Wycombe Wanderers in talks to buy Reading's training ground - reports

Reading FC are in talks over selling the club's Bearwood Park training ground to Wycombe Wanderers, it was reported yesterday (Thursday).

It comes less than five years after the Royals opened the state-of the-art facility.
Owner Dai Yongge purchased the club in May, 2017. Mr Dai is the former owner of Chinese football club Beijing Renhe (which closed in 2021).

READ MORE: EFL tells Reading FC owner to fund or sell club

In January this year, it was reported that the English Football League (EFL) had issued a statement which called on Mr Dai to fund the club adequately or sell up.

The EFL's statement had said that it has in recent months become increasingly clear that Dai Yongge was no longer in a position - or does not have the motivation - to support the Club financially as he did following the change of control in 2017.  

Wycombe reportedly said in a statement yesterday of the talks with Reading: "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."

In response to the announcement that the training ground may be sold, supporter group 'Sell Before We Dai' has reportedly organised a peaceful protest for today (Friday).

A spokesperson for the group was quoted as saying: "This club is now firmly on life support. Selling one of Reading’s key assets makes the club even less attractive to a new owner."

Reading is set to host Cambridge United on Saturday in League One.

Reading fan Jamie Hodder, on Twitter, said the training ground news had left him feeling numb.

"This is the end of the football club. We don’t come back from this sadly, unless this is a plan to get the sale moving," he said in a post.