Analysis: Ruben Selles' rise in popularity has been 'remarkable'

Ruben Selles' Reading sit nine points clear of the League One relegation zone

This time last year following Reading was a miserable experience.

Six points from the final ten games, a six-point deduction, manager Paul Ince dismissed, and chaos on and off the pitch all contributed to relegation from the Championship.

Going into the final ten games this season, all the same chaos existed, but a happier outcome seems likely.

The news that unpopular club owner Dai Yongge has entered into a period of exclusivity ahead of a proposed sale has given hope.

A couple of high-energy performances and excellent wins in the last couple of weeks has also raised hopes for the future.

Management, players, and fans will not completely relax, but sitting nine points clear of the drop zone with three games remaining appears comfortable.

There is always the nagging concern the EFL will find something else amiss and hit the club with another points deduction, but staff at the club seem to have confidence there are no further smoking guns.

Regardless, building up a good buffer zone between themselves and the drop zone is sensible, just in case.

Despite the fact Reading has been fighting in a League One relegation battle, has been at its lowest point for more than twenty years, and is still officially owned by an individual who has been a nightmare for fans, there is growing positivity.

That is mainly because of the way the players and management have gone about their work.

They have appeared to genuinely appreciate and love the support they are getting from fans, and have responded with wholehearted efforts on the pitch.

For a manager who had led his team to the bottom of League One and ten points adrift of safety at the end of November, Ruben Selles' rise in popularity has been remarkable.

If Ipsos did a leadership approval opinion poll for the Reading manager, Selles' graph would make interesting viewing.

From being questioned and potentially on the verge of the sack, in five months he's recovered to enjoy messiah status at the SCL stadium.

He is arguably the most popular manager since Brian McDermott was in charge a decade ago.

Officially St Ruben has another year on his contract.

New owners have a habit of changing their manager, good luck to any new owner who has that intention.

Perhaps a fraction prematurely, attention is starting to turn to next season in League One and a fresh start for the club.

Fans seem pretty adamant Selles has earned the right to be at the helm in calmer seas.