READING FC are hoping to appoint Chris Wilder as the club’s new manager as they prepare for life in League One after being relegated from the Championship last season.
The Royals have been in discussions with the former Blades boss for the last few weeks and are hoping to finalise a deal.
Reading have been without a permanent manager since Paul Ince was sacked with five games to go in the 2022/23 Championship season, where the club ultimately suffered relegation after finishing in 22nd position.
It is believed that Wilder has been offered the job by the club and they are now waiting on him to make a final decision about his future.
Reading have also reportedly been in talks with former Luton Town and Southampton manager Nathan Jones, but it appears that Wilder is the number one target.
Wilder was most recently manager of Watford for an 11-game spell that saw the Hornets finish in 11th place in the Championship.
The 55-year-old also had a relatively unsuccessful stint with Middlesbrough where he was in charge for just under a year before being sacked in October 2022, and replaced by Michael Carrick.
His best achievement in coaching to date has been with Sheffield United.
With the club in League One, he masterminded a 100 point campaign that saw the Blades win the league in his first season in charge in 2016/17.
Wilder then led the Blades to the Premier League by finishing as Championship runners-up in the 2018/19 season.
Sheffield United enjoyed an excellent first season back in the top flight and finished in ninth.
But the next campaign didn’t go to plan and Wilder left by mutual consent in March 2021 with the club bottom of the table.
