Reading legend James Harper has called on owners to take 'more care' of football clubs as the Royals continue to be hit by off-field issues.

Harper played over 300 times for the club from 2001 until 2009, an instrumental part of two promotions under Alan Pardew and Steve Coppell.

Still playing non-league football as he approaches 40, the box-to-box midfielder remains a recognisable face in Berkshire.

Speaking to BBC Radio Berkshire, the topic of off-field issues returned.

Reading sit five point adrift in the League One relegation zone after having six points deducted so far this season.

HRMC remain unpaid and it is a monthly struggle to fulfil wage demands after owner Dai Yongge puts the club up for sale.

"It was stable, but we’ve gone through a lot of owners and managers and now you’re just like ‘What are they doing?’," he told Tim Dellor. "You hear about the car park and trying to put houses there, the dome and flats, putting multi-storey car park in and you’re like ‘What are you doing?’ New training ground, fair enough- nice.

"I’ve learnt that with a manager- if you make bad decisions and you recruit the wrong players, you get relegated. That goes for the owners now. If they make the wrong decisions and muck about, the club just…if you look at Jaap Stam, a kick away from the Premier League, now look. You’ve got to take more care with the club."

Controversial British businessman William Storey was linked with a £50m move to buy the club, however Reading Football Club have denied any deal being in place with any party as of last week.