Selles not out

[WestYorksRoyal]

Just got to hope the takeover happens sooner rather than later for there to be any change at the club.

Keep saying, L2 is only the bottom if we get good owners. If the takeover falls through, we're not done yet. The next owner surely can't be as bad as Dai, but they probably determine whether this is a short chapter we all look back on with an "I stuck around" honour in a few years or whether we need to get used to L2.

[Snowflake Royal]

Saturday was only the second league game I have missed all season and to be honest my weekend was much better because of it. I mostly disengaged myself from the game, but I did listen to BBCRB at the end. Selles, literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s all just meaningless words and he doesn’t have a clue about what he’s doing.

I thought that the great reset was going to happen in League One, but oxf*rd me I was wrong. League Two /National League here we come. However, if we can play some reasonably entertaining football and start winning football matches again I don’t care where the reset happens.

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

[WestYorksRoyal]

If we trim back the academy and infrastructure, what does that really mean in practice? Finding another team to share our training ground? Cutting back several academy support staff so it is Cat 3 or so? Perhaps we would close one of the stands at the SCL to concentrate ticket sales and reduce matchday costs.

The point is all these cuts could be reversed if the club's fortunes improve. In particular, rebuilding to Cat 1 academy is not as hard as investing in it from scratch. So long as those who stay around continue to maintain the right culture and behaviours (and the academy has somehow withstood the shitness of the Dai era), then expanding its footprint is a manageable operation in the Championship.

Don't get me wrong. I want a takeover this week, a heroic survival effort from a new manager and promotion next season. Back in the Championship quickly, no need to make dramatic cuts. But let's be realistic; however far we fall, there is a route to recovery. And it seems like every season we're asking our players to fight for the existential future of our club; how about simply tasking them with winning a few games and bringing a feelgood factor back?

[Snowflake Royal]

Has he gone yet?

[blythspartan]

Saturday was only the second league game I have missed all season and to be honest my weekend was much better because of it. I mostly disengaged myself from the game, but I did listen to BBCRB at the end. Selles, literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s all just meaningless words and he doesn’t have a clue about what he’s doing.

I thought that the great reset was going to happen in League One, but oxf*rd me I was wrong. League Two /National League here we come. However, if we can play some reasonably entertaining football and start winning football matches again I don’t care where the reset happens.

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

Yeah you’re right we had a chance to do a reset, but Dai oxf*rd up again.

I know this probably isn’t possible, but could we put Selles on garden leave and bring in Warnock until the end of the season and pay him a lump sum of money based on whether we stay up or not. I know he’d have to agree to those terms, but would we be allowed to do that?

[Elm Park Kid]

Well, we've had one old leader return today.

Could a taxi turn up to the SCL and Brian McDermott step out?

[andrew1957]

Saturday was only the second league game I have missed all season and to be honest my weekend was much better because of it. I mostly disengaged myself from the game, but I did listen to BBCRB at the end. Selles, literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s all just meaningless words and he doesn’t have a clue about what he’s doing.

I thought that the great reset was going to happen in League One, but oxf*rd me I was wrong. League Two /National League here we come. However, if we can play some reasonably entertaining football and start winning football matches again I don’t care where the reset happens.

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

I know we don't always see eye to eye but you are spot on re this. I had some sympathy for Dai up until this season as he had built Bearwood and funded the club with ridiculous amounts of (admittedly largely wasted) money but failing to fund the club adequately this season must go down as one of the biggest ever own goals by an owner in football history. If he had just funded the much reduced wage bill on time and paid HMRC when due, the club would have been in a relatively strong position. But one can only think that the worries about whether they are going to be paid and whether more and more point deductions' are on the way, must have weighed heavily on what is a largely young squad. And as for Dai, he will now get far less money for the club that he would have if he had paid up and stabilised the club in L1 mid table.

I am not excusing Selles as his constant rotation of players and weird substitutions are almost in explicable, but I do feel for the young players in this situation. There is no way that this young and talented squad should be relegated.

If the club are to have even a vague hope of survival in L1 then we cannot wait for new owners and Selles needs to go now and for me it would be Hunt as caretaker. At least he might be able to inspire the young players to do a bit better than they are now.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Saturday was only the second league game I have missed all season and to be honest my weekend was much better because of it. I mostly disengaged myself from the game, but I did listen to BBCRB at the end. Selles, literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s all just meaningless words and he doesn’t have a clue about what he’s doing.

I thought that the great reset was going to happen in League One, but oxf*rd me I was wrong. League Two /National League here we come. However, if we can play some reasonably entertaining football and start winning football matches again I don’t care where the reset happens.

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

I know we don't always see eye to eye but you are spot on re this. I had some sympathy for Dai up until this season as he had built Bearwood and funded the club with ridiculous amounts of (admittedly largely wasted) money but failing to fund the club adequately this season must go down as one of the biggest ever own goals by an owner in football history. If he had just funded the much reduced wage bill on time and paid HMRC when due, the club would have been in a relatively strong position. But one can only think that the worries about whether they are going to be paid and whether more and more point deductions' are on the way, must have weighed heavily on what is a largely young squad. And as for Dai, he will now get far less money for the club that he would have if he had paid up and stabilised the club in L1 mid table.

I am not excusing Selles as his constant rotation of players and weird substitutions are almost in explicable, but I do feel for the young players in this situation. There is no way that this young and talented squad should be relegated.

If the club are to have even a vague hope of survival in L1 then we cannot wait for new owners and Selles needs to go now and for me it would be Hunt as caretaker. At least he might be able to inspire the young players to do a bit better than they are now.

How the fcuk did Dai become a billionaire? All his decisions are woeful. Failing to fund the club properly this season could ultimately cost him up to £20m or so.

[andrew1957]

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

I know we don't always see eye to eye but you are spot on re this. I had some sympathy for Dai up until this season as he had built Bearwood and funded the club with ridiculous amounts of (admittedly largely wasted) money but failing to fund the club adequately this season must go down as one of the biggest ever own goals by an owner in football history. If he had just funded the much reduced wage bill on time and paid HMRC when due, the club would have been in a relatively strong position. But one can only think that the worries about whether they are going to be paid and whether more and more point deductions' are on the way, must have weighed heavily on what is a largely young squad. And as for Dai, he will now get far less money for the club that he would have if he had paid up and stabilised the club in L1 mid table.

I am not excusing Selles as his constant rotation of players and weird substitutions are almost in explicable, but I do feel for the young players in this situation. There is no way that this young and talented squad should be relegated.

If the club are to have even a vague hope of survival in L1 then we cannot wait for new owners and Selles needs to go now and for me it would be Hunt as caretaker. At least he might be able to inspire the young players to do a bit better than they are now.

How the fcuk did Dai become a billionaire? All his decisions are woeful. Failing to fund the club properly this season could ultimately cost him up to £20m or so.

You know the old story. "Mr Dai how did you become a millionaire?" Answer. "I was a billionaire and then I bought Reading FC and every decision I made was crap".

[Orion1871]

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

I know we don't always see eye to eye but you are spot on re this. I had some sympathy for Dai up until this season as he had built Bearwood and funded the club with ridiculous amounts of (admittedly largely wasted) money but failing to fund the club adequately this season must go down as one of the biggest ever own goals by an owner in football history. If he had just funded the much reduced wage bill on time and paid HMRC when due, the club would have been in a relatively strong position. But one can only think that the worries about whether they are going to be paid and whether more and more point deductions' are on the way, must have weighed heavily on what is a largely young squad. And as for Dai, he will now get far less money for the club that he would have if he had paid up and stabilised the club in L1 mid table.

I am not excusing Selles as his constant rotation of players and weird substitutions are almost in explicable, but I do feel for the young players in this situation. There is no way that this young and talented squad should be relegated.

If the club are to have even a vague hope of survival in L1 then we cannot wait for new owners and Selles needs to go now and for me it would be Hunt as caretaker. At least he might be able to inspire the young players to do a bit better than they are now.

How the fcuk did Dai become a billionaire? All his decisions are woeful. Failing to fund the club properly this season could ultimately cost him up to £20m or so.

Buying up air raid shelters and turning then into shopping malls. Conveniently he didn't have to pay tax on the shelters. No wonder he doesn't pay his HMRC bill.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I know we don't always see eye to eye but you are spot on re this. I had some sympathy for Dai up until this season as he had built Bearwood and funded the club with ridiculous amounts of (admittedly largely wasted) money but failing to fund the club adequately this season must go down as one of the biggest ever own goals by an owner in football history. If he had just funded the much reduced wage bill on time and paid HMRC when due, the club would have been in a relatively strong position. But one can only think that the worries about whether they are going to be paid and whether more and more point deductions' are on the way, must have weighed heavily on what is a largely young squad. And as for Dai, he will now get far less money for the club that he would have if he had paid up and stabilised the club in L1 mid table.

I am not excusing Selles as his constant rotation of players and weird substitutions are almost in explicable, but I do feel for the young players in this situation. There is no way that this young and talented squad should be relegated.

If the club are to have even a vague hope of survival in L1 then we cannot wait for new owners and Selles needs to go now and for me it would be Hunt as caretaker. At least he might be able to inspire the young players to do a bit better than they are now.

How the fcuk did Dai become a billionaire? All his decisions are woeful. Failing to fund the club properly this season could ultimately cost him up to £20m or so.

Buying up air raid shelters and turning then into shopping malls. Conveniently he didn't have to pay tax on the shelters. No wonder he doesn't pay his HMRC bill.

But how did he actually achieve it? I'm not an expert on the retail industry, but presumably it must have involved some sensible decisions and trusting suitable advisors? So why are his decisions in football more akin to a 7 year old with too much pocket money?

[paultheroyal]

How the fcuk did Dai become a billionaire? All his decisions are woeful. Failing to fund the club properly this season could ultimately cost him up to £20m or so.

Buying up air raid shelters and turning then into shopping malls. Conveniently he didn't have to pay tax on the shelters. No wonder he doesn't pay his HMRC bill.

But how did he actually achieve it? I'm not an expert on the retail industry, but presumably it must have involved some sensible decisions and trusting suitable advisors? So why are his decisions in football more akin to a 7 year old with too much pocket money?

He has no interest in the bigger picture. No time for it. Thrown money at big projects, Bearwood for one, and thank him for that, but he chucked a whole lot of money at something he did not know about, with terrible advisors, all to chase the big dream of Premier League football - that has now died, he has lost interest and some, and thankfully and hopefully getting out.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Buying up air raid shelters and turning then into shopping malls. Conveniently he didn't have to pay tax on the shelters. No wonder he doesn't pay his HMRC bill.

But how did he actually achieve it? I'm not an expert on the retail industry, but presumably it must have involved some sensible decisions and trusting suitable advisors? So why are his decisions in football more akin to a 7 year old with too much pocket money?

He has no interest in the bigger picture. No time for it. Thrown money at big projects, Bearwood for one, and thank him for that, but he chucked a whole lot of money at something he did not know about, with terrible advisors, all to chase the big dream of Premier League football - that has now died, he has lost interest and some, and thankfully and hopefully getting out.

But back to IR's point, if he wanted to get out, there were better ways to do it. Fund the club, ensure better managers are interested and we can recruit well. Sell a club who look like they can bounce back to the Championship quickly instead of being destined for L2.

How much less will he get from the sale because he didn't have a proper exit strategy? These are not the decisions of a self made billionaire.

[Royal_jimmy]

Saturday was only the second league game I have missed all season and to be honest my weekend was much better because of it. I mostly disengaged myself from the game, but I did listen to BBCRB at the end. Selles, literally doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s all just meaningless words and he doesn’t have a clue about what he’s doing.

I thought that the great reset was going to happen in League One, but oxf*rd me I was wrong. League Two /National League here we come. However, if we can play some reasonably entertaining football and start winning football matches again I don’t care where the reset happens.

I think the thing that's most frustrating is that it was all set and ready to go.

If Dai pays the players and HMRC at the end of last season, we get Wilder in charge, a couple of better signings. Different coaching staff so maybe Smith doesn't get injured. Better manager so maybe doesn't fallout with Carroll and co.

Those first 5/6 games were mostly small margins. Could easily have been on 9/10 points. Everything looks different.

The club is in a far healthier state, attracts more interest and goes at a higher price.

Instead, no one of any note wants to manage us, we lose out on several signings. Fine margins cost us points. A shit manager, protests and worry over being paid destroys morale and we look doomed for L2, with Dai getting a far worse deal, if anything.

Once again, it was all there to get it right, and Dai has once again completely oxf*rd it.

I remain confident that if we get rid of him this season we're o the road to recovery and much happier times. Although 10th in L2 is a whole lot less satisfactory than 10th in L1.

The problem is we could just about sustain the club infrastructure in L1 for a few years. I don't think we can do that for more than 1 or 2 max in L2.

10th in league 2 should not ever be acceptable for us. Promotion should always be an aim in L2

[Royal_jimmy]

I think Dai's fortune was all luck and no skill

[morganb]

I think Dai's fortune was all luck and no skill

You mean he's been very fortunate

[South Coast Royal]

I think Dai's fortune was all luck and no skill

Not only Dai.
Very often those that make millions or billions hit on one good idea at the right time.

See also, Madejski and Sugar (Autotrader and Amstrad) who some feel were not the great businessmen they were made out to be but fortunate and successful opportunists which is a different thing altogether.
Dai appears to be the same.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Can only say that SJM's tenure here was exactly what you would expect from a successful businessman. Trusted people who knew the industry, invested in places to generate long term success and sold on for a profit.

So can't call him "lucky" in the same way as Dai. Of course, he ultimately lost most of his fortune so maybe he's not perfect.

[Royalwaster]

I think Dai's fortune was all luck and no skill

There's a lot of luck in most successful businesses ... the problem is that some who are successful think that is their divine right to be successful and they will be so in whatever they do. But very few are.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Bowen.

Bowen did well, but it was very much a "wtf?" appointment.

Disagree entirely.

It may have made sense eventually, but pretty sure the general consensus was wtf, why has he appointed himself?