Charlie Methven, one of Charlton Athletic’s co-owners, recollects facing challenges when dealing with potential Reading buyer William Storey during his tenure as the Chief Executive of Sunderland.
Recently, The Telegraph revealed that Storey is poised to finalize a £50 million takeover of the Royals within the next six weeks, contingent on passing the Football League’s “fit and proper owners” test. Storey is leading a group of affluent investors in the acquisition of the Berkshire club from Chinese businessman Dai Yongge.
However, The Athletic, as reported by Football League World, stated that it’s uncertain what role the CEO of Rich Energy would have if the takeover goes through, making it too early to determine if Storey will be subject to the EFL’s ownership examination.
Storey, a former sponsor for the Formula 1 team Haas, previously tried to purchase both Sunderland and Coventry City a few years ago, as indicated by journalist Courtney Friday. This attempt marks his third try at obtaining ownership of a League One club.
Charlie Methven, the former co-owner of Sunderland, confirmed the failure of Storey’s attempt to buy the Black Cats and revealed the difficulties he faced when dealing with the potential future head of Reading.
Speaking to the Sunderland Echo, Methven even mentioned how he and Storey had a laugh about Storey’s actions after the process was completed. He said, “That direct approach to the fanbase caused us some issues because when somebody comes along and says it is feasible, possible and should be done to sign a bunch of Premier League players for a League One club, it makes life quite difficult for the current incumbent, who knows that it is a total impossibility, but you’re lacking a counter-factual so you can’t prove that it is an impossibility.”
Methven also mentioned that they were already in discussions with a highly credible owner, the former owners of Marseille, the Louis-Dreyfus family. While they may not have shared William Storey’s extravagant views on the club’s valuation, they were confident that they had the necessary funds and would pass the EFL test. They proceeded with that deal, ultimately finding humor in the entire Storey episode.
Methven emphasized that being in the midst of such a situation can be time-consuming, with journalists and fan groups constantly inquiring about this outspoken figure and why they weren’t accepting his offer. Dealing with such matters can be quite challenging and time-intensive.
In summary, Storey’s attempt to acquire Reading appears to have echoes of his previous endeavors, notably his efforts to purchase Sunderland, with his outspoken nature in the press and on social media potentially causing some unrest among the fanbase.
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