Todd Trosclair, the business partner of former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig, has released a major hint regarding the takeover situation at Reading, which Couhig has been heavily linked to.
Reading’s current owner, Dai Yongge, has been told by the EFL to part ways with the club otherwise they face banishment from England’s top four divisions.
The original deadline was set for 4th April. They were then granted an extension on this deadline, taking it to 22nd April, when it was announced that a prospective buyer, heavily reported to be the former Wycombe owner, had agreed terms with the Chinese businessman to buy the club.
The latest deadline was set for 5th May, two days after the EFL regular season concludes, although Reading’s season may continue if they manage to beat out Leyton Orient on the final day for the last League One play-off spot.
After much speculation, it now appears that the much-hoped-for takeover is on its way, as one of the involved parties has dropped a major hint about when the deal may be announced.
Rob Couhig’s business partner drops major Reading takeover hint
Trosclair has out out a cryptic post on X which suggests that his and Couhig’s takeover of the Royals may be official on Saturday, when Reading face Barnsley at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
He asked: “Can anyone recommend a good place to eat dinner in READING, Saturday night?”
The American businessman, alongside Couhig, have already provided Reading with £5 million in loans and had attempted to complete a takeover in August, but the deal ultimately fell through due to a breakdown in talks between Yongge and the American lawyer, who used to own the Chairboys, as per The Athletic.
It has emerged that the Premier League had serious reservations about Reading owner Dai Yongge at the time of his takeover of the club.
Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair update should really excite Reading fans
While he was in position at Wycombe, Couhig tried to buy Reading’s Bearwood training ground – a move which did not best please the Royals’ faithful as it would have essentially allowed Yongge to asset strip the club before eventually being forced to sell.
But it has gotten so bad under the current majority shareholder that most Reading fans probably think that anyone will do, and Couhig does have a good record in League One with Wycombe.
| Wycombe Wanderers’ league record during Rob Couhig’s ownership | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Points | Position |
| 2019/20* | League One | 59 | 3rd (Won play-offs) |
| 2020/21 | Championship | 43 | 22nd (Relegated) |
| 2021/22 | League One | 83 | 6th (Lost play-off final) |
| 2022/23 | League One | 69 | 9th |
| 2023/24 | League One | 65 | 10th |
| *Couhig took over Wycombe Wanderers in February 2020 | |||
Despite the poor conditions at the club, Noel Hunt and his players have done incredibly well this season to put themselves in contention to finish inside the top six. You can only start to imagine what this club will be able to do if Couhig and Trosclair come in and start to run the place properly.
There is such potential at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Maybe Saturday, if it is to be the faithful day when Yongge officially leaves, will be the first step towards re-realising it.
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