Richardson out

[morganb]

If true, I'm not particularly disappointed despite being in the "give more time" camp. But it does reflect very badly on any club to have 3 managers in one season - can you name a single club who has had success that way?

If he goes, we must get the next appointment right and break a hiring and firing cycle that gets us nowhere.

My thoughts entirely. Although we've been crap recently, we have improved over the season and I was content to give him the summer and pre-season to see if things could improve at the start of next season. If not then the excuses run out.

But whilst I'm not shedding any tears if he goes, we absolutely have to get the next one right and not be here again in a year (or less)

The EPR had a good point that next season has the potential to turn toxic incredibly quickly as he has no goodwill in the bank. We have all talked about a full pre season and summer transfer window - if the first 5 games went badly, there would already be a storm in August. Add in the rumours about the lost dressing room, and perhaps he has simply run out of road.

But again, it's really the owners and JJ who should carry the can if a new manager has reached that point so quickly. Has it even been 6 months?

Noel was sacked at the end of October and Leam's first match was the FA Cup game at the start of November, so Just over 5 months in charge

[stealthpapes]

We barely gave Noel what, 9, 10 months?

[WestYorksRoyal]

We barely have Noel what, 9, 10 months?

What's your point? I've already said it reflects badly on everyone to sack someone more quickly.

What would you do now if you were the owner? Try to resolve whatever conflict is in the dressing room? Try and clear out squad members, noting some are on long term contracts and may simply choose not to leave? A mix of those two actions could be the way forward, but also factor in that the fan relationship has deteriorated and if we don't start the season well it will turn very toxic very quickly.

Or say we got it wrong and try again?

Ultimately they are only faced with bad options. I'm fine for you to disagree with me, but stop being condescending and treating everyone who disagrees with you as an idiot when there are valid counter arguments.

[Royal Rother]

If there are doubts about the manager (and, to coin stealthpapes' charming turn of phrase, it would be utterly utterly retarded for there NOT to be doubts after what we've seen this season, and that's setting aside the unconfirmed the rumours being circulated about unrest in the camp) then I just don't see why the fcuk you would give him a budget and a pre-season.

I'm sure Couhig will be content overall with the job done in ensuring safety, but nobody in their right mind could be happy with what they've watched and that sets a likely scene for the future - sure, he MIGHT get better with a pre-season and a budget, but would you take that chance with £Ms at stake?

The time to move is now imo and I have my fingers crossed.

[Royal Rother]

I'm fine for you to disagree with me, but stop being condescending and treating everyone who disagrees with you as an idiot when there are valid counter arguments.

Someone has to take on Ian's role in his absence.

[Brogue]

3 reasons to sack a manager

1) terrible run of results - nope
2) gross misconduct - nope
3) losing the dressing room - by all accounts he has.

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the role if you lose the dressing room it’s bye bye.

From my understanding wing had a meeting with the owners after the Lincoln game where he told them the players no longer have confidence in Richardson.

[windermereROYAL]

Early ST sales in June will surely be down, the feel good factor from last summer has gone, I can`t see the figures being encouraging if there isn`t a change.
It will be too early to see which of our crown jewels are staying or any incomings, I know where I stand on this.

[stealthpapes]

We barely have Noel what, 9, 10 months?

What's your point? I've already said it reflects badly on everyone to sack someone more quickly.

What would you do now if you were the owner? Try to resolve whatever conflict is in the dressing room? Try and clear out squad members, noting some are on long term contracts and may simply choose not to leave? A mix of those two actions could be the way forward, but also factor in that the fan relationship has deteriorated and if we don't start the season well it will turn very toxic very quickly.

Or say we got it wrong and try again?

Ultimately they are only faced with bad options. I'm fine for you to disagree with me, but stop being condescending and treating everyone who disagrees with you as an idiot when there are valid counter arguments.

That post wasn't a reply to you.
But yeah, think its 100% fair game to highlight just how silly it is for a club (and more than anything else its fan-base) to jump from extreme low to extreme low in the way this board has done this season. You can complete the meme, I think you did anyway.

Yes, we're faced with bad options because we seem to consistently rush our decisions, don't show a fraction of the patience any rebuild will need, and, as a fan base in the aggregate, over-react to every set back. We've just had a solid, if ultimately disappointing, season. But in the middle of that, a fairly makeshift squad* put together a nearly 30 game run that would be knocking on promotion if extended over a season. That bit shows genuine promise.

*yes, it's down to there not being a full/proper preseason. yes, it's down starting with only seven players. yes, it's also down to the change in manager, which comes with changes in approach and style, yes, it's also down to some of Hunt's signings not being good enough. It's clear from watching that some players are making basic mistakes, the sort of mistakes you make when you're tired.

What would you do now if you were the owner? Try to resolve whatever conflict is in the dressing room? Try and clear out squad members, noting some are on long term contracts and may simply choose not to leave? A mix of those two actions could be the way forward, but also factor in that the fan relationship has deteriorated and if we don't start the season well it will turn very toxic very quickly.

Or say we got it wrong and try again?

Actually posted this in a 'less condescending' post earlier. If there's serious doubts on the part of Couhig etc, then foment a 'it's unworkable' situation, both sides agree to part ways, move on quickly.

But as Brogue summarised - there's no gross misconduct, our results have been good, it boils down to a triangle of relationships that are, for the most part, out of sight of the fans. If the club have made this decision, then I think its a waste of Noel Hunt's career and a waste of most of the season - we'll have compounded one rushed decision with another, to the long term detriment of the club - but as you hint, I'll still buckle in for the ride for next year.

But here's the counter example, from our history. After PV away in 2024, it kicked off in the dressing room. At least four players in that squad, some of the more senior pros, barely featured again. A fifth player (at least) blotted his copybook a few months later. You could describe that as losing a major portion of the dressing room.

Yet.

Something evolved from that, so that the middle of the season was about the most fun I've had as a Reading fan and then by the next season, we were playing some of the best football we'd seen in years. Maybe we had to have patience, at that specific time, but it worked.

The fact that patience for relatively unknown managers seems to be historically the best way forwards for the club is not lost on me.

Final thought: The fan relationship with the current manager barely started. This thread started before he'd helmed a league game. There was one loss - televised?, narrow loss anyway - over Christmas where it was already like half the board had turned against him. We lost by 1 goal, btw.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

3 reasons to sack a manager

1) terrible run of results - nope
2) gross misconduct - nope
3) losing the dressing room - by all accounts he has.

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the role if you lose the dressing room it’s bye bye.

From my understanding wing had a meeting with the owners after the Lincoln game where he told them the players no longer have confidence in Richardson.

Losing the dressing room? Not by all accounts; by one single, unconfirmed, anonymous account he has.

[RG30]

Early ST sales in June will surely be down, the feel good factor from last summer has gone, I can`t see the figures being encouraging if there isn`t a change.
It will be too early to see which of our crown jewels are staying or any incomings, I know where I stand on this.

Does anyone really believe this? Everyone talks about not renewing but will always come round to renewing eventually.

[Hound]

Any fallouts after the Doncaster game wouldn’t be a great deal of interest to me

If Brogue is correct and Wing has had a sober chat with the owners and expressed the players unhappiness I’d suggest that’s a hell of a lot more important

Tbh we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. From results, and structural progress (ie coaching team in place, loans out etc) then a decision to sack him looks madness

But maybe there is something behind the scenes which has happened and makes this untenable

Still think it makes us a club look ridiculous. But suppose that’ll soon be forgotten if the next appointment is a good one

[Clyde1998]

Early ST sales in June will surely be down, the feel good factor from last summer has gone, I can`t see the figures being encouraging if there isn`t a change.
It will be too early to see which of our crown jewels are staying or any incomings, I know where I stand on this.

Does anyone really believe this? Everyone talks about not renewing but will always come round to renewing eventually.

They'll be down from ~9,000, as I think that was overinflated by optimism and represented a big jump from the previous few seasons (~8,000). Going back down to ~8,000 seems a realistic expectation to me.

That's before considering any price changes though...

[Orion1871]

Bit weird to be stalking the managers wife’s X profile as well tbh

We've all seen their weird obsession with Wareham and his stepdad, so not surprising.

[stealthpapes]

There was one related topic where I was genuinely "I cannot be the only person here who's done proper, organised pre-seasons with sports teams". Watching the replies was like watching toddlers fight with wooden cutlery.

Can I at least be condescending about that?

Please???

[Orion1871]

If it is true and it has come down to Richardson vs Wing then there is only one winner there for Couhig imo. That's the only way I can see this being real.

Got to wonder if JJ maybe looking over his shoulder a bit as well given his role in appointing his former teammate. Can't see it happening, but I don't think JJ will have as large a part in picking the next manager as he did with this one.

[tidus_mi2]

So the big announcement was an open letter to the fans from Couhig which also contained backing for Leam. So does that mean Brogue looks foolish?

[Bristol Paul]

Given the chairman has just issued an open letter to supporters, I very much doubt the manager is going anywhere at present. Crazy to sack him in my view given where we were as a club, the fact that he has improved us, and that we need stability, not endless new managers. Agree the football is sh!te and the tactics baffling at times, but constantly changing managers isn’t the answer in my view.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Good statement by Couhig, and probably the right decision. His statement "the Club's best days are ahead of us" are a bit far fetched though given those years from 2005 - 2007. But better days than the last decade is clearly achievable.

[morganb]

Link to the letter

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/a ... ob-couhig/

[Hound]

Well seems like he had to post something out to stop the speculation

It makes sense. I’m not a big fan at all of LR currently be he needs a chance to make things better imo

But he can start with throwing off the shackles last 3 games