Roger Smee confirmed on 3 December 2024 that his bid to buy Reading FC had been rejected. A report the month before had described initial talks about funding a rescue package, but there is no confirmation that this funding was agreed. Smee did not disclose his bid’s price or structure. Reading later agreed a sale to Redwood Holdings Limited in 2025, a separate development.
Did Roger Smee make a bid for Reading FC?
Yes. In a statement reported by BBC Sport on 3 December 2024, Smee said: “I confirm that my team submitted a carefully considered bid last week.” He also said he was disappointed that news of the bid had leaked. Smee is a former Reading chairman.
He said the bid had been rejected. He did not disclose its details, so its value, funding arrangements and other terms are not established by the report.
What was the proposed rescue package?
A Morning Wire report published on 13 November 2024 said Smee had held initial talks about funding a rescue package for the club. That describes discussions, not a completed or agreed financing plan. The available reporting does not set out what the package would have included or how much money it involved.
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In the BBC Sport report, Smee described preparing “a structured and connected bid in alliance with many of the town’s key local stakeholders.” That statement does not identify the stakeholders or disclose the bid’s financial structure.
How did the takeover story develop?
| Date | What was reported | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| 7 October 2024 | Reading said it had agreed a period of exclusivity with a potential purchaser and that the arrangement included further provision to fund the club through the intended completion of that transaction. The club also reported an EFL registration embargo related to late filing of its 2022–23 accounts. (Reading FC statement) | There was an exclusive negotiation and a stated funding provision connected to that transaction. The statement does not identify that purchaser as Smee. |
| 13 November 2024 | A report described Smee’s initial talks about funding a rescue package. (Morning Wire) | Talks were reported; an agreed package is not established. |
| 3 December 2024 | Smee said his team had submitted a bid the previous week and that it had been rejected. (BBC Sport) | The bid and rejection were confirmed by Smee, but its terms were not disclosed. |
| 3 May 2025 | Reading announced a sale in principle to Redwood Holdings Limited, including the stadium and Bearwood Park training ground. (Reading FC statement) | This was a later transaction, distinct from Smee’s rejected 2024 bid. |
Who owns Reading FC now?
Reading’s current company-details page says Reading Football Club Limited is wholly owned by Redwood Holdings Limited and lists Robert Emmett Couhig Jnr and Todd Trosclair as directors. The club announced the Redwood sale in principle on 3 May 2025. This later ownership information should not be confused with Smee’s unsuccessful bid in 2024.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the October 2024 embargo statement does—and does not—say
Reading’s statement on 7 October 2024 said the EFL had imposed a registration embargo because the club filed its accounts for the 2022–23 accounting period late. That is dated context for the takeover discussions, not evidence of the club’s current registration status.
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