Reading FC chairman Rob Couhig has provided an update on the club after a busy couple of weeks of outgoings and new arrivals.
Couhig and the club’s hierarchy made the decision to dismiss manager Noel Hunt with the team hovering just above the League One relegation places in 19th position.
A swift hiring process saw them appoint former Wigan Athletic manager Leam Richardson as his replacement and he has been joined by coaches Danny Schofield, James Beattie and Rob Kelly.
Speaking to Royals TV, Couhig said: “Truthfully everyone is constantly being evaluated and Noel and I sat down and went through where we were and had a good understanding. I thought we needed to increase the level of performance, I didn’t claim to be an expert on how he should play but what I was looking for was a certain intensity and a certain result. It’s a results business as Noel admitted to me.
“When we had the result we did (against Doncaster) it was obvious to me that the time had come. I dwelled on it Saturday night and called Joe (Jacobson) on Sunday morning and asked his thoughts, he concurred with me. It was my decision.
“I called Todd and called Rick and told them what was going on and nobody objected. I called Noel and I would have preferred to have been here but I had practically just gotten back off the plane to the States. We had a good conversation, he’s an honorable guy and has given his life to this club. He’s got a great future as a manager but sometimes you need to change direction and you can’t change out everyone underneath so you change the person at the top. IT was a tough decision but it is one I stand by and one that had to be made.
“I think the fans and I are starting to understand each other. The decision is one that ultimately became obvious to me. Not any sort of joy in it, but it was time.”
Couhig also spoke on the transfer window: “I know people will say ‘he promised a spectacular transfer window’.
“If you go back, I promised the potential of a spectacular transfer window. I’m going to still stick with that. Find me someone who signed a better midfielder than Lewis Wing. Find me someone who signed a better goalie than Joel (Pereira). Find me someone who is a better defender than Paudie (O’Connor).
“We got Jack Marriott. Has someone done a better signing of a striker than Marriott? I don’t think so. We got RItchie who is superb and we have other kids who are developing well.
“Nobody is more disappointed in the results than me other than maybe the players themselves, but what sometimes people forget is that so much goes into winning. It sounds like an excuse but it’s an explanation. When we started in the summer we only had six kids under contract. We signed them when they became available. We signed Marriott the day he became available. We signed Ritchie the day he became available. We signed others when they became available. We were constantly looking. We’ve got the talent to succeed.”
