Former Reading FC Director Chris Samuelson Spotted At Madejski Stadium

There have been rumours of a Reading FC takeover since November, yet it is currently unclear of the status of the talks as Chinese brother and sister Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li reportedly look to buy the club.

Although we can't bring you any update on how close the deal is, TTE deputy editor Jonny Williams has spotted Chris Samuelson at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon ahead of the Championship fixture against Barnsley, suggesting that he may be involved in the group looking to takeover the Royals. At the same time, he may just be a guest of Nigel Howe, who he is seen sharing a joke with in the pictures below.

Samuelson was heavily involved with the club during Anton Zingarevich's time as owner in Berkshire, initially being the public face of the Russian’s Thames Sport Investment company. The pair then left the board in June 2014 after Zingarevich had disappeared, leaving the club in the midst of a perilous financial crisis.

The 69 year old then had two failed bids to takeover the club, first as part of the Swiss-based company Mutual Trust International Ltd alongside Andrew Obolensky, another former Reading board member. Following this, Samuelson made a move to buy Reading with an American hedge-fund which went by the name of Phoenix.

As part of the same group, he was linked with a takeover bid of Bristol Rovers in 2015, whilst most recently he was included in Tony Xia's takeover of Aston Villa, which, like the rumoured Reading takeover, involved a China-based company.

Samuelson helped arrange and negotiate the £76.2 million deal at Villa Park and he also assisted CEO Keith Wyness in some of Villa’s early transfer business, including the appointment of boss Roberto Di Matteo. However, it was confirmed that he had left the club in September.