Reading FC defender Harlee Dean has hinted that his future could lie away from the Royals heading into next season.
The 32-year-old signed for the Berkshire club last summer on a free transfer having been released by Birmingham City.
However, he struggled for game time as Ruben Selles made changes early in the season and opted for the younger centre-back pairing of Tyler Bindon and Nelson Abbey, and then preferred to pick Amadou Mbengue once Abbey departed in January.
Dean played just 16 times in all competitions for the Royals last season, with 11 League One appearances.
He scored one goal which came in a 5-0 thrashing over rivals Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy.
In an appearance on Birmingham City podcast ‘Keep Right On’, he said: “It (Birmingham) was a walk in the park compared to a year at Reading.
“I think the phrase ‘out of the frying pan and into the fryer.’
“Reading has been a lot more difficult than Birmingham ever was for those six years.
At Blues, we had ownership problems which look like they’ve completely changed now and it looks a fantastic club.
“Reading is in a real state. For such a club like Reading to be where it is, is sad for football.
“People in power don’t recognise or do the right due diligence on people buying clubs because of what the club has had to go through, the manager, the players, redundancies, no food, and no away travel.
“For a club the size of Reading, it’s disgraceful. Everyone involved has done well to guide them to safety.”
The former Birmingham captain then admitted that he future may be away from Reading.
He continued: “”It may not be Reading, it might be somewhere else, but I’m just looking to get fit and play as many games as I possibly can and enjoy it as well.
“I’ve still got a lot to offer, especially in League One, I just need to get playing and get consistently playing- there’s nothing better than playing game on game on game for your fitness, and robustness and that’s what protects you.”
