Neil

Design @marksandspencer Formerly @BBC @HSBC

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Dispiriting events at Reading should concern everyone in English football. Fans are lied to, players and an impressive manager are let down, and so are staff. A thoughtless, heartless owner damages a historic club. It’s another warning to all in football. If we tolerate this, then your club could be next.

Fans at some other clubs fear similar pain or just feel relief to have escaped danger. Many will simply focus on their own form and fortunes. Football’s tribal. Most headlines revolve around the big names, the big games like Manchester City versus Arsenal. But Reading embody the pyramid, a local beacon and hub for nurturing talent. Neil Webb started there. The windfall from the Michael Olise deal helps sustain the club currently. Ted Drake learned his managerial trade at Reading before guiding Chelsea to their first title.

Football clubs are community assets and have to be protected from individuals like Dai Yongge wreaking such misery at Reading. He has his motives and his methods but none seem aligned to the club’s future wellbeing. He doesn’t communicate with fans. Reading FC Women withdrew from the Championship because of financial difficulties. Sustained mismanagement of the club has seen a failure to pay men’s players and HMRC lead to points deductions.

A proposed takeover by Rob Couhig, an American businessman welcomed by the fanbase, collapsed, leaving Yongge still in charge and supporters still in torment and again asking questions. Does Yongge really want to sell? If the club goes under is it then all about valuable real estate? Would administration and another points deduction actually be better than this shambles?

And so Reading fans rally again, fighting for their club’s life. But Yongge doesn’t listen. He doesn’t appear to care about the negativity his ownership brings to the door of the dressing-room. Ruben Selles and his whole-hearted squad give everything they can on the field, and sit a defiant 12th in League One, but they aren’t detached from the mess. It must be dismaying and distracting.

Losing Selles would be a disaster. He’s doing a good job in trying circumstances. If he left, Selles would be picked up swiftly by a better run club. Reading fans post messages of support to Selles and his squad. They will back them loudly at Bolton Wanderers today. It’s about finding the balance between demonstrating support for the team while demonstrating against the owner.

Much is right about Reading: committed fanbase, stadium, training ground, the attitude of manager, squad and club staff. It’s just the owner. It’s a nightmare that Reading are living through. And it’s a cautionary tale all football needs to heed. #ReadingFC #EFL

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@FrazDav These are so cool and have my Legion of Doom on preorder. Are these the final paints? As I’m more of a fan of the matte finish of the renders/original designs.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@TheTilehurstEnd What do the Reading fans expect?? Can’t believe they are booing them!

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@bcf_ant Hello

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@TheTilehurstEnd Where’s your Ince In/Out vote now or do you just do those after losses?

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@TheTilehurstEnd I don’t really understand what the fans expect. The team is made up of Prem has beens (that no other team wanted) and youth players. The fact we aren’t bottom of the league amazes me. You have to give Ince at least one normal transfer window.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@TheTilehurstEnd Do we really expect players to fight and put themselves on the line for Reading when they are all out of contract in the summer?

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@adamvtpowers I gave it a thumbs down when I saw the trailer, though let’s see. Just don’t see Tom H as Drake.

[Ant @bcf_ant]

Love this interface. #Typography

https://t.co/cRUxnsImeL

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@coderkind More importantly why did all the youngster take them. Feel sorry for Saka, shouldn’t be taking them.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@FullyThoughtOut Thanks. Not me, the misses!

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@FullyThoughtOut Where about’s in Lewisham is this Soph?

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@derivadow Awesome! The makings of a Pro gamer on your hands!

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@coderkind Yeah I really enjoyed that as well. You need to get past the first 8eps before it really turns into the real Bojack series

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@coderkind Not the same but likening Bob’s Burgers on Prime.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@derivadow Not really a FPS but PvZ Garden Warfare should be ok. I think Overwatch isn’t really violent but that’s 5v5. Finally Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, though old is good, you fire little bugs at your enemies. I’ll have a think for more.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@hattiehattie Get in the sunshine Hattie!!

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@TheTilehurstEnd @ThatMarcMayo His out put over two season with us has been poor. Only 4 goals and 7 assists in 52 games. Reading have lacked creativity from the midfield for yrs (barring Swift). I wouldn’t pay 3mil for him.

[Neil @_DR4MA]

@philipbenton This is soo cool. Thinking of doing the same.

[Ryan O'Connor @ryanloconnor]

Excited to be speaking at @TechCircus_ ecommerce Design Summit @ecomDS on Wednesday. Great speakers from Shopify, Ikea, Trainline etc. I have a few free passes, will try and favour anyone affected by layoffs recently. DM me if you’d like a ticket #ecommercedesign #ux