Paul Ince: Reading manager sacked with five games of season to go

Reading conceded a 92nd-minute winner to fall to a 2-1 defeat at Preston on Easter Monday, in what would turn out to be Paul Ince's final game in charge

Reading have sacked manager Paul Ince with the club in 22nd in the Championship and without a win in their past eight games.

Ince was appointed on an interim basis in February 2022 before taking on the role permanently last May.

The Royals were deducted six points last week for breaching the terms of a business plan set by the English Football League.

They are a point from safety with five games left after losing at Preston.

Assistant manager Alex Rae has also left the club, with former Reading striker Noel Hunt stepping up from his role as under-21 boss to take interim charge for the rest of the season.

"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," said Reading's head of football operations Mark Bowen.

"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."

Reading dropped to 20th after being handed the points deduction, which came after a previous profit and sustainability rule breach.

They were also given a six-point deduction for the previous breach in 2021, after losing £57.8m between 2017 and 2021.

The Royals have been under a transfer embargo ever since, which former Manchester United and England midfielder Ince had to work under during his tenure.

The club's top scorer this season is Ince's son, Tom, who was signed after leaving Stoke last summer and has nine league goals.

While Reading started this campaign strongly, winning seven of their first 11 games to sit third in the table, they have only won two games out of 14 since the new year and face a battle to stay in the second tier.

Analysis - 'Relegation to League One would be disastrous'

Tim Dellor, Reading commentator for BBC Radio Berkshire

Like the ousting of predecessor Veljko Paunovic, Paul Ince's tenure was allowed to run on a month too long.

Lately he's publicly become extremely critical of his players and the insistence of long-ball, route one tactics has been misguided.

The six-point deduction dropped Reading from relative safety to the brink of the relegation zone. No wins in seven games, and no away wins since November, has put them below the dotted line with just five games remaining.

The owners have invested a huge amount in the club - more than the sustainability and profitability rules permitted, in fact - so relegation to League One would be disastrous.

Fans' favourite Noel Hunt, with no doubt a huge amount of help from ex-manager - and now director of football - Mark Bowen, have a huge task ahead of them. They need to change the playing style and the players mentality before they play promoted Burnley on Saturday.