Reading FC co-owner Rob Couhig has addressed the supporters in an open letter following a week of unrest at the club.
Rumours have circulated that manager Leam Richardson’s position is under threat after the Royals suffered a damaging defeat for their play-off hopes at Doncaster on Saturday.
There has been dissatisfaction among large sections of the fanbase about Richardson’s style of play and reportedly also among some of the playing squad too.
However, Couhig has given his backing to Richardson and said that he has brought ‘stability, organisation and a clear identity.’
The full letter reads: “As we approach the final weeks of the season, I have debated whether to write to you now or wait until the campaign is complete.
“I am, by nature, an optimist. I believe you should never give up on your goals until, as a matter of mathematical certainty, they can no longer be achieved. At the same time, I am also a realist and I understand how difficult it is to achieve those goals, particularly in a league as competitive as this one.
This football club has endured a difficult decade. Since relegation from the Premier League, we have seen changes in ownership, management, players and personnel. Our last appearance in the play-offs came in 2017. Over that period, frustration has understandably grown among supporters, driven by a lack of consistent on-pitch success.
Reading Football Club should be competing higher up the pyramid. We have an excellent stadium, a fantastic training ground, an outstanding academy and dedicated staff. But in my view, one of the key reasons we have not broken through is a lack of consistency in approach over a sustained period.
When I took over the club last May, I saw the same potential that many of you see.
I believed we could compete this season, but I also knew the scale of the challenge. At that point, we had just seven first-team players under contract. Rebuilding the squad quickly and effectively was critical. Joe and his team worked tirelessly to do that and by the end of the summer window I believed we had put together a strong group with the foundations to compete.
The start of the season did not go as we had hoped. By the end of October, we found ourselves closer to the bottom of the table than the play-off positions. At that point, I made a difficult decision to change manager. Not because of a lack of respect, but because I believed the team needed a different direction.
Since Leam Richardson’s arrival, we have seen clear progress. In terms of points accumulated, we have been among the stronger sides in the division. There have been impressive wins, resilient draws and as we have experienced in recent weeks, some difficult moments as well. That is the nature of football.
What Leam has brought is stability, organisation and a clear identity. Just as importantly, he has brought the right approach. At this stage of our development, that matters. We all want to see free-flowing, attacking football and that will come. But before that, you must build the foundations of a successful team. That requires discipline, structure and at times, a results-first mentality.
Progress takes time.
Regardless of whether the play-offs remain within reach, we will continue to compete fully in every game. But whatever happens between now and the end of the season, I remain optimistic about our direction.
When the season concludes, we will undertake a full review from top to bottom.
We will look honestly at what has worked, what has not and where we need to improve. That includes our current structure, our squad and the standards we set ourselves. We will listen to our supporters, whose passion drives this club, while ensuring that decisions are made with clarity, experience and a long-term view.
One thing is certain, we will be better next season than we are this season. That is a commitment shared by myself, Leam and everyone at the football club.
Off the pitch, there is also real progress.
In the coming weeks, we will introduce a new membership model and improvements to our ticketing approach, designed to provide better value and flexibility for supporters. Importantly, this will allow us to hold back any increases in ticket prices despite rising energy costs, water costs, taxes and wage bills.
We are also continuing to invest in the club’s infrastructure and this investment will make everybody’s experience much better in the future.
Every decision we make is guided by one principle: what is best for this football club, both competitively and financially.
I understand that not every decision will be universally agreed with. That is part of football. But I want to be clear that we act with conviction, with care, and with a genuine commitment to moving this club forward.
I firmly believe that the best days of Reading Football Club are ahead of us.
I am proud to be part of this journey, and I am excited about what lies ahead, not only in the remaining weeks of this season, but into the summer and beyond.
Thank you for your continued support.”
