'Long but positive' summer ahead for Reading

Reading boss Noel Hunt said there's 'loads of work to do behind the scenes'

Reading manager Noel Hunt is optimistic for the future in light of the club's imminent takeover, despite the Royals narrowly missing the League One play-offs.

A 4-2 home loss to Barnsley on the final day of the season resigned Reading to seventh place in the division, three points behind Leyton Orient.

Hunt was "disappointed" to have lost the game but thanked Reading's "outstanding" fans for their support and praised his squad, adding that to still be fighting for the play-offs amid the club's tumultuous season "shows the character of the group".

Discussing the sale in principle of the club to ex-Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig, that was announced on Saturday, the Irishman said there was now "loads of work to do behind the scenes, so it's important to get the ball rolling as fast as we can".

"We have to have conversations, but [Couhig] has come over saying how happy he is, how proud he is of the job we've done," Hunt told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"It'll be a long summer but a good one for us.

"It's good news, it's positive, it's really great. [Couhig] seems active, wants to come down and chat. It's a step in the right direction for me, 100 %."

The first job this summer, Hunt said, is to convince players to stay and reward some of those who have stuck around with renewed contracts.

There's a long list of players - at both senior and academy level - whose current deals with the Royals are set to expire at the end of June.

Hunt could lose all three of his first-team goalkeepers, while centre-back Amadou Mbengue is one of several defenders who become a free agent on 30 June.

There's similar jeopardy surrounding Reading's frontline, with Chem Campbell returning to Wolves and the club's only remaining striker, Jayden Wareham, out of contract next month if his deal is not renewed. The same is true of wingers Adrian Akande, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Mamadi Camara.

"After what they've done this season, they deserve that," Hunt said of trying to renew key players' contracts.

"We've got to start tying down and looking after the ones that have been here, been through it, grown and developed, and then we can add to it after that."

Addressing the team's fans, he added: "All your support has been so, so important to the group - the players, the staff, the football club.

"Go have a good summer, enjoy it, and hopefully we'll come back next season rocking."