Local MPs have written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with requests regarding the future of Reading Football Club.

Led by Bracknell MP James Sunderland, Reading West's Alok Sharma, Damian Green and Sir Oliver Heald have all signed a letter addressed to DCMS chief Lucy Frazer.

The Royals have been placed under yet another transfer embargo and are at risk of receiving a fourth winding-up petition after Dai Yongge failed to pay HMRC this month.

He has already been charged with misconduct by the EFL for failing to fulfil his agreement, as well as seeing 16 points deducted from the team in under three years.

Sending the latest correspondence, the group have three main points they wish to raise.

Firstly, they request that any further point deductions be 'negated' while stakeholders work to secure new ownership.

Secondly, they wish for the Government's Football Governance White Paper to be included in the King's Speech and brought through as quickly as possible.

And finally, the MPs have called for the Royals to become a pilot for the eventual football regulator, to ensure other clubs do not suffer as Reading are currently.

Spokesperson Nick Houlton said: “Football clubs like ours need protection from bad owners and the EFL must begin to facilitate this.

“We are delighted to have won the support of MPs, who are now calling on the EFL to stop punishing with points deductions, and to use Reading FC as a test case for the incoming Football Regulator.

“Football has an ownership problem. Let's fix it.”

Reading fans are protesting against the ownership at Saturday's match, and the letter signs off strongly.

'Reading Football Club must not be allowed to fail.'