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| Chinese owner Dae Jung-er Reading, who was pushed to death by amnesty. SNS capture |
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| ReutersYonhap News |
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Reading, a traditional English club where former Gyeongnam coach Seol Ki-hyun was involved, is on the verge of being kicked out of the professional league.
The British daily `Guardian' reported on the 22nd(local time) that if Reading's Chinese owner Dai Junger fails to sell the club before April 5, he could be forced out of the English Football League (EFL). Owner Dai Junger was disqualified in February for failing to pass the review of the league's owner and director, which was disclosed at the London Commercial Court on the 21st, according to the report.
The reason for the disqualification of owner Dai Junger was related to business issues in China and not related to the club's operation, according to 'Guardian'. The EFL said in a statement on the 21st that 'As disclosed in court today, the league announces that owner Dai Junger has been disqualified from the recent EFL club and director review. 'The owner of Die Junger is required to dispose of his stake in the club, and if he fails to dispose within the agreed period, the league will consider all possible options under the regulations and close the matter'.
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'EFL then plans to work closely with the Reading club to proceed with the club sale as soon as possible. It will end the current uncertainty surrounding the future of employees, supporters and the community as a whole..."
The EFL has accepted the Reading club's request to extend the permit period for the sale of its shares until April 5. Failure to meet the deadline could result in him being kicked out of League 1 (division 3). The EFL said 'A board meeting in the closing week will determine the next possible steps'
The EFL regulations state that the league may exercise its right to remove the club if the disqualified owner fails to resign and is unable to remove him from his position as required by the club.
In a statement, Reading said "The owner of Die Junger is committed to working with the EFL to sell the club and ensure a long-term future."
Reading has a lot of ties to Korean football. Seol Ki-hyun, one of the main players of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinals, spent a year from 2006 to 2007. Seol Ki-hyun, who quickly stood out in Anderlecht (Belgium) and Wolverhampton (England's second division at the time), moved to Reading, an EPL promotion team, in 2006. Seol Ki-hyun, who won the Reading Player of the Month award in August, scored a "life goal" with a right-footed mid-range shot against West Ham in October. He scored four goals in 27 appearances during the 2006-2007 season, and his team finished the season in eighth place, the best in the club's history. After the opening of the 2007-2008 season, Seol left for Fulham, the same EPL club, and wrapped up his short trip with Reading.
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Ji Dong-won (Suwon FC), Nam Tae-hee (Jeju) and Kim Won-sik (Cheonan) experienced the European stage in the Reading Youth Team through the Korea Football Association's football gifted study program in 2007. Jeon Ga-eul, a member of the women's national team, played in Reading in the 2020-2021 season.
Reading moved further and further away from the EPL after being relegated to the second division in 2013. In 2023, he has been demoted to League 1, the third in 21 years, and is spending two seasons. Owner Dai Junger, who took over the Reading club in 2017, was indicted by the EFL in October-November 2022 and April 2023 for unpaid squad wages and unpaid taxes. As a result, Reading, which started League 1 with points cut in the 2023-2024 season, finished League 1 17th after another point cut in February 2024. Reading fans stormed the stadium in groups to protest the owner. Named after the owner of the club Dai Yongge, the slogan "We will die before selling the club" was put forward."
Reading is currently eighth in the league's 38th round and looks to qualify for the playoffs, but he is suddenly on the verge of being kicked out of the EFL due to management risks. Reading, which was founded in 1871 and celebrates its 154th anniversary this year, is sadly showing signs of disappearing into the back of history.
The owner of Dai Junger and his sister Daishuuri have previously disbanded the club once. The siblings, who rose to the billionaire ranks in real estate, developed interest in soccer by watching Sun Jihai, a Chinese defender who played for Manchester City, and acquired Chinese club Xiangxi Chanba in 2007. However, the club, which later changed its name to Beijing Renhe, was disbanded in 2021.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
