The managerial merry-go-round never stops. Blackpool and Luton have already pulled the trigger, while at Peterborough, Darragh MacAnthony is getting an itchy finger.
Now it seems that Reading are also considering a change. In a division full of teams who feel this could be their year in the absence of big hitters such as Sunderland, Derby, Ipswich and Birmingham, many believe they should be challenging. Luton and Blackpool have the budget, Posh the experience and Reading the Championship pedigree.
The Royals are reportedly considering parting company with manager Noel Hunt following a difficult start to the League One season, which includes a defeat at our place on the opening day. Football League World claim the Reading hierarchy is preparing to make a change, with defeat at Exeter City this weekend likely to prove decisive.
The mood around the Select Car Leasing Stadium has shifted since the summer, when Rob Couhig’s takeover finally ended the turbulent Dai Yongge era. The American owner sanctioned a significant rebuild, paying a fee for Imps’ panto villain Paddy Lane and grabbing our captain, Paudie O’Connor. Crucially, he chose to keep Hunt in charge rather than appointing his own man — but results have not matched those early ambitions.
After ten games, Reading sit 19th in the table with ten points from a possible 30. Last season, they narrowly missed out on the play-offs by a single place and three points, but that progress has stalled badly in the early weeks of 2025/26. Despite losing only one of their past seven league fixtures, the Royals have won just twice, drawing too many games and failing to build momentum. A 1–1 home draw with Mansfield Town last time out did little to ease pressure on the Irishman.
Hunt, now 41, was appointed permanent manager in December 2024 following Rubén Sellés’ departure to Hull City. It is his first full-time senior role after spells as assistant at Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers, as well as a brief stint as caretaker at Swindon. Having made 162 appearances as a player for Reading between 2008 and 2013, his appointment was initially popular, but patience appears to be wearing thin after a bad start.
Given how Exeter played against us, a win is likely for Hunt, but will it be a stay of execution? Or are Reading about to join the growing group of clubs already rethinking their summer strategy?
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