Paul Ince appoints Alex Rae as Reading FC assistant manager

New Reading FC manager Paul Ince has made his first key backroom staff appointment with the arrival of Alex Rae.

Former England captain Ince's appointment of long term collaborator, Alex Rae, will surprise few.

The pair played together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and while player manager at MK Dons, Ince signed Rae there in 2009.

Read more -Paul Ince to bring in own coaching staff after Reading FC appointment

It is the first time they worked together since their time at Blackpool in 2013-14 however Ince was relieved of that post in January of that season.

As fate woud have it, Reading play Blackpool in this weekend's game.

Rae then joined Alex McLeish as assistant manager of Genk in 2014 and then took charge of St. Mirren in late 2015. It is of course his time as player at Rangers for which Rae (2004 - 2006) will be best known in Scotland. The midfielder helped the Gers lift a league title and League Cup during that spell before moving onto the coaching staff at Dundee.

Reading FC returned to winning ways last night with a 2-1 victory over Birmingham City. The game also saw Alex Rae join the Royal's management team in an interim capacity.

The Birmingham win was both Readings first victory in 11 games and interim manager Paul Ince's first foray into management in eight years.

Goals from Lucas Joao and John Swift were enough to move Reading seven points above Derby FC and the relegation spots. After the victory, Interim manager Ince quipped: "You dont forget how to ride a bike."

Ince, who landed the Royal's management role on an interim basis at the weekend continues to install his own management team alongside Reading academy boss Michael Gilkes.

Welcoming Alex Rae to Reading, the club stated: " We are pleased to confirm alex Rae has joined the club as our new Interim Assistant Manager."

Read more - Discover the places to visit and stay in the South East of England >>