Reading FC missed out on making the play-offs after they lost to Barnsley, while Leyton Orient defeated Huddersfield Town to take 6th spot.
Noel Hunt’s side needed to pick up points and rely on Huddersfield to do them a favour, however they end the campaign in 7th position which brings an end to their season.
It was a special occasion in Berkshire after fans heard the long awaited news that a deal for Rob Couhig to purchase the club from Dai Yongge was confirmed this morning.
The players were greeted by a packed out home crowd at the Select Car Leasing Stadium as the Royals looked for one last push to try and secure a play-off place.
With Reading needing results to go their way, there was a blow when Leyton Orient took a lead at Huddersfield inside two minutes.
While action on the pitch was quiet at the SCL, news filtered in that Orient had doubled their lead.
Reading could have gone in front when Charlie Savage drilled a cross which was somehow put over the top by Harvey Knibbs, only for the offside flag to go up anyway.
Despite not being able to find a goal themselves, the crowd were given a lift when they heard that Huddersfield had pulled a goal back to make it 2-1.
However, that hope was short lived when Orient quickly reestablished their two-goal lead after the restart to make it 3-1, while Barnsley took an early second-half lead when Stephen Humphrys squeezed the ball in.
Reading’s play-off hopes were all but over when Barnsley extended their lead five minutes after their first when Jon Russell converted at the back post.
Captain Lewis Wing clawed back some hope when the ball fell his way and he obliged by tucking the ball into the corner to make it 1-2.
But Barnsley hit back with a third with 10 minutes to go, while Orient went 4-1 up at Huddersfield to seal their play-off spot.
The Tykes added a fourth in the 85th minute to put the match beyond any doubt before Reading grabbed one back in stoppage time through Billy Bodin
Reading can now focus on rebuilding under a new owner ahead of next season.
Reading: Pereira, Rushesha, Bindon, Mbengue, Garcia, Savage, Wing, Knibbs, Campbell, Ehibhatiomhan, Wareham
Subs: Button, Dorsett, Bodin, Carroll, Yiadom, Camara, Stickland
Barnsley: Gauci, Cotter, Russell, Roberts, De Gevigney, Lembikisa, Bland, Earl, Keillor-Dunn, Humphreys, Connell
Subs: Flavell, O’Keeffe, Phillips, McCarthy, Grant, Watters, Alker
Goas: Humphrys 52’, Russell 57’, Wing 67, Keillor-Dunn 79’, 85′, Bodin 90+4′
Attendance: 21,481
Visitors: 630
