by ZacNaloen »
23 Jan 2012 11:15
Q: Sir John this morning we've been talking about Anton Zingarevich, we are talking about the correct guy?
SJM: Yes, of course. Anton is the founder of Thames Sports Investment Limited and that's all we want to say at the moment, just because the deal is not concluded and will not be concluded until the end of March. I think he was rather hoping that he could do the deal and then he would come out and say he was behind Thames Sports Investment Limited, but obviously the name is out now.
I have wanted to be transparent with everybody and say heads of terms have been agreed and signed, that's as far as it goes until we conclude in March. Because the deal is not done, and won't be until March, he is reluctant to say much until it's been signed and settled - I respect that. We have said TSI are founded by Anton Zingarevich, so the club is in fine fettle.
As I say heads of agreement are in place and the Football Club will remain exactly the same; same manager, same Chief Executive, same director of football, same board of directors. We'll have more people on the board no doubt, but, the whole essence of why Reading has been chosen is because of the fact it's run so well and we have a prudent fiscal policy and so on. That's what they want. I'm not suggesting for one moment that they're not going to improve things, of course they are.
Q: So they will spend some money, but just not in a ridiculous way?
SJM: They're not going to go at it like a bull in a china shop, they will respect how the club is run, they will respect the views of the people at the football club and really they're only here to improve their relationship with this country and the prestige. They recognise Reading as being an incredibly well-run club and they see it as an opportunity for them in a way to go forward and something that they can get something from and we can get something from. As Chairman, this opportunity comes along once in a lifetime.
Q: Can you tell tell us how much money's coming in?
It's not a question of how much and this is where questions start to get rather silly. Once you started banding figures around, and there hasn't been a figure by the way, it's not like that. They are keen to help Reading get into the Premier League at the earliest possible moment. If it doesn't happen this season possibly it'll happen next season, but all they're trying to do is enable the manager to have the tools at his disposal in order to do that. Not by them saying you'll have this player or that player. The manager and Director of Football will run the football side, as they always have done - very well and very cleverly. They'll just have more fiscal help.
Q: I guess it's furious activity now, saying we've got more money to spend this month than we thought - let's see who's around, available and interested?
SJM: Before we get too carried away we have to remember that these people are shrewd people. They're not just going to throw money at it. We're going to carry on the same sort of ethos that we always have done, they may have the opportunity of spending money but that doesn't mean they're going to be reckless and start throwing money around.
Indeed there is a warning to other clubs - if they think now Reading has got a benefactor that's just going to throw money around like a drunken sailor then forget it. We're not, you've got to buy intelligently, wisely and so on. I think people have to realise that. The whole essence of the club is not going to change.
Q: Is part of why Anton wants Reading because of his local connections, we've read he was educated around here, or is it just a business decision?
SJM: I think everything plays its part. At the moment Anton just wants to make sure that the deal is concluded before he says anything and I understand that totally.
Q: You'll like the fact that a lot of people have been saying on the air this morning 'we trust in John Madejski, he wouldn't do wrong by the club at this stage'.
SJM: I'm glad they say that because that's absolutely spot on. People who know me, and you know me, know what I've been saying. I always said if we can find someone who can take the club forward in the right way then obviously we're interested - and you couldn't do better than this. They don't want to start meddling with the club, they want to carry on in the same way as we are - all it means is that we'll have some help. God almighty don't we need it - won't that be fantastic? For the fans, for me, for everyone that works for the football club. They've all done a fantastic job and now we're going to be able to do an even better job. It's the best news I've had.
Now I'm sharing the burden, but many a slip between cup and lip - the point is that we haven't even concluded the deal yet, that's why I'm very hesitant to say much more because if it didn't come off we'd be left with egg on our faces.
Q: Is there a part of you that's a little bit sad that this bit of Reading's history, from your taking over in 1990 until now, the most successful period in the club's history is kind of coming to an end?
SJM: No, it's going to get bigger and better, it's not as if I'm disappearing off the scene. They want me to stay on as Chairman for as long as I possibly can. That bodes well, and even when I step down as Chairman they want me to become lifetime president so I don't think there is any sort of material change. I'm just very pleased to be able to get people that are willing to understand the ethos of the club and move forward with it exactly how it is. Giving us the stability that Reading desperately needs.
Q: What happens next?
SJM: There'll hopefully be some strengthening of the squad between now and the end of the month, and the rest will be due diligence.
