Former Wycombe Wanderers captain Joe Jacobson is expected to be named as Reading’s new chief executive office.
The 37-year-old, who left the Chairboys after decade at Adams Park this summer, is set for a boardroom role at the Berkshire-based team following Rob Couhig’s potential takeover.
The latter owned Wanderers between 2019 and 2024 before selling his 90 per cent stake in the club to the Kazakhstani-Georgian billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze in May of this year.
Following his exit, Couhig has had talks with Reading about purchasing the side from Chinese millionaire Dai Yongge, who has decimated the club’s finances since his takeover in 2017.
The American has been spotted at the Royals’ Select Car Leasing Stadium, where he has had chats with Head of Football Operations Mark Bowen, and after members of the board.
In case you weren't aware, former Wycombe Wanderers captain Joe Jacobson will become Reading's new CEO.
— James Richings 🏴 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) July 11, 2024
This comes after Rob Couhig's plan to take over the Royals edges closer.
Jacobson left Wycombe this summer after 400 matches in 10 seasons at Adams Park.#Chairboys https://t.co/QhdGoBTSEo
But in a radical move, it is expected that Jacobson, who hasn’t publicly announced his retirement from professional football, is set to take up a position within the club’s hierarchy.
The news first reported by Anthony Smith, formerly of the Reading Chronicle, it is believed that the Welshman will takeover from Dayong Pang as the club's Chief Executive Officer.
Jacobson made 400 appearances for the Chairboys at left-back in a decade at Adams Park, where he spent an 18-month period as club captain.
He also earned promotion on two occasions in 2018 and 2020, whilst also playing in two play-off final defeats in 2015 and 2022.
The Welshman also has the distinction of being one of few players to score an EFL hat-trick through set pieces – two of which were corners.
This came in Wanderers’ 3-1 victory over Lincoln City in September 2019 – the same year where he scored the winning goal against Oxford United in that year’s play-off showpiece at Wembley.
Gather Rob Couhig spent 4 hours meeting and greeting at Bearwood today. Wycombe Wanderers favourite Joe Jacobson becoming CEO and right-hand man. We shall see but could be a couple of weeks before takeover is sealed. #readingfc
— Anthony Smith (@Smudgersport) July 10, 2024
That strike sent the Chairboys to the Championship for the first time in their history.
Wycombe will start the season away at Wrexham on August 10, and will not face Reading until December, when the two sides will meet at Adams Park.
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