Reading FC

John Madejski and Anton Zingarevich celebrate at full-time
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Zingarevich's pride at Reading FC promotion

By Jonny Fordham
April 17, 2012

Anton Zingarevich was lost for words after seeing Reading promoted to the Premier League.

In his first interview with the Reading Post, the emotional 30-year-old Russian millionaire said: "I can't really speak, it's all a bit too much.

"I'm very happy. I'm happy for the team, Sir John and all the fans.

"All credit must go to Brian McDermott too. He asked me for things and I did what I had to do, the rest was up to him and he did his job very well.

"Brian is a top man and a top manager. He joked that if I got him the players he wanted we would go up, and now we have."

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Zingarevich is expecting to complete his 51-per-cent buyout of the club this week following Football League checks

And he added: "A lot of credit goes to the people before me.

"I have just come in, helped Brian to the extent he asked. The key was not to interfere, let him do his stuff and trust in him."

For more on this exclsuive interview see getreading on Friday

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Most recent user comments 7 of 7

Robsy,

Yes I saw your posting on the telegraph web site after I had posted my comments on the Post RFC site. I agree with your observations,we will be a Premiership Club next season, whether or not the Zingaravich family are owners. I welcome the stringent tests which hopefully avoid any catastrophe! And thanks to SJM that we are where we are without crippling debts!

AngloinParis, Paris, France
19/04/2012 at 17:48

AngloinParis & Up for Debate - I posted a reply to that article primarily to an idiot who said that we should not be admitted to the Premier League until the new owners had past the test. I worry about some people, really I do.

Post Below: OK first things first - Reading FC are currently owned by John Madejski who has already passed the fit & proper test so of course we will be admitted to the Premier League!

The fit & proper test is about ensuring that any takeover of a club meets the leagues (whichever league that is) rules and regulations. These have been tightened up over the last couple of years because problems that other clubs have encountered - the most obvious example being Portsmouth.

I in common with many Reading fans hope that the Portsmouth scenario doesn't happen to us - so welcome stringent tests. If it does fall through what is the worst case scenario? Well we are Premier League side with a Chairman who is looking to sell - no change there then! (other than the premier bit!)

A Premier League side who have very little debt and do not spend beyond their means. I know that is a bit of a shocker in this day and age but they are the facts. I find it amusing that most teams in the Premier League and the Championship are in huge amounts of debt and yet no enquiries are made into how they are run? Perhaps these tests should be run on a more regular basis?

If it does go through then the Zingaravich family have an absolute bargain as they bought a championship side for a championship price - So one could argue they are somewhat in credit and perhaps Reading have a slightly bigger budget than at first thought.

Come on URZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Robsy , Reading
19/04/2012 at 16:05

I hope so too, "Up for Debate", I would just love to see us become a really top team, a household name, and with our position now with good investment it could come true. But we don't want to become another Pompey, in free fall.

AngloinParis, Paris, France
19/04/2012 at 12:21

I've got an uneasy feeling about the takeover by TSI, after reading AngloinParis's link I'm even more concerned. Lets hope that it all goes well without problems and doesn't sour our fantastic achievement.

up for debate, lost
19/04/2012 at 11:55

From today's (19 April) press:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/reading/9212637/Premier-League-investigate-Russian-takeover-of-Reading.html

AngloinParis, Paris, France
19/04/2012 at 09:37

Anton looked stunned down from the pitch last night! Madejski as much as we love him... use some of that money on dance lessons. Although he'd have been the man at a 1970s discotheque! Given the emotion of the situation last night and how easy it would have been to maybe get carried away, Anton comes across as a very decent chap! Methodical and above all sounds like a guy that knows his place and will let McD do his thing.

Once this is all signed off it'll be one hell of a summer! I only hope we can get an early lead with players maybe missing from Euro and Olympic action. URZZZ!!!