Reading FC fans deserve better communication about the women’s team

This isn’t the first time I’ve asked this question, many others have over the summer too, and in those cases it was more in response to the terrible news that the team had essentially been crumpled up into a ball of paper, thrown in the trash and then had to start over three leagues down and without any players.

The question has now cropped up again, this time in response to the appointment of Reading Women’s new first team coach Pedro Bruno. In all honesty, this has nothing to do with Bruno and he could well be an excellent choice for the team. This is in no way a criticism of him. But what on earth has happened to Liam Gilbert?

It could well be that Gilbert decided to leave because of the change in circumstances. It could well be that the club decided that the fresh start included a new manager (why they came to that conclusion I will never understand though). It could also be a financially motivated decision. I don’t know, but that’s the crux of the matter. None of us know.

Gilbert did an excellent job last season under incredibly difficult circumstances. Much like Ruben Selles, Gilbert was excellent in speaking about the difficulties and how he dealt with them over the course of a season in which key players were either out with injury, sold or never replaced during the player thinning last summer.

Which begs the question: where was that announcement? Where was Reading’s opportunity to make a statement and take the time to publicly thank Gilbert for everything he has done, as they should? Where is the statement? Why wasn’t he given the chance to say goodbye to the fans and the club?

And why haven’t we as fans been given the chance to acknowledge his efforts and thank him so that he knows he’s leaving us on good terms? As far as I can see, there’s nothing. Nothing at all.

Photo by Ben Hoskins – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

The only hint of a mention was last week when the website published an announcement that Emma Hopkins would take on the role of Head of Women’s Football. In that statement there was a quote from Hopkins which read:

“We will shortly be announcing the appointment of our manager and introducing a fresh new squad that we hope you can fully get behind and support.”

Maybe I was naive when I first read this, but I naturally just assumed it would be about confirming Gilbert’s stay and perhaps a shake-up of the coaching staff. That doesn’t seem to be the case. It seems there are a lot of questions being raised about the women’s team right now, with very few answers in sight.

On a side note – what happened to Brooke Chaplen? My understanding is that Chaplen was the head of women’s football. Now, Chaplen has been very quiet over the last year (for example during the managerial search last season) but I also seem to recall a possible maternity leave so I’ll pass on that without judgement. There could be many other reasons for the silence.

However, I am again surprised that Chaplen was moved on or pushed out the back door without a word. For a former Reading player, you would have thought she would have been treated a little better.

Last week it was also announced that Reading Women will play their matches at Slough Town’s Arbour Park. FYI, on a clear day this is around a 30 minute drive from the Select Car Leasing Stadium where Reading Women played last season.

Why the change? Is it considered that the support is not enough to justify using this stadium? And what about the fans? That’s quite a stretch from Reading. Is it because there is no money to use or staff the SCL Stadium for the women’s team? Is there some other reason related to league rules? Or have I simply missed something here? In fact, in Hopkins’ introduction I also missed the line:

“… and soon we will be able to present to you our new ‘home’ for the women’s team.”

None of the announcements address the “why,” instead simply attempting to tout the benefits of this stadium choice. Call me picky, but mentioning “parking,” “designated smoking areas,” and “on-site restrooms” just isn’t a selling point to me. For a team that has worked so hard to earn the opportunity to play at SCL Stadium, this feels like another huge step backwards.

Photo by Paul Harding – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

We’ve talked recently about how Reading’s communications model improved last season – almost a ‘hey, we’re all in this together’ mentality which helped to unite us more as a club and as fans.

However, all these recent announcements for the women’s team remind me of the days when things really took a dark turn at the club, such as the way Reading handled communication regarding Mark Bowen taking over the men’s first team and his subsequent departure. The communication was there but very cautious and confused. This makes me feel the same way and that is not good at all.

In short, these three cases I have mentioned over the last week are all massive steps backwards for the club. I would even go so far as to say that while the representation of Andy Yiadom and Noel Hunt at the second Purple Turtle prep event is a plus, the lack of any representation from anyone from the women’s division is not.

This was a missed opportunity and another example of the backwards step in both communication and prioritisation of women’s football at what is supposed to be a community club.

Reading FC needs to improve.