Wrexham chief 'faces grilling in parliament' after disqualification scandal

director Shaun Harvey could face a grilling before a parliamentary committee over his involvement in Dai Yongge's purchase of Reading in 2017. The 55-year-old, one of the , was CEO of the EFL when Chinese billionaire Yongge was confirmed as Reading's new owner eight years ago.

Yongge's tumultuous tenure at Reading is finally set to end weeks after he was disqualified under the EFL's owners' and directors' test and given a deadline of May 8 to sell the club. The Berkshire outfit have suffered from financial problems during his ownership and have been deducted a total of 18 points since 2021. Former Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has now finalised an agreement to complete a purchase from Yongge.

According to The Times, the Premier League warned the EFL about allowing Yongge to take control of Reading in 2017. The league raised concerns due to Yongge's behaviour when he tried to buy Hull City when the Tigers were in the top-flight.

The Premier League is even said to have suggested that it would disqualify Yongge from owning Reading should they earn promotion from the Championship. The same day that his takeover was finalised, the Royals lost the play-off final against Huddersfield.

Premier League bosses are allowed to have input into potential takeovers of EFL clubs that could play in their division. However, then-EFL CEO Harvey and the board allowed Yongge's purchase to take place because there was an "absence of any disqualifying condition".

Labour MP Yuan Yang, one of the strongest supporters in parliament of an Independent Regulator for Football (IRF), has now suggested that an inquiry could be called into Reading's history since Yongge gained control of the club. Given that Harvey was CEO of the EFL at the time, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) may be interested in hearing his account.

Responding to a question asking directly whether Harvey could face scrutiny, Yang said: "I have called for an inquiry in parliament into the whole history under Dai Yongge.

"I'm speaking to a DCMS committee about what we can do. I'm sure they will be able to consider actions. I would like there to be a proper inquiry into what's gone on."

Harvey, a star of the Welcome to Wrexham Netflix documentary, has been key to the success of the Welsh club under the ownership of Hollywood A-listers Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Wrexham secured promotion to the Championship with a game to spare.

McElhenney and Reynolds purchased Wrexham for £2million in 2020. The actors have since pumped millions more into a remarkable project that has seen three consecutive promotions.