work with tight budgets and under immense pressure "Sometimes they weren’t even sure if they’d be paid at the end of the month "Today is a day for celebration and that starts by welcoming Rob Couhig thank you for saving our 153-year-old club from oblivion "We’ve been sold before we Dai’d." Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/