NEIL WARNOCK gave his thoughts on Reading FC’s relegation to League One in his pre-match programme notes ahead of the final day of the season.
Warnock’s Huddersfield side secured their Championship safety at the expense of the Royals last week with a win over Sheffield United.
“Firstly, I’d like to welcome our opponents Reading to our ground this afternoon and offer our sincere commiserations to them on how their season has concluded,” said Warnock .
“You fight for yourselves, of course, and we were so delighted to get the results over the line on Thursday night, but there’s always someone who suffers at the other end.”
Warnock has done a sensational revival job with the Terriers who were in the relegation zone when he took over.
The experienced veteran, who is 74, took over for his second spell with Huddersfield having come out of retirement.
Warnock also admitted that he was close to taking over as Reading manager in the past.
He continued: “I’ve had some great battles with Reading over the years, and I nearly took over there once as well.
“They’ve had difficult times on and off the field this season, but the club will be back, clubs always recover.”
The Royals will be playing in the third tier next season for the first time since 2001/02.
In more than two decades away from the third tier, Reading spent three seasons in the Premier League in two separate spells, and have been in the Championship since 2013/14.
Reading will now be plotting their return to the second tier in what is likely to be a summer of change at the club who will be searching for a new first-team manager after Noel Hunt’s five game interim spell.
