Paul Ince sacked as Reading manager as Noel Hunt takes interim charge

Paul Ince has been sacked by Reading after they dropped into the Championship relegation zone.

The former Manchester United and England international was axed amid the club’s poor form following an eight-match winless run including the latest defeat in the 2-1 loss at Preston North End on Easter Monday.

Poor form on the pitch has come at the worst possible time too given the club were also hit with six-point deduction for the second successive season for breaking financial rules of the Football League.

He had been on the brink of departure with his future discussed on Saturday by the board following Good Friday’s 1-1 stalemate with Birmingham City.

Ince praised his side’s effort but questioned their character following the costly defeat

The Championship club released a statement on their website confirming that Ince had left the club along with assistant Alex Rae, who both had joined the club on an interim basis 14 months ago.

It added that Ince had done an ‘admirable job in helping the club stave off the threat of relegation with four wins from the final 14 fixtures last season.’

It also noted how Ince landed the role permanently in the summer amid having to cope with a strict transfer embargo and a much reduced wage budget.

Owner Dai Yongge though felt it was important to act now in a bid to change the club’s fortunes following eight matches without a win and just five matches left of the season to climb out of the bottom three.

Former Royals striker and current Under 21 boss Noel Hunt has been put in interim charge until the end of the season.

Director of Player Development, Eddie Niedzwiecki, will be his assistant accompanied by first team coach James Oliver-Pearce and will be in the dugout for the next game against league leaders Burnley at home on Saturday.

Paul Potts’ stoppage time winner ensured Reading’s winless streak extended to eight games

Ince’s assistant Alex Rae has also been dismissed following their 14 months at the club

Former Royals striker and Under 21 coach Noel Hunt (pictured in 2013) will take interim charge

Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said: ‘I would like to thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far. We would like to wish them well in their future endeavours. 

‘The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this football club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.

‘However, for the next five games, our only focus is on doing everything we can to survive this season. Put simply, that means everyone – from myself, to the staff, to the supporters – lending all their support to Noel, Eddie, James and the first team players as we go into five crucially important games at the end of our 2022-23 campaign.’

Reading looked like they had rescued a point at Deepdale through an 83rd minute Kelvin Ehibhationham equaliser after Tom Cannon had opened the scoring for the hosts just before the hour mark.

However, Brad Potts’ stoppage-time strike inflicted defeat on the Royals who are one point off safety behind Cardiff City although have played an additional game more than the Welsh side.

After the match Ince questioned the effect of a change of management now and praised the effort his players were giving. However, he criticised their lack of character to get a positive result.

Ince had taken over as an interim last season before steering the Royals to safety

However, defeat at Preston saw Reading drop into the bottom three of the Championship

‘Unless you’re going to change something or bring someone else in… I’m not sure what’s going to change’, he told BBC Radio Berkshire.

‘It’s not like the lads are not fighting or playing for me, you see that. Everyone is frustrated.

‘At the end of the day, we are in this position that we’ve been put into (the six-point deduction). You need to think about that when you think about how unfair that is to me and the players.

‘We lack the character to see out games. I said to them, “if I’d have been playing in this team, I’d have been right on it and you wouldn’t have got away with some of the things you do.” We all make mistakes but the decision-making can’t always come from me.’