Football League World
·16 April 2024
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·16 April 2024
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Lewis Wing has been a standout figure for Reading this League One season.
The Royals have ensured their safety in the third division with just a couple of games remaining after a turbulent campaign off the pitch.
The ownership situation hit a real low point for the Berkshire outfit, as the club was docked six more points for various EFL rule breaches.
However, despite much anger from supporters, the fans have gotten behind a very youthful Reading team that has kept the team from dropping into League Two.
The 28-year-old is one of the more experienced figures in the squad, and has contributed nine goals and eight assists from 40 appearances in the league this season (all stats from Fbref).
FLW’s Reading fan pundit Johnny Hunt is hopeful that Wing can be convinced to stay, especially given the public comments from his partner.
However, he is concerned that a Championship side could make an offer for the midfielder this summer given how well he’s performed this year.
“With Lewis Wing, and probably there’s a few others as well, that you’d worry about a Championship club, or any club, coming in for them because they’ve been so good despite the off-the-pitch stuff,” Hunt told Football League World.
“It’s galvanised them as players, and brought them closer to the fans in a very unique season where we’ve really punched above our weight.
“Hopefully, his partner, who has been very vocal about the club, and him realise how much him being a part of the team means to us as fans.
“And again, if we can get the ownership stuff sorted as soon as possible, and given reassurance that they’re part of a plan for a future that actually means something and is actually real, and not the rubbish that they were told last summer, possibility of being captain, who knows.
“I think you can worry about players going, because of where we’ve been but also just be grateful for the fact that all of these guys have done an amazing job, including Ruben Selles, to keep the club up from where we were back in November.
“I think we were on the bottom with a few points, to where we are now it’s been absolutely unreal.
“Hold my hat up to every single one of them, the fans have been superb, background staff as well have done everything to keep the club going.
“Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards and we can start rising again as a royal force of the dean.”
Reading are currently 17th in the League One table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone with just two games to go.
With safety secured, the club can now turn its attention to ensuring Dai Yongge’s proposed sale goes through as quickly as possible.
If Reading can change owners quickly, then a new investor can inject cash into the club and turn their attention towards fighting for promotion.
Someone like Wing is what the club will need if it is to fight for its way back into the Championship anytime soon.
The midfielder has been very impressive this season, and has been important in turning around their early season difficulties on the pitch.
There is light at the end of the tunnel now for supporters after a very difficult time for the Berkshire outfit.
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