Nigel Adkins: Reading manager relishing challenge

Nigel Adkins previously managed Southampton, Scunthorpe United and Bangor City

Reading boss Nigel Adkins has said he relishes the challenge that awaits him following a poor run of league results.

The Royals have lost seven of their last 11 games and slid from sixth to 14th in the Championship table.

They currently sit just three points above the relegation zone and visit out-of-form Norwich City on Saturday.

"It's a great challenge and I am learning a lot about myself, my staff and my players," 49-year-old Adkins told BBC Radio Berkshire.

He added: "I know this experience is invaluable in my future as a manager."

Adkins was appointed at the Madejski Stadium in March 2013 when they were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table but could not stop them avoiding relegation that season.

Last term he led the Royals to a seventh-place finish in the Championship, missing out on the play-offs by one point.

He admitted he had been hurt by their current slump in form but said he would not let it affect him.

"I hate losing, but I am very consistent in everything I do," he added.

"You never see me too high and you never see me too low. I'm consistent in what I do.

"Why is that? Because I know I come into work at 8am every morning and I work long hours and we do as much preparation as we can do.

"I have extremely hard working staff and we go out on the training ground and we give the players as much of an opportunity to improve as players and collectively so that we are prepared and can adapt to the situations that occur during the game.

"So when I look in the mirror I know I work extremely hard at my trade, work extremely hard to improve myself and to improve all the individuals I come into contact with."