Hunt 'voiced' concern at lack of summer signings

Noel Hunt has wished his successor at Reading Leam Richardson "all the best"

Sacked Reading boss Noel Hunt said that he "needed a couple more" signings over the summer to improve the squad's strength.

Hunt was sacked from the League One club last weekend after 10 months in charge and having taken three wins from 14 in the league this season to leave them 19th in the table.

When reflecting on his time in the dugout at the SCL Stadium Hunt pointed to player recruitment as a reason why the Royals struggled before his departure.

Reading brought in 12 players over the summer including Portsmouth winger Paddy Lane who joined for an undisclosed fee.

"Every one of the players that we signed are unbelievably good characters, good people and are good players," Hunt told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We needed a few more and I voiced that enough that we needed a couple more bodies in before the end of the summer window.

"That's the frustrating bit of it in terms of the whole situation - when I look back and reflect from me, I want to push more to get three or four bodies in to help the lads."

Hunt took over from Ruben Selles in late 2024 and managed 51 games before leaving the club he once played for.

The Irishman was in the dugout during a turbulent time at the club during the tail end of Dai Yongge's ownership through to the takeover by Rob Couhig.

On Tuesday Reading appointed former Wigan and Rotherham boss Leam Richardson as Hunt's successor.

He will get his first taste of action as Royals boss on Saturday in the FA Cup first round at home to Carlisle, before a midweek game against fourth placed Stevenage in the league.

"I'd like to wish Leam and his staff the very best of luck with the job and with Reading," Hunt added.

"My primary [hope] is that Reading does really well and is a successful football club, that's never going to change so I wish them, the guys, all the best.

"It's still quite raw and I look at the really fond memories and the experiences I had and I'll cherish their moments and I can be proud of what we did and all the change and transition at the club.

"The biggest thing I said at the start of the job in December was that I wanted to give the club back to the fans and have something to cheer and be proud of, and I felt we did that."

Listen to Noel Hunt speaking in full about his sacking.