Reading FC no longer in running to buy Aldermaston Manor
The Premiership club confirmed in September it was looking at a site for its training base in Aldermaston.
At the time, head of communications at Reading FC, Craig Mortimer-Zhika, confirmed that “Aldermaston is one of a number of options”, but declined to comment any further.
Aldermaston Manor and Park is in administration, and this week, Mark Ford, a spokesman for the administrators, Smith Williamson confirmed Reading FC were no longer involved in negotiations about the site.
“We have had lots of interest and are hopeful of agreeing a sale with another party,” said Mr Ford.
The football club remained tight-lipped this week as to whether it was looking at alternative sites in Aldermaston, or elsewhere in West Berkshire.
Should the club decide on an alternative site in Aldermaston for its training ground, it seems a warm welcome awaits.
Vice chairman of Aldermaston Parish Council, Clive Vare, said last year: “Half the village supports Reading and the other half supports London Irish (who also play at the Madejski Stadium), so I’m sure the move would be welcomed.”
Mr Vare continued that the parish council had raised concerns about the future of the empty Aldermaston Manor site.
“We don’t want it to go derelict, so any use of the site would be great,” he said.
In 1985, cement manufacturer Blue Circle Industries bought the 137-acre Aldermaston Park site, and converted the Grade II manor house into a hotel and conference centre.
The company also built a new headquarters building, called Portland House, at the site, but relocated the majority of its staff to London in 1988.
Proposals to develop part of Aldermaston Manor, which was built in 1849, to include 38 residential apartments were rejected by the district council and thrown out by the Government planning inspector in 2004.