Reading FC offered breakthrough from transfer heartache.

•  Reading FC secures safety in League One with a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers, now nine points clear of relegation zone.
•  Ownership turmoil plagued the team this season, with six points deducted. New ownership expected in coming months.
•  Despite selling key player Nelson Abbey, young defenders Bindon and Mbengure have stepped up, easing fans’ worries about the defense.

Reading look to have all but guaranteed safety in League One after beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 on Tuesday night.

With three games remaining, the Royals are now nine points clear of the relegation zone thanks to their victory at The Memorial Stadium.

The team led by Ruben Selles has had a turbulent season due to numerous ownership issues that have plagued them the entire time. As a result, they have had six points deducted for financial reasons.

However, after current owner Dai Yongge agreed on exclusivity with a potential buyer last month, the club should now have new ownership in the upcoming months.

The players and supporters can now concentrate on how well the team is performing on the pitch as the takeover will take several months to finish.

Looking back on the season, though, one of the worst moments was when the club sold Nelson Abbey. January was a dismal month.

Selling Abbey came as a massive shock to Reading fans

To the dismay of the Royals fan base, the club saw the January transfer window as a major chance to raise money to get them by financially for the upcoming few months.

As a result, Dayong Pang, the chief executive, mediated the sales of players behind Selles’ back. By the end of the window, the club would have sold five players: Tom McIntyre to Portsmouth, Caylan Vickers to Brighton, Tom Holmes and Taylan Harris to Luton Town, and Abbey to Olympiacos.

But Reading fans were most affected by Abbey’s sale. During the first half of the season, he won over the fans’ hearts and proved to be an excellent League One defender by using his speed to compensate for his relatively small frame.

Many supporters believed that the Royals’ defence and chances of surviving would be severely impacted by the sales of Abbey and McIntyre, leaving the team without senior depth.

Reading fans do not need to worry about Abbey anymore

Two players have dispelled the notion that the Reading supporters should be concerned about Abbey’s departure’s immediate effects.

In recent months, Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengure have developed into a potent duo for the Royals. The 19-year-old Bindon has demonstrated exceptional game reading skills in addition to a level of maturity well beyond his years.

As for the Royals, Mbengue has replaced Abbey as their fan favourite. He frequently joins in on victory celebrations and interacts with the audience. He is, however, a lot like Abbey when it comes to his football game.

Although his smaller stature would imply that he would be easily overwhelmed by more powerful opponents, the reality has been quite the contrary. He has a strong, quick build and isn’t hesitant to take on a sliding challenge when necessary.

Bindon and Mbengure, who are 19 and 22 years old, respectively, have the potential to develop into a formidable force at the back for the Royals in the future.

Thanks to this collaboration, supporters can now put the heartbreaking Abbey sale behind them and concentrate on the two outstanding players who are playing their hearts out for the jersey.