Andy Yiadom, the former Reading FC captain, has given a frank account of the ownership turmoil and pandemic disruption that overshadowed his eight years at the club, speaking on BBC Radio Berkshire's podcast series.

A decade of uncertainty

Yiadom, who served as skipper during one of the most unsettled periods in the club's history, described his time at Reading as "chaotic" — a word that few supporters would dispute. The Ghanaian international arrived at the Madejski Stadium and quickly became one of the more consistent figures in a squad that was repeatedly destabilised by events off the pitch.

The ownership crisis he references is well documented among Reading supporters. The club passed through a prolonged period of disputed control, financial uncertainty and points deductions that left players, staff and fans in a state of near-constant anxiety. According to the BBC Sounds interview, Yiadom experienced that instability at close quarters, including during contract negotiations and day-to-day training operations.

Pandemic adds another layer

Yiadom also reflected on how the Covid-19 pandemic compounded an already difficult situation. With supporters locked out of grounds and the club's finances under further strain, those inside the dressing room faced a uniquely pressured environment. As captain, Yiadom was understood to have played a key role in maintaining morale among a squad that had little certainty about the club's future direction.

His comments offer a rare inside perspective on a period that supporters lived through mainly via news reports and social media rumour. The podcast, released via BBC Sounds and running to roughly eleven minutes, is the latest in a series of interviews with figures connected to Reading FC.

What it means for the club now

Reading are currently competing in League One, the third tier of English football, and the club's recent history makes Yiadom's reflections particularly resonant. The ownership difficulties he describes cast a long shadow, and understanding how the squad coped internally during those years provides useful context for supporters trying to make sense of where the club finds itself today.

The right-back made well over a hundred appearances for Reading across all competitions and earned considerable respect for his professionalism in testing circumstances. That he is now willing to speak openly, albeit in measured terms, suggests he feels enough distance from events to offer considered reflection rather than score-settling.

A story still unfolding

For Reading supporters, the significance of Yiadom's account is less about any single revelation and more about the confirmation of what many already suspected: that the chaos visible from the outside was equally disorienting from within. Players and staff were navigating an ownership situation that lacked clarity at almost every level, while simultaneously trying to perform on the pitch each Saturday.

The interview is available on BBC Sounds and is described as being available for over a year, meaning supporters who missed its original broadcast have ample opportunity to listen. For those who followed Reading through their most turbulent recent chapter, it is likely to make for compelling, if at times uncomfortable, listening.

Yiadom's willingness to speak candidly, via a respected public broadcaster rather than a club-controlled channel, adds a layer of credibility to his account. It is a reminder that behind the boardroom drama and the points deductions, there were players trying to do their jobs under extraordinary pressure, with a League One club now left to rebuild from that period's legacy.

Frequently asked

Who is Andy Yiadom and what did he do at Reading FC?
Andy Yiadom is a Ghanaian international right-back who spent around eight years at Reading FC, serving as club captain during a period of significant ownership turmoil and financial uncertainty.
What did Andy Yiadom say about Reading's ownership crisis?
In a BBC Radio Berkshire podcast, Yiadom described his time at Reading as chaotic, opening up on the ownership crisis and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on life inside the club during his spell there.
Where can I listen to Andy Yiadom's Reading FC interview?
The interview is available on BBC Sounds as part of the BBC Radio Berkshire podcast series. It runs to approximately eleven minutes and is listed as available for over a year.