League One Reading docked three more points

An independent disciplinary commission had ordered the Royals’ ownership to deposit a sum equal to 125 per cent of the club’s forecast monthly wage bill into a designated account by Tuesday.

The commission had imposed the order after determining last month that the club had failed to pay player wages on time and in full on or around October 31 and November 30 last year, and on April 28 this year.

As a result of those missed payments, the commission docked Reading one point, with a further three suspended, a sanction which has now been triggered by the failure to deposit the funds requested.

An EFL statement said: “The EFL continues to acknowledge the negative impact sporting sanctions are having on the football club and remain extremely disappointed and frustrated at the club’s ownership to meet its ongoing obligations under EFL regulations.

“The League will continue to apply its rules in all circumstances deemed appropriate.”

The club released their own statement confirming the activation of the three-point penalty, which concluded: “As communicated to our supporters previously, Mr Dai (Yongge, the club’s Chinese owner) is currently undertaking an ongoing process of seeking sources of stable external investment for the football club, with the aim of mitigating the risk of cashflow complications arising in future.”