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

Last updated on .From the section Readingcomments869

Paul Ince
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.

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869 comments

  • Comment posted by korvintage64, at 10:51 11 Apr 2023

    Can't argue with his sacking on current form. However, the league position they're in is also due to the six point deduction which is surely the Board's responsibility? How many Directors will be 'stepping' down?

  • Comment posted by Elmo, at 11:01 11 Apr 2023

    If you just give it a few minutes Frank Lampard should be available 👍

    • Reply posted by Bemmie Boy, at 11:28 11 Apr 2023

      Bemmie Boy replied:
      Or wait for Watford to sack their current manager later this week, or is it next week, can't remember which!

  • Comment posted by davec , at 10:48 11 Apr 2023

    I'm not a huge fan of Paul Ince, but unless something has been said behind the scenes for the 1st time I feel sorry for him. Without the boards incompetence, Reading would have been safe. He's done quite well given the conditions he's had to work under

    • Reply posted by mcr, at 11:26 11 Apr 2023

      mcr replied:
      Pathetic knee jerk reaction. Maybe those responsible for the 6 point deduction should be the ones departing.

  • Comment posted by Bluebird63, at 10:55 11 Apr 2023

    Well done Reading , that seems a fair sacking(not) . Did the person who messed up the business plan also get sacked for losing them six points. Guess being a manger guarantees a short term job .

    • Reply posted by korvintage64, at 10:58 11 Apr 2023

      korvintage64 replied:
      Fair point on the Board's responsibility, but can't ignore they have only won two games out of 14 since the new year

  • Comment posted by Whizzo, at 10:51 11 Apr 2023

    Bye bye to 'The Guv'nor', the ridiculous nickname he gave himself.

    • Reply posted by Terry Smyth, at 11:30 11 Apr 2023

      Terry Smyth replied:
      Big time Charlie.

  • Comment posted by Billy Goat Gruff, at 10:53 11 Apr 2023

    Paul Ince is still managing football clubs? Still it could be Chris Sutton. If you cannot manage then be a pundit, if you cannot do that be a pundit for the BBC.
    Looks like being an excellent player makes for an average manager. There are exceptions. Brian Clough being one.

  • Comment posted by d d d d, at 10:59 11 Apr 2023

    Sack the team manager for potential relegation caused by a business cock up? What a bunch of idiots who will deserve their relegation.

    • Reply posted by twinprime, at 11:05 11 Apr 2023

      twinprime replied:
      Have you seen their results under Ince?

  • Comment posted by Honest_Mo, at 10:56 11 Apr 2023

    Seems harsh considering the restrictions he's had to work under since his time there.

    • Reply posted by Ashburton Grove, at 11:01 11 Apr 2023

      Ashburton Grove replied:
      The points deduction hasn't helped - Reading would be looking relatively safe without that.

  • Comment posted by D1713346643628, at 10:55 11 Apr 2023

    Ince inherited a very tricky situation last season and did very well to keep us up, and but for the second six point deduction we'd likely be playing Championship football next season too. What did for him however was the unbelievably negative football and throwing his players under the bus at every setback. Best of luck to Noel Hunt, a club favourite who has his work cut out to avoid League One.

    • Reply posted by LG Back Room, at 13:04 11 Apr 2023

      LG Back Room replied:
      I agree. His constant blaming of the players, and the negative comments about the squad as a whole, was unnecessary and maybe he lost the dressing room?

  • Comment posted by Percy, at 11:01 11 Apr 2023

    So the board break the rules get a six point reduction and then sack the manager. Interesting, perhaps they should have sacked themselves when they were at it.
    Incompetence springs to mind but that is putting it very, very politely.
    Good luck in your next Paul.

    • Reply posted by Winston Smith, at 11:22 11 Apr 2023

      Winston Smith replied:
      The EFL moving the goalposts at the last minute to give the points deduction, plus imposing an unachievable business plan based on selling players nobody else wants. Looks like intent from the EFL to me. Let's be honest, they want Dai out.

  • Comment posted by Ian D, at 10:48 11 Apr 2023

    Yet another former 'star' player who can't cut it as a manager. It's a long list.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 13:17 11 Apr 2023

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      That is why the many ex-players choose to become TV pundits instead of managers.

  • Comment posted by spaniel2, at 11:20 11 Apr 2023

    Good. He’s tactically inept

    • Reply posted by solidsponge, at 00:01 12 Apr 2023

      solidsponge replied:
      Say he is, what manager at this level is going to get it right all the time? Is the next Reading manager going to be tactically incredible? I think we are all really unrealistic.

      A good manager is not going to go to Reading, at the bottom, 6 points deduction.

  • Comment posted by Andy, at 11:03 11 Apr 2023

    I think it's time for Paul to maybe consider another career.

    • Reply posted by no, at 11:48 11 Apr 2023

      no replied:
      Fast track to MOD a cert ,he was on over rated player and a poor manager,who loved himself too much.

  • Comment posted by Home, at 11:07 11 Apr 2023

    Surely it's the directors / high end management who should be sacked? Without the 6 point deduction, I'm sure they would have been alright for another crappy season.

    • Reply posted by korvintage64, at 11:09 11 Apr 2023

      korvintage64 replied:
      they have only won two games out of 14 since the new year

  • Comment posted by TV, at 11:15 11 Apr 2023

    I totally agree that the people making the decisions regarding the manager are the same idiots that have caused the points deduction but Ince is not a great manager. I remember on Match of the Day when the camera panned in on the note he wrote for his half time team talk at Blackburn and he wrote "shoot". Made me understand there's more to this management malarky than ordinary fans realise.

    • Reply posted by Dan, at 11:26 11 Apr 2023

      Dan replied:
      🤣 classic. Did he add an amendment to that note saying “on target”?

  • Comment posted by Bricksnmortar, at 12:35 11 Apr 2023

    Always remember David Beckham saying of Ince ; "He calls himself 'the guvnor', nobody else does." It would seem the Reading board agree. His apparent insistence on playing 'route one' football is easier to fathom. It's the only way he knows.

    • Reply posted by RDG, at 13:25 11 Apr 2023

      RDG replied:
      Don't forget he bottled taking a penalty at Euro 96

  • Comment posted by Peter_London, at 10:50 11 Apr 2023

    It’s poor decisions like this that make you want a team to be relegated. Ince saved them last season and until the poor deduction was on track to do the same this year.

    • Reply posted by korvintage64, at 10:59 11 Apr 2023

      korvintage64 replied:
      they have only won two games out of 14 since the new year

  • Comment posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 11:29 11 Apr 2023

    From the outside this does look harsh. There were lots of restrictions, not least the points deduction. However as a Reading fan, this is long overdue. At away games there is no attempt to pursue an attacking game, simply just park the bus. Constantly played best players out of position, only tactics were lump it to Andy Carroll, refuses to use the talented youth & blamed all players bar his son

    • Reply posted by EleanorRigby57, at 19:58 11 Apr 2023

      EleanorRigby57 replied:
      Being a Leeds United supporter, am neutral in this matter, and concur completely with your comments. Ince comes across publicly as being biased and rather arrogant and he always has. Blaming players in public is intrinsically wrong and his failure to follow the example of great managers such as Sir Alex Ferguson is notable. Hope that Reading stay up by playing better football. All the best.

  • Comment posted by Humpty Dumpty, at 10:55 11 Apr 2023

    Enjoy your relegation

    • Reply posted by D1696190754034, at 11:01 11 Apr 2023

      D1696190754034 replied:
      Well said 👏👏

  • Comment posted by James_Autar, at 10:53 11 Apr 2023

    They were dire at Preston yesterday although North End played particularly well, but they were hardly any worse than QPR who Preston beat on Good Friday. It is not the fault of Ince that the club has been deducted 6 points so his sacking seems a little unfair to me.

    • Reply posted by Fred, at 11:32 11 Apr 2023

      Fred replied:
      It really isn't unfair, he's a terrible manager. The worst we've had in my 30 years supporting the club. He should have been sacked in January.

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