Former Reading FC Championship winner Ian Harte heaped praise on manager Ruben Selles, but stressed the desperate need for new ownership at the club.
Among his storied career, Harte made 99 appearances in all competitions for the Royals from 2010-2013 and scored 15 times.
He played 32 Championship games in the 2011/12 season as Brian McDermott’s side were crowned champions and won promotion to the Premier League.
Speaking to Offshore Poker Sites, Harte said: “Reading is a great club with a good fan base.
“Obviously, John Madjeski was the owner while I was there, but yeah, they need to get new ownership in. I think the manager has done a great job.
“They started the season and it looked like they were going to get relegated with a group of younger lads.
“The most important thing was staying up. I think once they get the structure right and get the new ownership in, hopefully they can bring in key players to try and push on next season.”
Harte was also full of praise for former teammate and current Reading U21s boss Noel Hunt.
He continued: “It didn’t work out for Ruben Selles at Southampton, but he’s done very well at Reading. But I think it also helps that Noel Hunt is the under-23’s manager.
“I actually watched them play against Sunderland the other night. Sunderland won the game in extra time, but Noel had them playing some lovely, lovely football.
“People look at the manager at the top, but obviously Noel has done a really good job at Reading with the under-23’s.
“He’s got a group of young lads pushing to try and get into the first team.
“Having had to get players out of the building, that creates the opportunity then for the manager to give these young lads a chance and when they’ve got the chance, they’ve taken it.”
