New owner Couhig urges Reading supporters to look forwards not back

Reading’s new owner Rob Couhig has urged supporters to look forwards rather than back after bringing an end to the controversial tenure of Dai Yongee.

The protracted takeover of the Royals was finalised last week with the club confirming that Couhig and Todd Trosclair's Redwood Holdings Limited had purchased the club from Yongee.

Companies House, external now show that Yongge and Pang have resigned from their posts as of 14 May, and Couhig is the new active director.

His previous attempt to buy the League 1 club last year collapsed, however, he told BBC South Today that he was a ‘stick at it kind of guy’ who ‘wouldn’t give in’.

He managed to revive the deal earlier this year and the sale was agreed in principle on May 3 before the Royals’ final game of the season at home to Barnsley.

"It's great to finally, officially, be part of the Reading community and to get it over the line," the 76-year-old American businessman Couhig told BBC South Today.

"To be honest we thought about a year ago this would have been done [but] I'm a stick with it sort of guy, I don't give up and I don't give in.

"My message to the fans right now is to not look back, it's all about the future, we're ready to go get it.

"When I left Wycombe, I was convinced I was done with English football, but the opportunity with Reading came up and I saw it as a great chance.

"We recognise what a fantastic opportunity is here for us."

Couhig also revealed that former Royals chief executive Dayong Pang had been "instrumental" in ensuring the deal was completed.

Pang, part of the board under previous owner Dai Yongge, has been criticised by supporters on occasions but Couhig wanted to credit him for his help.

"Dayong Pang was very critical in helping to get this deal over the line," Couhig said.

"I know people take shots at him, but he was instrumental. Communication with Mr Dai never happened, I wouldn't recognise him if I saw him on the street."

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Since taking over as Reading owner there’s a sense of urgency from Couhig and the board to ensure the club can compete next season.

Several of their players are out of contract this summer and the new board have already made moves to secure the signatures of some of those players.

 The Royals have offered new deals to 11 out-of-contract first team players to extend their stay. They’ve also decided to let six senior players move on following the expiration of their contract meaning they currently have only six first team players on the books.

The players currently under contract in Noel Hunt's squad are Kelvin Abrefa, Ben Elliott, Harvey Knibbs, Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing, while Reading have activated a one-year extension option for Mamadi Camara.

The 11 players offered new deals are Michael Craig, Jeriel Dorsett, Kelvin Ehibatiomhan, Abraham Kanu, Amadou Mbengue, Joel Pereira, Tivonge Rushesha, Michael Stickland, Basil Tuma, Jayden Wareham and Andy Yiadom.

Meanwhile, Adrian Akande, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, David Button, Tom Carroll, Harlee Dean and Louie Holzman have been released.

The club has also been unable to operate in the transfer market for some time due to embargoes which will hopefully now be lifted.

"We met with Noel when I was over last week and we have a plan," Couhig added.

"We know what we want to spend and how we want to spend it, we know those players that we would love to have come back, and the players that might be better off somewhere else.

"The good news is that a lot of people will want to come and play for us in this new era, if there is the odd person we have to buy from somewhere then we will do that, but we will be strictly financially sound."