A MAN predicted to be the country’s next prime minster has said he is “really worried” about Reading Football Club. 

In an exclusive interview with the Reading Chronicle, Sir Keir Starmer said he had been following the issues with the Royals who are currently anxiously awaiting news about a new owner.

As previously reported, the current owner Dai Yongge is set to sell the club with eight parties rumoured to be interested.

Reading have had a difficult three years going from being in the Championship to the bottom of League One and losing 16 points due to the club's financial mismanagement. 

Fans “fed up of being lied to and of watching their club slowly die” stormed the pitch earlier this month in a match against Port Vale, which put Reading's plight in the national spotlight. 

Now Labour leader Sir Keir, who polls forecast as the favourite to succeed Rishi Sunak as prime minister at this year’s General Election, said an independent regulator needed to be installed as soon as possible.

Speaking to the Chronicle on a visit to Tilehurst today, he said: “I’m very worried about Reading Football Club as all their fans will be and everyone who lives in Reading.

"This is a club with a long history and a massive sense of pride of place and actually a very successful club in the past, to see Reading in the plight its in as a football fan I don’t want to see I want Reading Football Club to thrive.

“In order for that to happen we need to have an independent regulator in place as quickly as possible and that will allow much greater grip on who owns clubs in the first place which will make a massive difference for Reading.”

The government announced it would be setting up an independent regulator in the King’s Speech last November.

The regulator will operate a licensing system which will apply to the top five tiers of English men’s football with the power to act on issues like financial compliance, corporate governance and fan engagement.

Tougher tests will be made on club owners – which was welcomed by fans unhappy with the management of their clubs.

Fair Game, a group campaigning to improve football governance, told ESPN at the time: “The Independent Regulator of English Football represents a real chance to end the cycle of overspending and mismanagement that has plagued our national game and threatened the existence of our clubs.”

Reading is currently 21 in the league as fans eagerly await news of a new owner. Eight parties are reportedly interested in buying the club from current owner Dai Yongge.