Reading owner remains '100% willing' to sell club

In a rare interview, Reading chief executive Dayong Pang has urged fans to be patient as owner Dai Yongge remains "100% willing" to sell the club

Reading chief executive Dayong Pang says Dai Yongge "is 100% willing" to sell the club, and asked for fans to be "patient" while a deal is finalised.

On Monday, the English Football League told Dai to either "fund the club adequately" or "make immediate arrangements to sell".

"We're still talking to people," said Pang. "I ask our fans to be patient."

He added: "Mr Dai is 100% willing to sell the club."

Reading have had 16 points deducted in the past three seasons under Dai's ownership, including four points this campaign, and are battling to avoid consecutive relegations.

They are currently 21st in League One, three points from safety.

In September, Dai, who took over Reading in 2017, announced he was open to "credible offers of interest" to buy the club, with head of football operations Mark Bowen saying in November that the sale was "nearing a much-needed conclusion".

However, with no deal having been completed, Royals fans have repeatedly protested this season by throwing tennis balls and fake bank notes on to the pitch to disrupt matches before Saturday's pitch invasion by an estimated 1,000 supporters.

"I feel the fans' frustration about the selling process but their reaction has done nothing good for the club or the selling process," Pang told Talksport.

"We keep talking to all kinds of different buyer groups after two offers [fell through]. The selling process is ongoing. I please ask our fans to be more patient. It takes time."

Pang said Dai "understands how important the club is" to the community and added: "He's trying to put the club into safe hands. We cannot just sell the club to any people who come in.

"It's a really complicated and unfortunate situation. I worry about further protests but there's nothing I can do more. We are doing our job and some fans, they think they are doing the right thing.

"I ask our fans please be more patient - the selling process is ongoing."

• Listen to BBC Radio Berkshire's Reading FC podcast