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 penultimate day of the season dropped Reading to seventh position in the division, three points below Leyton Orient.
Hunt was “disappointed” to have lost the game, but hailed Reading’s “outstanding” fans for their support and commended his squad, saying that continuing to compete for the play-offs despite the club’s turbulent season “shows the character of the group”.
Discussing the club’s sale in principle to ex-Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig, which was revealed on Saturday, the Irishman stated that there is now “a lot of work to do behind the scenes, so it’s important to get the ball rolling as soon as possible.”
“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 the BBC’s Berkshire affiliate.
“It will be a long yet enjoyable summer for us.
“It’s good news, it’s positive, it’s fantastic. [Couhig] appears to be active and eager to chat. It’s a step in the right path for me, 100 %.”
The first task this summer, according to Hunt, is to persuade players to stay and reward some of those who have remained with new contracts.
There is a huge list of players, both senior and academy, whose current contracts with the Royals will expire at the end of June.
Hunt might lose all three of his first-team goalkeepers, while centre-back Amadou Mbengue is one of numerous defenders who become a free agent on 30 June.
There’s similar concern around 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 term is not renewed. Adrian Akande, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, and Mamadi Camara are all wingers.
“After what they’ve done this season, they deserve that,” Hunt said of the effort to renew important 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 said, “All of your support has been extremely important to the group – the players, the staff, and the football club.”
“Go have a good summer, enjoy it, and hopefully we’ll come back next season rocking.”
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