Given all we know and don’t know about Reading’s descent to the bottom of their own barrel, it would take guts to pinpoint a low point at this time.
As every previous financially troubled club’s supporters would tell them, fresh lows, like credit card bills and broken appliances, tend to specialize in their sense of timing, accompanied by sighs, pity, and well-meaning but ultimately useless sentiments of good luck.
However, it will be difficult to top Michael Olise’s resignation, both in terms of symbolism and just plain oh-for-God’s sake what’s the pointness.
After bouncing around premier club academies, Olise joined Reading at the age of 15. He was matured and loved. He made it his stage and broke into the first team.
As Reading placed seventh in the Championship in April 2021, Olise won the award for finest young player in the entire EFL.
After that, Olise was sold to Crystal Palace for £8 million. Just £8 million, as no new contract was signed to raise his release clause at the time, and no one had considered doing so. There was also no sell-on fee because none had been inserted.
Well-managed teams take tremendous delight in being able to sell their greatest academy products to higher heights. This is just one more point of disagreement. Not only did Reading need the money, but they also needed additional money.
Even yet, they lost £17 million in the fiscal year. Positive helical momentum? It was their best performance in a long time.
Reading are, historically speaking, back about where they should be. They played all but two of their English football seasons in the bottom two divisions between 1931 and 1994.
Reading are, historically speaking, back about where they should be. They played all but two of their English football seasons in the bottom two divisions between 1931 and 1994.
