Wycombe Wanderers expert, James Richings, believes rumoured Reading arrival Joe Jacobson could be 'pivotal in the rebuild of the club.'
Jacobson, 37, has spent the last decade with Wycombe racking up 400 appearances for the Chairboys at left-back.
Reaching the end of his playing days last year, featuring just six times in League One last season, the former Wales Under-21s international took on a PFA course on Football Management, in the same cohort as former Royals striker Dave Kitson.
READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers legend lined up for Reading FC role
It is thought that Jacobson is to take up a boardroom role with the club should the takeover be completed from former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig.
Jacobson and the 75-year-old former lawyer, Couhig, have been in meetings this week at the SCL Stadium and Bearwood while the Telegraph has reported that a deal could take up to a fortnight to complete.
Richings, Wycombe Wanderers reporter for sister paper The Bucks Free Press answered our questions about Jacobson and his potential role at Reading.
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What transferrable skills did Jacobson show at Wycombe that could see him fit the rumoured role at Reading?
"He’s a very good listener and very attentive. During the time that he wasn’t playing last season, which was the first time in his Wycombe career that he hardly played, he was doing a lot of punditry and talking to a lot of people away from the pitch about football from a different perspective. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, not just with football but all-round. He’s very intelligent, very articulate and a real people person. That’s the thing with Wycombe, they’re very transparent and he’s had 10 years there so he will very much be the kind of guy you need.
"He’s not done anything like this before, but you have to start somewhere. He’s worked with Rob Couhig for five years and will know exactly what he wants. JJ was the captain at Wycombe and knows how to lead and helped the club get to their highest finish, so he knows how to get success, albeit that is on the pitch.
"When Gareth Ainsworth was there, they had ‘Five Captains’- Akinfenwa, Stockdale, Bloomfield, Stewart and Jacobson- and the five of them would deal with any issues that went on within the team and if it went to Gareth then they would get in trouble for not sorting it out beforehand. Ultimately, it never got that far because they always quashed whatever issues were around. He is very clever, well-spoken and wants to succeed. While it’s a risk, I think Reading will be alright with him there."
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How crucial could his relationship with potential new owner, Rob Couhig, prove to be?
"It will play a pivotal role in Reading’s rebuild. When you look at JJ, he was the captain and helped nurture the young players coming through so he will have an eye on what young talent to bring into the club to help them get out of the current mess they’re in. The two of them worked very closely.
"Moving into a boardroom role, only time will tell. Everyone at Wycombe wishes JJ the best because he’s adored here. Away from that, he’s just a lovely, salt-of-the-earth bloke who will happily talk to anyone."
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