SIR JOHN REDWOOD’S stance on issues facing Reading FC has been criticised by the leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Sir Ed Davey was in Reading and Wokingham today, visiting the Royal Berkshire Hospital, meeting residents and party activists, and door-knocking.
And on his mind was the plight of the Royals. The club is currently up for sale after owner Dai Yonnge and has had points docked by the English Football League for not paying bills.
Last week, it emerged Mr Yonnge was prepared to sell the Bearwood Training Ground to Wycombe Wanderers, but the deal was quashed after it emerged planning consent was granted on the condition the land was only used by Reading FC.
This morning, Sir John tweeted: “Politicians rushing to tell football how to run itself are unlikely to be good for either politics or football.”
The Wokingham MP’s stance attracted a lot of mocking on Twitter. One wrote: “Best of luck being re-elected after alienating most of your constituency. Wise political move”.
Another echoed the sentiment: “So out of touch with many of your local constituents. Don’t expect to hold onto your seat in the next GE.”
And Sir Ed, speaking to Reading Today, was also baffled by Sir John’s stance.
“I think politicians who want to represent their community should stand up and support Reading Football Club and their fans,” he said.
“Clive Jones, who’s our candidate in Wokingham has done that. So has Lee Dillon in Newbury. Henry Wright, who is one of our candidates in Reading, was speaking about it at a Liberal Democrat conference.”
He said if the government’s plans for a football regulator had come sooner “we wouldn’t be in the mess we are now”.
“There are politicians who are prepared to stand up for their community, prepared to stand up for the local football club and take action that works,” he said.
”I wish the Conservatives would do something similar.”
In his speech at the spring conference in York on Saturday, March 16, Mr Wright drew attention to his attire: the blue and white hoops of the Royals’ home kit.
“You might have noticed this shirt I’m wearing – what does it mean? To me it makes me part of a community that has existed in one way or another in Reading since 1871,” he said.
“It is, of course, the shirt of my beloved Reading Football Club. It unites people from across my town, from different areas, different backgrounds, different views, in their love of the sport.
“But I have to say – sport is a powerful thing, but it is at its weakest when we give too much power to corporations and big money.”
He continued: “Today, my beloved Royals are on the verge of collapse thanks to the very greed we seek to address.
“The EFL has allowed the club to be bought by an irresponsible owner, Dai Youngge; he’s selling our training ground, he’s not paying our staff, he is ruining the club, and he is potentially going to rob this sporting asset from the town – so if anyone from the EFL or DCMS is watching, we must save Reading Football Club.”
He also called for more to be done to back fans.
“It’s this feeling of people across Reading which illustrates why we must support Lib Dem proposals to open up sport for the people and support people who are supporters, players, athletes, trainers and back-office staff.
“I work for the NHS and know that increasing our activity would increase our health.
“I hope this illustrates the plight of my club – the plight of my town – and the feelings these proposals create. Sport is for the people, and we should support these proposals.”
