Reading FC have been saved with a much needed takeover finalised and officially completed as Rob Couhig buys the club.
Couhig, a 75-year-old American lawyer, and his business partner Todd Trosclair, through Redwood Holdings Limited (a subsidiary of Dogwood Football LLC), have acquired shares in the League One side, the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and Bearwood training ground from former owner Dai Yongge.
Yongge’s tenure since 2017 was marked by financial struggles and fan protests, leaving them on the verge of expulsion from the Football League it got that serious.
Soon pic.twitter.com/iAGuCtNTdx
— Todd Trosclair (@ToddTrosclair) May 13, 2025
Reading Football Club is pleased to announce that Redwood Holdings Limited have completed their takeover of the football club.
Statement in full 👇
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 14, 2025
STATEMENT:
The Club are pleased to announce that Redwood Holdings Limited – a subsidiary company of Dogwood LLC, owned by Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair of New Orleans, Louisiana – has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shareholding in Reading Football Club.
The takeover, which has received EFL clearance, completed very early on Wednesday morning and includes the Select Car Leasing Stadium and Bearwood Park Training Ground.
Both Couhig and Trosclair will join the club’s board with immediate effect, with Rob Couhig being named as Chairman.
Rob is an investor, lawyer and entrepreneur who is the former owner of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and the New Orleans Zephyrs – his hometown baseball team. Todd is the owner of All Star Electric, one of the largest and most respected electrical contractors on the USA’s Gulf Coast, and a successful investor within the real estate and hospitality sector. He is also the founder of the All Star Foundation which contributes to various charitable initiatives.
Redwood is ambitious and dedicated towards the club returning to its rightful place within the English football pyramid, while adhering to clear principles of honesty , transparency, and financial sustainability. Further communication from Redwood will follow in due course.
EFL STATEMENT:
The EFL can today confirm that it has provided the final clearance required in accordance with its Regulations that places Reading Football Club under the new ownership of Rob Couhig and Todd Trosclair (Redwood Holdings Limited).
Over recent weeks the League has worked closely with all parties to facilitate a timely transfer of ownership in order to end the uncertainty surrounding the Club’s future for its staff, supporters and wider community.
The sale of the Club follows the disqualification of the Clubs previous owner under the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test in February of this year.
We look forward to working closely with the new ownership group and wish the Club and its supporters a successful future following a difficult period for all associated with the Club.
Sell Before We Dai said:
“We are incredibly relieved and happy that Reading Football Club are finally under new ownership. It’s a day which we thought, at times, may never happen.
“In the eight years of the Dai Yongge era, every single element of our club went backwards. The first team were relegated, the women’s team were essentially folded and staff were made redundant as every operational element of the club was cut back to the bare bones. Those who remained were forced to work with tight budgets and under immense pressure. Sometimes they weren’t even sure if they’d be paid at the end of the month.
“Today is a day for celebration and that starts by welcoming Rob Couhig. Thank you for not giving up on us, thank you for saving our 153-year-old club from oblivion.
“While Wycombe Wanderers owner, the Bearwood fiasco saw him come into direct conflict with our powerful, passionate fanbase, culminating in the training ground remaining under Reading’s control (we imagine he’s quite grateful for that now!). Rumours of his views on both the academy – the jewel in our crown – and women’s team have also left some fans unsettled.
“However, the training ground issue is now in the past and Couhig should now be judged by his actions as our owner, not by rumours which arose while he was trying to buy the club.
“Some of these actions are already plain to see. The takeover process has been tortuous and – at times – ill-tempered. We know several bidders came and went, but Couhig remained, and for that alone we are incredibly grateful. He was determined, dogged and incredibly savvy. Having someone with those qualities in your club’s corner can only be a good thing and it is also worth stating that Wycombe Wanderers fans say he left them in a better place.
“There is also evidence of the ‘soft skills’ that football fans want to see from their clubs’ owners. A willingness to engage with supporters, a desire to be present, visible and accountable to local media and, of course, to have a few drinks in the Purple Turtle.
“Reading fans are now excited to hear in an open forum from Couhig about his plans. Our gratitude is immeasurable but cannot be unconditional. We are under no illusions that steps will need to be taken to undo the damage Dai has done to this football club, but we hope Couhig runs Reading transparently, prudently, in collaboration with Reading fans and with regard for the club’s identity.
“As for Sell Before We Dai, we are done. We will keep social media channels open and will always be willing to help support fans of other clubs in need, but the whole point of being in a protest group is to get to a point where you’re no longer needed, and that’s where we are. Work on the Football Governance Bill and all other fan-led, owner-related activity will roll into STAR. If you want to get involved, don’t hesitate to join. As we’ve seen, there is power in numbers.
“Lastly, this was the first time most of us have been involved in a campaign group and, though we know we didn’t get everything right, we hope we represented Reading fans’ interests as best we could. A full list of thank yous to everyone who helped our club’s campaign will be coming soon.
“We’ve been sold before we Dai’d.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Reading FC are saved with a much needed takeover completed thanks to Rob Couhig who buys the club…
@JacobSouthKlein: good luck on the job hunt, Dayong Pang xxx
@andy_cov93: Congratulations Reading! Hopefully an evening of big celebration for your fans and the start of a brighter era
@Clivewratten: Thank f*ck for that! Now let’s get back to football having fun & seeing where it takes us. Couhig is just what we need & to my fellow fans please do not demand instant success squandering cash on a promotion dream we need a sustainable well run club to last for generations.
@TomButl55445942: Congratulations to all the reading fans you have your club back 👍
@dingjoseph1871: Now release interviews with the goats themselves Rob and Todd. Then annunce all the contracts and then announce that we are pissing league one 25/26
@Fedderrss: “Alexa, play Black Magic by The Amazons”
@CForiginal: Congratulations to all the fans who have protested and endured some awful times. The only way is up… see you soon?!
@michaelgranty: Now announce contract renewals 🍔🐈
@harry_chafer: No more marches, no more microwave meals for the players, no more pitch invasions, no more fearing for the future of our club. Finally we can get back to being normal football fans again, complaining about starting lineups and flat pints. UTFD. @TheTilehurstEnd #ReadingFC
@AJSteveo97: 565 days been up for sale. 18pts deducted under Younge & multiple transfer embargo’s. Now we’re on a road to recovery. Redemption time. Urzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@twintel_online: I think we all owe the @ReadingFC admin a drink, probably years worth of drinks considering the grief they’ve had to take from fans #readingfc
@LaurenMarsh_xx: I’m not crying, you are 😭😭
@LightwoodDaz: Finally Guys, Congrats 👏 Great News, go get that Promotion Next Season 💪 just take it easy when we meet 😀
@danhibbertSWFC: happy for u lot from a wednesdayite, at least one of us doesn’t have to suffer anymore 🤷♂️
@9_Hendo: Well in. From a Birmingham fan who knows what abysmal owners can do to a football club, to what great ones can… Let’s hope you follow suit. Good riddance Dai Yongge
@_One8Seven1: Thank fcuk! We finally have our club back and can look forward to a long hot summer of rebuilding, on and off the pitch! Thank you @RCouhig and @ToddTrosclair The future can be very exciting with ‘the right’ leadership.
@etiawneb: Our battle may be over. But for some clubs it’s only the beginning of what we’ve faced. From experience we should wish no other club to ever face something like this. As we celebrate, reform across football ownership is needed. Enjoy #ReadingFC fans.
@Michael_BHunter: #readingfc I feel like a weight has been lifted from my soul, and I feel light and optimistic. Now it’s a new beginning. Get those contracts done. Get the staff in, get the coaches in, get in the trailist, tidy up the stadium, sort out the woman’s team, and improve the facilities
