Reading FC's Russian owner eager to meet squad
Anthony Smith • Published 9 Feb 2012 10:45
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
READING'S new owner Anton Zingarevich is desperate to meet the first team - but visa issues continue to delay his arrival.
The 29-year-old Russian is still waiting to make his first visit to the UK since his proposed takeover was announced.
But red tape means the Moscow-based businessman have to delay his arrival for another few weeks.
While Zingarevich is in regular contact with Royals hierachy by phone, he is yet to meet Brian McDermott's squad face-to-face.
Reading assistant manager Nigel Gibbs said: "The new owner will be coming over at some stage and I'll get to meet him, but at the moment I haven't.
"The potential takeover has been all over the papers so it would be nice for the players to meet him too. I know he's also keen to meet the players so we'll see."
Zingarevich wants to buy an initial 51% stake in the club for £25 million and the takeover is currently going through the usual due diligence process.
The deal, which will see Sir John Madejski remain as chairman, is expected to go through next month.
Zingarevich's presence can already be felt at the Madejski Stadium after he funded the triple January signings of Jason Roberts, Tomasz Cywka and Matthew Connolly last month, while Jimmy Kebe also ended speculation about his future by signing a new contract.
"It's fantastic that we have been able to re-sign Jimmy and add two or three players," added Gibbs. "It's important in this January window, it's all about trying to strengthen the squad.
"You have a long run in and there are tough games coming up so you need as many players fit and able as possible. The most important thing is we have added good quality."
Reading were fast becoming a selling club under Madejski after cashing-in on star players Kevin Doyle, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Shane Long and Matt Mills and in recent years.
But thanks to Zingarevich, whose family are billionaires, Royals transformed overnight into a club that can now afford to sign Roberts from Blackburn Rovers and was heavily linked with a loan swoop for Manchester City's Wayne Bridge.
Gibbs stressed: "During the last few windows there has been concern about hanging on to our best players. We were always trying to improve the squad, but it is not always possible because the players might not be available and the money might not be.
"In the last few transfer windows we've tried to keep what we had. But this time we have been able to add to the squad which has been fantastic. Now we are looking forward to the run in."
But he also stressed: "There's been no added pressure after the takeover. We've always put pressure on ourselves and nothing has changed. You have to have pressure, the boring thing we say is win the next game and that's all we do."
In a further boost, winger Jimmy Kebe has been declared fit for selection this Saturday when Reading welcome rock-bottom Coventry City to Madejski Stadium (3pm ko).
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Feb 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
