Reading's cash-strapped owner Dai Yongge has caused even more controversy by selling the club's Bearwood Park training ground to League One rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
The Royals have been dealing with financial troubles for a while now with protests against the club's ownership a regular sight at the Madjeski Stadium.
They've been deducted six points this season over financial problems and the EFL have issued a series of penalties to Dai for financial misconduct.
There has reportedly been up to eight parties expressing an interest in buying Reading from Dai.
But no progress has been made and the unpopular owner has caused even more anger by selling Reading's state-of-the-art training facilities.
Reading fans have been protesting against owner Dai Yongge
GETTY
The Bearwood Park facilities reportedly cost around £50million to build after being opened just five years ago.
However, Dai is said to have cashed in for less than half that figure with Wycombe Wanderers stepping in to buy the training ground.
It comes just a few days after Reading made the controversial decision to place the training base on the market.
Wycombe released a statement that read: “The parties are moving forward on an exclusive basis with the expectation of completion.
“In the interim, Wycombe hope that if a transaction completes it will provide Reading with necessary financial support to ensure that they are able to meet their ongoing financial obligations.”
And the news has caused outrage on social media with former Reading players speaking out.
Kevin Doyle wrote on X: "This is a disgrace,Reading fc is being sold for parts,some fit and proper owners test that was @EFL."
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has also taken aim at Dai for leaving the fans in an "awful position".
He said on talkSPORT: "I think it is awful. He is selling a training ground to manage the short-term finances of a train wreck that he has created.
Reading are selling the Bearwood Park training ground to Wycombe
GETTY
"He has no interest in the football club, and that happens and that is the by-product of wanting people to own football clubs that you feel are going to pour money into them.
"Here's the flipside to that argument. He's not interested anymore, couldn't care less about them, it is an irritation to him and financial encumbrance that he doesn't want.
"But he is not going to let it go until he gets something from someone else prepared to meet his expectation and it puts the Reading fans in an awful position."
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Our reaction to the news that Bearwood Park is to be sold to #WycombeWanderers
— Sell Before We Dai (@SellBeforeWeDai) March 14, 2024
Protest tomorrow. Join us.
#readingfc pic.twitter.com/HeTaxdFzXU
Sell Before We Dai are a Reading fan-led group who have openly protested against Dai with demands for the Chinese businessman to get out of the club quickly.
And they released a statement on social media condemning the sale of the club's training ground and accused Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig of being an "accomplice".
It read: "If Yongge, Xiu Li and Pang are killing the club, then Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig is an accomplice."He might not have pulled the trigger, but he's helping the owners to hide the body."
Selling one of Reading's key assets makes the club even less attractive to a new owner - and almost certainly scares off potential investors who were already having to contend with Yongge's unpredictability, all while leaving more chaos for fans, players and staff to endure."
