Troubled Reading hit by fresh misery after outbreak of food poisoning following the Women's FA Cup match against Wolves… with players and staff falling ill after a post-match meal of chicken wraps
- Wolves and Reading players suffered chronic food poisoning after Sunday's draw
- Wolves have had to postpone Sunday's Black Country derby with West Brom
- Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford and Aston Villa are embarrassing the top clubs with their managerial appointments, why aren't the big boys braver? It all starts
The misery of crisis club Reading continued after it emerged that a number of women's players had suffered chronic food poisoning after a recent match.
Wolves, who played the Royals on Sunday, have had to postpone this weekend's Black Country derby with West Brom after no fewer than fourteen of their stars were left out.
Mail Sport understands that a number of Old Gold players have 'dropped like flies' after eating chicken wraps following their FA Cup tie against Reading, who are in financial disarray.
A statement from the Molineux team revealed that the upcoming match against the Baggies had been cancelled. It added: 'Dan McNamara's side have been unable to train this week due to an outbreak that has affected the vast majority of players and staff.'
The match took place at Aldershot's EBB Stadium. Insiders say both clubs agreed to use a catering company recommended by Aldershot.
A number of women's players suffered chronic food poisoning after the Reading match
Wolves won the cup match 2-1, but a number of players and staff dropped out after Sunday's match
Wolves' academy manager Laura Nicholls explained: 'Unfortunately after the win at Reading on Sunday a high percentage of our squad became ill, which we matched with the food they were given after the match as it has also affected Reading.
'14 of the playing staff and four of our technical staff have been affected. Unfortunately we were not able to train or make preparations this week. “We have spoken to the County FA to gain support to cancel the match as we must put the health of the players first.”
Reading were relegated from the Women's Super League last season and were reduced to a semi-professional team amid the ongoing financial crisis at the Berkshire club. They lost the match to third-tier National League Wolves 2-1.
Reading's men's match against Port Vale was abandoned on Saturday after a pitch invasion by desperate supporters. Following Saturday's developments, Chinese businessman Dai Yongge, owner of the League One strugglers, was fined a further £50,000 by the EFL for failing to fund an account set up to cover players' salaries and cover staff.
The Royals have been hit with deductions totaling 16 points and a series of fines under Yongge, who took over in 2017. They have previously reported losses of £191m.
Meanwhile, Charlie Savage – the highly rated son of former Leicester City star Robbie – remains in apparent limbo at the club as the end of the transfer window approaches.
The 20-year-old midfielder is believed to have a clause in his contract that will lead to a pay rise after he makes 15 league starts.
Despite attracting the attention of a number of clubs – and representing Wales – he has not featured in the starting XI in a League One match for the beleaguered Royals since November 7, which happened to be his fourteenth start.
Since then he has come off the bench eight times in league matches and started an EFL Trophy and FA Cup match.
Reading declined to comment, but insiders claim the increase is not significant and say the club's manager was unaware of it until recently.