Ex-Rangers midfielder out as Man Utd legend Paul Ince axed from Reading – former SPFL striker takes over as manager
PAUL INCE has been sacked by Reading - and assistant Alex Rae has also been axed by the Royals.
The decision comes after the a 2-1 defeat against Preston left them without a win in their last eight games.
The result means Reading are in the Championship relegation zone with just five games to go.
Former Dundee United and Dunfermline striker Noel Hunt - in charge of the Berkshire under-21s - has been placed in temporary charge tasked with saving the club's second tier status.
The Royals' situation has not been helped after being deducted six points by the EFL as a result of the club failing "to fully satisfy a business plan agreed after a historical breach of the EFL's Profit and Sustainability limits".
Former Rangers midfielder Rae - who has also managed Dundee and St Mirren - was drafted in alongside his former Wolves team-mate in February last year.
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The duo saved the club from relegation then worked through a transfer embargo in the summer and made a good start to the season.
However a downturn in fortunes saw tensions mount - including Rae's touchline flare-up with Norwich sub Jordan Hugill.
Ince seemed realistic about his fate when quizzed on his future at the weekend.
He said: "I've got absolutely no qualms about that.
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"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'd be sitting on 47 points and if you look at the injuries it's going to be tough.
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"If you get Pep [Guardiola] in here, it'd be no different. You could get [Jurgen] Klopp in here, it'd be no different because we have eight first-team players out."
Ince took over at Reading full-time last May after holding the position of caretaker manager.
He also added to BBC Radio Berkshire: "Unless you're going to change something or bring someone else in... I'm not sure what's going to change.
"It's not like the lads are not fighting or playing for me, you see that. Everyone is frustrated."
Head of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, said in a statement: “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.
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"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 are up against already-promoted Burnley next Saturday.
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