LADY Sasima Srivikorn has admitted the cost of running Reading FC has become too expensive for the club's Thai owners.

A Chinese consortium moved a step closer to buying a 75 per cent stake in the Royals last Friday when the proposed takeover received the go-ahead from the English Football League.

Billionaire property developer Dai Yongge and sister Dai Xiu will now attempt to push through the deal to become majority shareholders at Madejski Stadium.

The pair previously made a failed attempt to buy Hull City for £130m last summer because Premier League bosses held reservations about the source of their funding.

However, after meeting EFL representatives in Preston in December, they have now gained clearance to continue with their purchase.

The ELF have since granted conditional approval of a 'change of control' at the Championship club, though unconfirmed reports suggest the Premier League could now block Reading's promotion to the top-flight should they go up.

Reading FC are yet to comment on the claim, but co-chairmwoman Lady Sasima explained how the Thai owners can no longer afford to run the club, whose latest financial accounts show debts of £73m.

She said: “You know, owning a football club is something like I have never experienced in my entire life.

“It's a lot of money that has to be spent every month, it's very expensive. And if you don't have very, very deep pockets then it's not possible.

“We are struggling, to tell you the truth. Every month we have to spend more money, more money, more money and there's a point where we couldn't afford it comfortably."

Reading Chronicle:

Billionaire property developer, Dai Yongge.

Lady Sasima, Narin Niruttinanon and Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth have been in charge of Royals since they took over the ownership from Russian businessman, Anton Zingarevich in 2014.

And Lady Sasima explained how any takeover by the Chinese consortium comes with a number of conditions.

She also told BBC Radio Berkshire: "There are certain conditions and Mr Dai [Yongge] has to supply them with certain information.

“For instance, I'm sure they would like to know where the funds are coming from and the transparency of owning a football club in England. It's very strict, which is a good thing.

"There have been lots of buyers coming around, looking at the club. I've seen almost 10 in all. I have never seen Mr Dai himself or his sister but I have heard about him, his business and what sort of a man he is. We are all very happy about him."

Reading Chronicle:

Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth with Royals co-chairman, Sir John Madejski.

Lady Sasima, who turns 80 in October, explained how handing over the reins to the Chinese group is in the long-term interests of promotion-chasing Royals.

"I did say to Reading fans that we'd be here for a long time, we weren't going to 'hit and run' or abandon the club no matter what,” she stressed.

“That's not what we are doing. We are doing this to save the club.

“I know that if the club doesn't have the funds, doesn't have the strength of the backup on the monetary side, it's not going to be easy.

“This way, the Reading fans will not actually lose anything, actually they will gain. If we go to the Premier [League], we're going to have to spend much, much more money than now and we need that sort of backup."

Lady Sasima confirmed she and her Thai partners will keep a 25 per cent stake in the club, retain ownership of the Millennium Madejski Hotel and continue with the Royal Elm Park development project.