Reading councillor, Adele Barnett-Ward, has called for central government to take 'urgent action to save clubs in crisis' as Reading Football Club face an off-field battle.

The Royals have been issued with a winding up petition from HMRC and have been hit with EFL charges for failing to pay staff on time three separate times last season.

READ MORE: Reading FC receive backing of council in government letter

Barnett-Ward, the lead for leisure and culture, signed an open letter to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport along with council leader Jason Brock.

Taking to Twitter on her personal account, Barnett-Ward said: "The fans are doing a fantastic job campaigning to save the Royals but they shouldn’t have to. Gov have known for years that urgent reform is needed. DCMS need to urgently intervene to save the club.

"No matter whose name is on the paperwork, football clubs belong to their communities. Fans have been sounding the alarm on football governance for years. The fan-led review presented its guidance in 2021. Still no legislation, still no protection for clubs like Reading.

"It’s time for the Government to take urgent action to save clubs in crisis. It didn’t start with Reading and it won’t end here either. Our town’s club is a vital part of Reading identity, history, and community. It’s so much more than a line on a spreadsheet or asset to be stripped."

More than 3,500 supporters have backed the Sell Before We Dai protest movement, aiming to remove Dai Yongge from the club.