New Owners - Redwood Watch

[Snowflake Royal]

[Clyde1998]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/s ... r-session/

Supporters are invited to attend an in-person Question and Answer session with Chairman Rob Couhig at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

The Royals owner is in town this week- attending Saturday’s home fixture with Mansfield- and would like to face questions from all supporters.

Taking place inside the bowl of the Select Car Leasing Stadium between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday 2nd October, attendance is free, but supporters must register their interest by 5pm on Thursday.

Supporters will need to enter via through the turnstiles at Gate 4, Seating is unreserved in the West Stand Lower. Tickets will need to be downloaded to your Google & Apple Wallet.

While the event is not being streamed, there will be a live blog running on our website throughout the evening and a full rundown after the fact for those unable to attend.

[Snowflake Royal]

He may not get everything right, by any stretch, but you absolutely can't fault him for his commitment to engagement and transparency.

[morganb]

Link to transcript of Rob Couhig Q & A session -

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/o ... a-session/

[tidus_mi2]

Link to transcript of Rob Couhig Q & A session -

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/o ... a-session/

And the infamous CScott or whatever the oxf*rd it is on Twitter won the Orient shirt giveaway.

[Clyde1998]

Link to transcript of Rob Couhig Q & A session -

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/o ... a-session/

Was a good event and Rob was very candid with us (probably 80ish in attendance). That summary doesn't seem to have missed out anything that was said, so that's very good from the club as well.

[windermereROYAL]

I see the online abuse got to his missus but not to him, hope the idiots are satisfied, as for the infamous Chris Scott standing there shaking Robs hand, what a class one hypocrite.

[Clyde1998]

From the Couhig Q&A:

2. Realistic expectations of achievements

No reason why we can't be a mid-Championship side in the near future. Can contend for promotion this year but will be difficult. Can be a Premier League club but putting reasonable expectations and timing. If you run it as a business and help fans build club, it will turn out alright.

No other club deserves to go up more than us.

To do it in economically transparent way, have to improve experience. Have to improve toilets, sound-system and wifi. Rob thought he could flip a couple of switches and make change but it has taken longer than hope. We can build our club day-by-day to become financially sustainable and get promoted. Have to do it the right way.

13. Does Rob regret buying club?

Rob said he has some issues with the negativity online; he said the comments upset Missy when she reads them. He went on to say that stick stones may break his bones, but there isn’t an insult that would hurt him, and that fans can go on to do what they want. But following conversations Rob has had with senior pros in the dressing room, they are worried about the impact on the younger players. He said he is 75, and there isn’t a name people can call him that would hurt him, but insulting a player who is trying his best offends him. Rob then said he will work even harder to ensure there is nothing to be criticised about.

17. Has Rob failed to manage expectations?

Rob admitted he is naturally an enthusiastic person and he still believes in every word. He believes the side will be even better after more time playing with each other.

Noel, and club as a whole, are getting better. When dealing with highly skilled professionals, the difference between squads is minute and small differences, like injuries, make a big difference.

[South Coast Royal]

Having read the transcript.

Rob is a bit tight-doesn't want to spend money on signing players.
I'm not sure that he appreciates that we got lucky with frees for Wing, Pereira, Knibbs and Smith as this season's newbies don't look to be in the same class and rabbits can't always be pulled from the hat.

He likes fireworks-it's his ground so he can do what he likes and he reckons their cost doesn't affect the budget.

He realises that he raised expectations-yes Rob we Brits don't need to be fed Trumpian hype.

If players are going to get upset by what they read then just play better and better still, don't look at social media.

He thinks we are improving-yes from a very low bar.

Who are the "highly skilled professionals"?
These are 3rd division footballers

It is though a positive thing IMHO that he is engaging with the fans, something that recent owners failed to do and even the Mad Man only tended to say much when things were going well.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Having read the transcript.

Rob is a bit tight-doesn't want to spend money on signing players.
I'm not sure that he appreciates that we got lucky with frees for Wing, Pereira, Knibbs and Smith as this season's newbies don't look to be in the same class and rabbits can't always be pulled from the hat.

He likes fireworks-it's his ground so he can do what he likes and he reckons their cost doesn't affect the budget.

He realises that he raised expectations-yes Rob we Brits don't need to be fed Trumpian hype.

If players are going to get upset by what they read then just play better and better still, don't look at social media.

He thinks we are improving-yes from a very low bar.

Who are the "highly skilled professionals"?
These are 3rd division footballers

It is though a positive thing IMHO that he is engaging with the fans, something that recent owners failed to do and even the Mad Man only tended to say much when things were going well.

I'd add:

he forgot his birthday in April (if Wikipedia is correct)...

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

and there's not much chance it will "go wrong", because "we buckle up and get ready to do better" if we don't get promoted this year...

I don't know, was hoping for a bit more substance by now...

[morganb]

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

For revenue streams he did mention:

Throughout the week, the stadium is used for smaller events, but for a lot of the year, the stadium is empty, and Rob says that the club are looking at ways they can use the ground throughout the year. An interview process has begun in regards to people taking over the operation of the stadium with the plan to bring events to maximise the space more often.

And:

Opportunities for a documentary

An American journalist following for a book on difference before and after takeover. The club have had several documentary groups in discussions but no decision has been made yet.

Which I guess would bring some money in as:

There are new landlords for parking and the club are working alongside them to make parking better.

Overall, Rob believes the Royal Elm Park development will happen- and will be good for the club. Parking is a sensitive subject as it costs £500,000 a year on top of the original expectation.

[Clyde1998]

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

The Academy and Bearwood costs will mostly be staff. I think deficits are to be expected in these areas (notwithstanding academy player sales), as neither are designed to generate revenue by themselves; they have potential to generate revenue elsewhere by improving the playing squad though.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

For revenue streams he did mention:

Throughout the week, the stadium is used for smaller events, but for a lot of the year, the stadium is empty, and Rob says that the club are looking at ways they can use the ground throughout the year. An interview process has begun in regards to people taking over the operation of the stadium with the plan to bring events to maximise the space more often.

And:

Opportunities for a documentary

An American journalist following for a book on difference before and after takeover. The club have had several documentary groups in discussions but no decision has been made yet.

Which I guess would bring some money in as:

There are new landlords for parking and the club are working alongside them to make parking better.

Overall, Rob believes the Royal Elm Park development will happen- and will be good for the club. Parking is a sensitive subject as it costs £500,000 a year on top of the original expectation.

thanks...

still feels like small potatoes...

with the Thai Consortium, it felt like they facilitated the Carabao deal given their shared network and connections...

for a real boost in income, feels like a commercial deal of some sort is needed - squeezing existing assets is good, but its incremental rather than game changer revenue

[Linden Jones' Tash]

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

The Academy and Bearwood costs will mostly be staff. I think deficits are to be expected in these areas (notwithstanding academy player sales), as neither are designed to generate revenue by themselves; they have potential to generate revenue elsewhere by improving the playing squad though.

absolutely, both will be Cost Centres rather than Profit Centres in the overall structure and organisation...

but given what sound like fairly hefty costs - wherever they come from - generating multi-million pound net income to cover these outgoings will be needed and some idea as to where the new revenue streams would be coming from would be nice - as opposed to wishful thinking..

[RoyalBlue]

Link to transcript of Rob Couhig Q & A session -

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/o ... a-session/

Was a good event and Rob was very candid with us (probably 80ish in attendance). That summary doesn't seem to have missed out anything that was said, so that's very good from the club as well.

But did he actually say that the football we played during the last four games was the best in the league?

That's circulating on SM but can't see it in the club's summary.

It's incredible if he did say that. And, given that he apparently said he regrets over raising expectations, it's also absurd to immediately follow up with a ridiculous assertion like that,

[Whore Jackie]

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

The Academy and Bearwood costs will mostly be staff. I think deficits are to be expected in these areas (notwithstanding academy player sales), as neither are designed to generate revenue by themselves; they have potential to generate revenue elsewhere by improving the playing squad though.

Staffing will be a big chunk, but don't underestimate the rates/Council Tax (not certain on the correct terminology for large commercial) that Wokingham BC charge. Rumoured to be astronomical.

[Clyde1998]

Link to transcript of Rob Couhig Q & A session -

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2025/o ... a-session/

Was a good event and Rob was very candid with us (probably 80ish in attendance). That summary doesn't seem to have missed out anything that was said, so that's very good from the club as well.

But did he actually say that the football we played during the last four games was the best in the league?

That's circulating on SM but can't see it in the club's summary.

It's incredible if he did say that. And, given that he apparently said he regrets over raising expectations, it's also absurd to immediately follow up with a ridiculous assertion like that,

I don't remember him saying it was the best in the league; I think the word almost is missing and that's important. I think he also said something along the lines of 'we're now playing as well as the best teams in the division' in those four games - again that's not saying we are the best.

What that ultimately means is up to interpretation, as different people will perceive that differently and will have different criteria for that - is he talking pure quality; work ethic; etc. or any combination of factors they consider important.

It was in the context of improvement in chunks of matches too, with him noting the improvements in performances and results since new players have come in (especially Marriott) and the cohesion in the squad has improved.

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

The Academy and Bearwood costs will mostly be staff. I think deficits are to be expected in these areas (notwithstanding academy player sales), as neither are designed to generate revenue by themselves; they have potential to generate revenue elsewhere by improving the playing squad though.

absolutely, both will be Cost Centres rather than Profit Centres in the overall structure and organisation...

but given what sound like fairly hefty costs - wherever they come from - generating multi-million pound net income to cover these outgoings will be needed and some idea as to where the new revenue streams would be coming from would be nice - as opposed to wishful thinking..

The club has already signed a lot of commercial deals this season, we've had confirmation of a few outside investors and there'll no doubt be more deals in the pipe line. There'll also be an element of being content with short term losses if it means we get to the Championship within a two or three more seasons - which is especially important now the gulf in broadcasting revenue is ever increasing.

I think it's nearly seven times greater in the Championship now (there's an 80:12:8 ratio division between Championship; League One and League Two for the EFL's TV deal), which isn't too far away from the multiples between the Premier League and the Championship.

bit short on specifics - if the academy is going to lose a net of £2.5-£3M this year and Bearwood has a bigger deficit attached to it (bigger than £3M a year???) - what are the plans for new revenue streams?

The Academy and Bearwood costs will mostly be staff. I think deficits are to be expected in these areas (notwithstanding academy player sales), as neither are designed to generate revenue by themselves; they have potential to generate revenue elsewhere by improving the playing squad though.

Staffing will be a big chunk, but don't underestimate the rates/Council Tax (not certain on the correct terminology for large commercial) that Wokingham BC charge. Rumoured to be astronomical.

True. From some quick googling: the council tax would be Business Rates and, According to the government calculator, the training ground has a rateable value of £1.13m at present (compared to £757k for the stadium). Can't find the actual tax the club would be paying at that value though. I imagine Wokingham Borough Council has higher rates than Reading Borough Council too.

I can't imagine things like water costs or running costs of equipment are cheap either when dealing with a facility of that scale.

[Clyde1998]

The full video is now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5npTmb4ths

I'd recommend watching this, as you'll get a better sense of Rob Couhig's comments than any text summary can provide.

[Brogue]

I see that Chris Scott is auctioning off the signed shirt. all proceeds are going on buying Christmas presents for sick children who have to spend Christmas Day in the royal Berkshire children’s wards. A very worthy cause and it’s currently at £1379 raised. It’s running until end of November and a random donator will be picked out the hat to give it to. You can donate as little or as much as you want. The link to donate is here

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... _source=CL

[Sutekh]

Not sure if posted anywhere else as yet but below is Rob’s latest Q&A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5npTmb4ths