By Kieran Maguire

18th Sep, 2023 | 7:00am

Kieran Maguire slams 'shambolic' Reading owner with more points deductions still to come

Reading may face more points deductions due to the ‘shambolic’ ownership of the club by Dai Yongge.

That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that the EFL has ‘lost patience’ with the Reading ownership.

The Royals were hit with another three-point penalty this week after failing to meet a deadline to pay wages set by the EFL.

Reading have now had 16 points docked under their current ownership in the past two years.

The League One club have already faced an immediate one-point deduction earlier this season, and they dropped back down to 21st in the league table following a second deduction this week.

Maguire slammed Dai Yongge for ‘consistently letting the fans down’ and believes more points deductions could be on the cards.

“Unfortunately, the ownership issue at Reading is shambolic,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“Dai Yongge has consistently let the fans down and let the staff down.

“His camp are effectively suggesting that he is looking for investment without being willing to surrender control.

“But who in their right mind would put money into a third-tier football club that has regularly been paying £200 in wages for every £100 coming in the door?

“Especially when they’d be getting nothing in return if they aren’t granted influence and decision-making at the highest level.

“Unless the culture at the very top of the club changes then the concern is that the points deductions may not have finished.

“They have already had 16 points deducted over the two divisions and this could extend further.

“The EFL have lost patience with him – they have laid down rules and he has signed up to them but chosen to ignore them.

“As a Reading fan, you’d be extremely frustrated and you can understand the level of dissent against the owners.“

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