There’s a growing storm over Wrexham Football Club’s director, Shaun Harvey, who could soon find himself facing tough questions from MPs.
Despite the team’s recent success, which includes three consecutive promotions, Harvey’s past decisions with the English Football League (EFL) have come under scrutiny.
This involves a Premier League disqualification scandal that has put the club’s director in the spotlight once again.
The EFL’s Controversial Decision to Approve Dai Yongge
The roots of the controversy trace back to 2017, a time when Reading FC was still hoping for a promotion to the Premier League.
Harvey, then the CEO of the EFL, and the EFL board approved the purchase of Reading by Chinese billionaire Dai Yongge.
The deal went through on the same day that Reading faced Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final.
What no one knew at the time was that the Premier League had warned the EFL against allowing Dai to take control of the club.
They had previously raised concerns about Dai’s bad faith attempt to buy Hull City.
The Premier League even stated that if Reading were promoted, Dai would be disqualified and forced to sell the club.
Despite this warning, Harvey and the board proceeded with the sale, citing the billionaire’s financial backing and the lack of any disqualifying conditions at the time.
This decision ultimately led to a series of catastrophic events for Reading.
The club faced an 18-point deduction, relegation to League One, and came dangerously close to extinction.
The Fallout: An Inquiry and Calls for Accountability
Fast forward to today, and the ripple effects of that controversial decision are still being felt.
As Wrexham continues its rise under Hollywood-backed ownership, including Harvey, an inquiry into the handling of Reading’s ownership is gaining momentum.
Labour MP Yuan Yang, a vocal supporter of an Independent Football Regulator (IFR), is pushing for a full inquiry into the EFL’s role in the Dai Yongge saga.
Yang’s call for action is further fueled by the revelations of the Premier League’s early warnings about Dai’s purchase of Reading.
In her discussions with the DCMS committee, she’s advocated for a deeper examination of the events leading up to Dai’s approval and the subsequent failures that led to Reading’s fall from grace.
The idea of a football regulator with real power to intervene and prevent such mishaps in the future is gaining traction.
Reading Fans Speak Out Against the EFL
For Reading’s supporters, the situation has been nothing short of frustrating.
Fans feel betrayed by the EFL’s lack of transparency and accountability.
Greg Double, a member of the Supporters’ Trust At Reading (STAR), has expressed anger at how the EFL handled the situation.
Double and many others are upset by the fact that the EFL has consistently defended its decision to approve Dai’s ownership despite the knowledge that the Premier League had serious concerns.
“It just hit a nerve. The shrouded, hidden truth,” Double said.
“What about all the punishments? 18 points of deductions?”
While some believe that the EFL’s decisions were based on a “gamble culture” in football ownership, where financial backing is often the deciding factor, fans are demanding more than just empty apologies.
They want answers, especially from Shaun Harvey, who was directly involved in the approval process.
The Bigger Picture: EFL’s Oversight and Need for Change
The controversy surrounding Reading’s ownership raises serious questions about the EFL’s oversight processes and its ability to protect football clubs from potentially destructive owners.
German businessman Daniel Loitz, who attempted to buy Reading in 2024, believes that the EFL’s regulations are too weak and need urgent reform.
He argues that football clubs, as community assets with deep historical significance, deserve better protection from owners who might jeopardize their future.
Loitz’s concerns are echoed by the campaign group Sell Before We Dai, which has called for Harvey to publicly explain why he allowed Dai to take control of Reading, despite the Premier League’s warnings.
“Shaun Harvey has serious questions to answer,” the group stated.
“The EFL have a lot to answer for. They have culpability, and a post-mortem needs to happen.”
Fans Demand Transparency and Accountability
The frustration among Reading’s fans is palpable. After eight years of struggle, including relegation and multiple financial penalties, they want answers.
They believe that the EFL, having failed to prevent Dai’s takeover, needs to take responsibility for its role in Reading’s downfall.
Greg Double’s frustration extends beyond the current EFL leadership, which is trying to rectify the situation.
He believes that the EFL must admit its mistakes, issue a formal apology, and ensure that lessons are learned to prevent similar scenarios in the future.
Fans are also calling for a thorough inquiry into the events surrounding Reading’s ownership, hoping that it will lead to reforms that will prevent clubs from being harmed by reckless ownership decisions.
The Call for Stronger Football Regulations
The issue at the heart of this scandal is the lack of a strong, independent regulator capable of intervening in situations like Reading’s.
As things stand, the EFL does not have the authority to force an owner to sell a club, even if it is clear that their ownership is damaging the club’s future.
The establishment of an Independent Football Regulator, as supported by MP Yuan Yang, could change that, ensuring that clubs are better protected from harmful owners.
The current leadership of the EFL may be trying to pick up the pieces from a disastrous decision made nearly a decade ago, but the fans remain wary.
They want more than just promises of change—they want concrete actions that will prevent the same mistakes from happening again.
The Uncertain Future of Reading FC
As Reading’s fans prepare to face another critical match that could determine their fate this season, the focus should ideally be on the team’s remarkable form.
However, the ongoing financial struggles and the shadow of past decisions are hard to ignore.
With the future of the club still hanging in the balance, fans like Greg Double hope that the EFL will finally acknowledge its failures and work toward a solution that ensures the club’s survival and stability moving forward.
For now, the question remains: Will the lessons from Reading’s turbulent past be learned, or will other clubs face the same fate in the future? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: the need for stronger oversight and accountability in football has never been more urgent.