Reading FC appoint Paul Ince as interim manager as club prepare for relegation battle
Reading FC have changed managers with Paul Ince appointed on an interim basis as the Championship side look to beat the drop.
The Royals announced the departure of Veljko Paunovic on Saturday evening following a 3-2 win at Preston North End which was the club's first victory in 13 matches.
Paul Ince will be assisted by academy director Michael Gilkes at the helm in what is his first managerial appointment for eight years.
In a recent interview with Driving with Goldbridge on Youtube, prior to taking up the Reading FC job, Paul Ince talked about taking on a club that would provide him with a project.
He said: "I wouldn't say it [a managerial comeback] is done," "If I thought to myself I had had a torrid time as a manager, then that (a comeback) is not for me.
"But I've managed in all four leagues. My winning ratio is around plus 40 per cent and these were teams where I had been firefighting - they haven't been teams where I've been given a load of cash.
"Every club I've been to has had one of the smallest budgets, so I know I can manage. I know I can get a team promoted or save a team from relegation.
"If you're an owner and said, 'listen Paul, you've got a three-year contract and three years to get where we want to get to. Don't worry about year one or year two, this is where we want to be after three years and if you haven't done that, then you've lost your job,' then I'll take it.
"If not, then I've got no interest."
Reading's chief executive Dayong Pang said that they hoped to move swiftly in appointing a permanent successor to Paunovic
"This work will be done quickly but without undue haste as we fully appreciate the importance of our decision to appoint a new manager at this crucial stage of the campaign," he said.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince, whose son Tom is at Reading on loan from Stoke City, has been out of the game for eight years, with his last job coming in 2014 at Blackpool.
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Paul Ince started his managerial career at Macclesfield Town in 2006 before going onto take charge of MK Dons (twice), Blackburn Rovers, Notts County and Blackpool.
He's also been the boss at Blackburn Rovers, Notts County and Blackpool.
In the summer of 2007, he took over at MK Dons and led them to the League Two title, along with what is now known as the Papa John's Trophy, at the first attempt.
His work there did not go unnoticed as Premier League side Blackburn Rovers approached him, before appointing him as their manager in the summer of 2008.
However, he was sacked by December of that year after winning just three times in 17 matches and a return to MK Dons took place in July 2009, but his second spell was less fruitful.
Further stints at Notts County and Blackpool proved to be not particularly successful and he has not been in a management role for just over eight years.
Veljko Paunovic left Reading after a turbulent 18 months in charge which saw the club docked six points for exceeding the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability limits.
Paunovic said the "negativity" that had surrounded the club had had an impact on his team's performance.
He said: "It came to the point where it was best for the club - I’m pretty self-aware of the things that are happening and the negativity that was surrounding me. I never thought that was fair but I also don’t think at this point the team needs that.
"I am completely unselfish in this decision. I want the team to excel, I want the team to get back, all I want is the best for the club. I really have a huge respect for the opportunity, for the time I’ve spent with the club, for Mr. Dai Yongge and everyone from our board, our people within the club, our support staff, everyone working behind the scenes. Day in day out they give me support and give the team everything to compete and play like we did today. Therefore I just wanted to do the best for the club.
"On Covid, the points deduction and all the difficult circumstances over the last 18 months: The most important thing is that all that is behind. I think the team is now much better prepared, I think there are many more options, I think this win helps with confidence. And I hope this is a great timing for the team to rise back and realign the whole culture and tradition the club has."
Reading sit fourth bottom of the Championship table and are five points above the bottom three and eight away from Hull City who sit above them.
