Wycombe pull out of Reading FC deal
The Bucks club say they no longer want to buy the Bearwood training ground
Last updated 18th Mar 2024
Wycombe Wanderers have pulled out of a deal to buy Reading Football Club's training ground at Bearwood Park.
The deal was only announced last Thursday but this lunchtime the Buckinghamshire club said they would look elsewhere for a new training facility.
In a statement they said "Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and Feliciana have to put on hold the discussions and ongoing due diligence due to seeming planning limitations allowing only Reading FC to use the training grounds."
But their announcement also comes after a fans protest outside Adams Park on Friday evening and discontent within their own fan base over the decision to buy an asset from a club in crisis. Their statement seems to suggest they 'thought' they were helping, "It was Wycombe and Feliciana’s belief that they were helping Reading and professional football with the offer to assist its neighbour in a manner that had historically been used in the past by many football clubs. Indeed, Wycombe’s own training ground had been sold over a decade ago to reduce operating expenses and fund the club when the club had its own financial issues."
Whilst Reading fans will rightly be pleased their training ground has been saved there is the immediate matter of a financial shortfall at the club. The Wycombe statement points out that they would have been stepping in immediately with financial support, "Importantly, it was agreed that while the details were being finalised and due diligence carried out, Feliciana would provide sufficient financing to Reading to allow it to pay its tax obligations and operating expenses, including payroll for the staff and players."
Reading FC has made no comment.
Fans will now be on alert for rumours that are circulating concerning an imminent takeover, if that happens Reading's woes could soon be over. But as all supporters know - until it's signed and sealed anything could happen.