Reading manager Paul Ince has confirmed his side are likely to be handed a six-point deduction next week by the Football League.
It will be the second time the Royals have been punished within 18 months having failed to adhere to the EFL's profit and sustainability rules. They then agreed to a business plan to reduce expenditure and increase revenue while also introducing a wage cap to help balance the books.
There are mixed reports regarding the reasoning behind the latest point deduction. The Guardian claim they have broken rules within the current plan while Berkshire Live state it relates to a historical issue and one that was out of Ince's hands.
Reading are currently on 44 points, level with Bristol City and 13 clear of the relegation zone. They have won two out of their last nine Championship matches having previously occupied a play-off position. Nigel Pearson's side host the Royals on April 1.
Speaking in his press conference, Ince said: "I think it's going to be next week, I don't know what day. We want to know - if we get it then great, give it to us, and if not, let us get on with the rest of the season.
"We're on 44 points [at the moment in the Championship] - until someone tells me, the players or the fans differently, that's how we've got to look at the situation. What's happened is not an issue myself or Mark Bowen have created. It's a historical issue which we can't do anything about.
"This year we wanted to get the club moving in the right direction and bringing in people like Bowen, Brian Carey (head of recruitment) and Jared Dublin (head of scouting) [means we have] the infrastructure moving in the right direction and that's very important to the future of the football club.
"We're trying to do things the right way and have complied with the EFL and the rules. We haven't spent, we can't overspend...that's the sad thing about it because we have complied with everything the EFL has given to us and yet we've performed in the way we have.
"This is when we have cut our budget by 43 per cent. When we talk about losing a few games in a row or being on 44 points, we need to think of it positively. This is where we are and whether we have or haven't got it (a points deduction) I don't know.
"I had a conversation with the players this morning and we have to play and conduct ourselves as if it's going to be the case. And when it does come, we deal with it.
"It's not a great situation, the timing of it is not great. If we are getting six points [chalked off] I'd have liked it at the start of the season because then at least we know where we are.
"To do it with 13 games left and with games against some of the top teams coming up, the timing is really poor. But we can't cry about it. If it comes, it comes, we deal with it and we all have to get together - us, fans and players all need to galvanise each other to stay in the league.
"That's something we are capable of doing. Even if we get six points, hopefully, we'll have a bit of breathing space. We have to pull together, it's not a nice situation but we've done it before."
The threat of a points deduction has also loomed over City in the past following previous uncertainty over their Financial Fair Play situation. The Robins posted losses of £28m in November for the year 2021/22, which was £10m better off than the year prior.
Former CEO Richard Gould eased any concerns of a deduction at a fan's forum last year having worked tirelessly to reduce the wage bill. He said: "The good news is we aren’t anticipating any problems this season.
"We don’t believe we’ve got a points deduction hanging over us. The uncertainty has been caused by the Football League have rightfully introduced the COVID add-backs. They’ve been trawling through the numbers and waiting for the validation. We are very confident there will not be a points deduction this year."
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