MORE than 10 major bookmakers have taken an in-depth look at Reading FC’s chances this season and have come to the same conclusion – they will be facing a fight against relegation.

Most companies make the Royals fourth favourites to go down, being best priced at 9/2, but as low as 3/1 with Bet365.

Favourites for the drop are Rotherham, followed by Bolton and Ipswich.

  • MANY Reading speedway and greyhound supporters will agree with the suspicions currently being expressed by fans of Torquay United FC.

The former Football League club now playing in National League South are under the chairmanship of Clark Osborne.

It was his company, Gaming International, which once operated speedway and greyhound racing in Reading before Smallmead Stadium shut in 2008.

They drew up plans to replace it with a Racino – race track and casino – in the town, but it never came to fruition and that scuppered the hopes of seeing bikes and dogs returning to Reading.

In addition to Smallmead, GI closed the racing stadium at Milton Keynes.

Whilst accepting he has kept the club afloat, Osborne’s track record is now of concern to Torquay fans following his announcement he plans to build a new stadium in the town, along with an academy, retail units and potentially a housing complex – a total cost of at least £40m.

However, his intentions are being treated with suspicion and caution by club supporters.

In a reference to past goings on at Bristol Rovers and Hereford United, the Non-League Paper commented: “Osborne’s previous involvements in football hardly breeds confidence”

  • DECENT sporting attractions are rare in Reading, but hopefully, the seeds of something big will start to grow this weekend with the newly-named Reading City FC kicking-off in the Hellenic League.

The old Scours Lane club has seen a major overhaul during the summer with ambitious officials full of good ideas and determined to bring a high level of non-league football to the town. I wish them well.