SUPPORTERS of Reading Football Club have praised Reading Borough Council for granting Asset of Community Value (ACV) status to their home ground, the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
STAR (Supporters’ Trust at Reading) submitted its ACV application earlier this year, with the backing of Sell Before We Dai, a fan group set up to force a change of ownership at the club.
ACVs are land or buildings where, in the opinion of the local authority, the actual current use furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, and it is realistic to think that the same or another such use will continue.
The ruling means the owner of the asset is unable to dispose of it until a specified timeframe has expired.
Sarah Turner, Sell Before We Dai spokesperson and STAR Chair, said: “We are so grateful for the support of Reading Borough Council and the helpful ruling on our ACV application.
“The Sell Before We Dai campaign isn’t just about pressuring our owner Dai Yongge to sell, but also protecting the long term future of the football club. This includes ensuring our stadium remains the home of Reading FC, and not an economic asset for unfit and improper owners.
“We have seen what’s happened to other clubs in similar situations to ours when their stadium’s future has not been secured. Being granted Asset of Community Value status offers us a glimmer of hope in what has been the most unsettling period for fans in 40 years.
“We are increasingly concerned about the fate of our 152-year old club due to ongoing financial mismanagement by our Reading FC’s owners. We hope today’s announcement will help underline the attractiveness to any potential new owners as we continue to campaign for change at the club.”
