Reading FC chairman and co-owner Rob Couhig gave his strong backing to manager Noel Hunt despite an underwhelming start to the season.
The Royals have struggled for results on the pitch and are left in 19th position in League One on 10 points from their opening 10 games.
Some fans have been critical of Reading’s style of play under Hunt and are concerned with both the lack of positive results and performances.
Despite some fans questioning whether Hunt is the right man for the job, Couhig has given his full backing to the boss.
Speaking at a Q&A session with fans at the Select Car Leasing Stadium last week, Couhig said: “We inherited Noel (Hunt). Joe (Jacobson) and I looked at what Noel had done before we got here and we found he did an exemplary job last season taking over in a desperate situation, getting the club to play well for him and how he was able to put the club together.
“We have certain criteria we look at with a manager and he met those. Then we looked at how he got ready for this season. We knew we had to replace a bunch of people who had decided to move on because they got a better offer, we didn’t let them go easily. We don’t give in and we don’t back down.
“We now have a great combination of youth, experience and veteran players who know how to play the game and direct people. We worked with Noel on that and I got impressed with his judgement on people. It’s a long season. You want good people around you and people you can depend on.
“We wanted somebody who could be flexible and not married to one system. As the club has gelled and Noel’s philosophy has begun to set in we have won two and over the past four games we have played almost as well as everyone else in the league.”
Couhig also explained how he believes that firing a manager is not an instant resolution to improve results or performances and is keen that the club stick with Hunt after being impressed with his work at the club.
He continued: “I never considered firing Noel. I don’t believe firing a manager suddenly turns a guy into a better striker or a better defender.
“I don’t think firing a manager changes anything as long as the players still support him and our players absolutely support him. I don’t believe firing a manager does anything but take pressure off an owner and I’m here to take that pressure.
“If you don’t like what he does, blame me. If you don’t like who we sign, blame me because ultimately I’m responsible.
“Noel is our manager. He’s doing a great job and will become a better manager because he’s learning. All of us have to learn in our jobs.”
