Martin O'Donovan

Teacher, increasingly-armchair Reading FC fan, ex-Labour staffer, ex-Pearson. Mostly Father Ted-related retweets.

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@mattforde Things going pretty well over here, see lengthy WhatsApp message.

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@theobertram "But eventually I got out of his headlock. And now where are you, Father Eamonn Hunter?"

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@mattforde Word.

[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

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

Stunning words, brilliant speech, tremendous person. Was also a pretty good guy to share an office with 20 years ago 😘

[TheYoungOnes @youngonesfan]

10 years ago today, Rik Mayall, the people’s poet, sadly died, aged just 56
#RikMayall #TheYoungOnes

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@mattforde Thank God for that. Chuffed to hear you're full of vim. Been thinking of you, old pal x

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

So very sad that Tony Lloyd has died. He was an incredible support to me when I was PLP Secretary back in the day. He was a rock to many people. He was wonderful. Smart, kind, decent, determined and also hugely entertaining, fun and witty.

[Tony Lloyd MP @TonyLloydMP]

A statement from the family of Sir Tony Lloyd MP

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

This is fantastic. Am sorry I'm such an armchair fan these days, classy stuff from Reading fans standing up to a dreadful owner. And I always had a soft spot for Vale...

[BBC Stoke & Staffordshire @BBCRadioStoke]

Reading football fans have donated more than £3000 to the John Rudge Statue Appeal, to apologise after more than a thousand supporters invaded the pitch on Saturday causing the game to be abandoned. @ValeSupporters say their generosity is amazing.

[BBC Stoke & Staffordshire @BBCRadioStoke]

Reading football fans have donated more than £3000 to the John Rudge Statue Appeal, to apologise after more than a thousand supporters invaded the pitch on Saturday causing the game to be abandoned. @ValeSupporters say their generosity is amazing.

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@tony4rochdale So sorry to read this, my friend. Sending love and strength, and remembering many good times.

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@FDAGenSec @beckyunions21 @Unions21 @ChiOnwurah Great to catch up, Dave.

[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers @tompetty]

In honor of @Prince’s birthday today, taking a look back at this unforgettable performance of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” from the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

[Sky News @SkyNews]

'I didn't know that you came here.'

Sky's @YousraElbagir found her uncle in the crowds as evacuees were arriving in Jeddah from Sudan.

https://t.co/cvX0cRBZaN

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@peggoir @RobinFlavell Niche. Love it.

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@elliereeves @JohnCryerMP @UKLabour Wow! That's amazing. A fabulous achievement. Well done, @JohnCryerMP , consider this a very approving nod from a previous PLP secretary x

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@markdavies67 Blimey, going well so far 👍😂

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@markdavies67 Well that made me bawl my eyes out on a Sunday evening. The dog's looking at me, puzzled. Absolutely glorious xx

[Martin O'Donovan @martinodonovan]

@JournalistJill @RobinFlavell I'm with Spake (to coin a phrase).