CHRIS Samuelson was back in the Reading FC directors' box on Saturday – sparking concern among supporters.

Samuelson is widely disliked by Royals fans following his two years as a club director under former owner Anton Zingarevich.

Russian billionaire Zingarevich left Royals heavily in debt when he sold up to the current Thai owners in 2014.

Finances were so bad at the time Reading were forced to sell Adam Le Fondre to Cardiff City for around £2.5m because they couldn't afford a £1.6m tax bill.


Samuelson, who is based in Switzerland, became a Royals director in May 2012 then resigned in June 2014 while the takeover by the Thais was going through.

It is also thought Samuelson was part of an American group that then tried to buy Reading using hedge funds.

But Reading fans will always associate the 70-year-old with the troubled period he spent at Madejski Stadium, and his presence alongside chief executive Nigel Howe at Saturday's 0-0 stalemate against Barnsley has raised fears he could now be involved in the current takeover by a Chinese consortium.

Most recently Samuelson was recruited by Aston Villa as a consultant to oversee the takeover by Dr Tony Xia last summer.


The current Reading FC board is made up of secretary, Bryan Stabler, plus Nigel Howe, Sir John Madejski, Sasima Srivikorn, Narin Niruttinanon, Theekharoj Piamphongsarn, Taweesuk Srisumrid and Simrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth, who are all listed as directors.