Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk is understood to be in the running to become the new boss of recently relegated Reading, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
The Royals have been on the hunt for a new manager to take them into their upcoming League One campaign following their recent relegation from the Championship after parting ways with previous boss Paul Ince in April 2023.
Former Leeds, Swansea and Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk is interested in the vacant Reading manager’s job. Monk has been out of work since leaving Sheffield Wednesday in November 2020. Reading still deciding upon a full-time replacement for Paul Ince #readingfc
— Darren Witcoop (@DarrenOWitcoop) May 18, 2023
Who is Garry Monk?
Garry Monk has already made his steps in the management game after retiring from playing amongst some of the biggest clubs in the EFL.
A defender in his playing days, Monk had spent the best part of ten years playing at Swansea City, going on to make a total of 271 appearances in South Wales, with the former defender finding the back of the net on seven occasions which also included a spell in the Premier League.
The 44-year-old first took his steps into management whilst at Swansea, being appointed player-manager following the departure of Michael Laudrup in February 2014. In a relegation battle, Monk guided the Swans to Premier League safety and as a reward, the former defender signed a three-year contract to become the club’s manager on a permanent basis at the end of the season, signalling an end to his playing career.
In December 2015, Monk’s 12-year association with Swansea City would come to an end as he was sacked with the club sitting 15th in the Premier League table following a run of only one victory in his last 11 games managing the Welsh side.
Management spells at Leeds United, Middlesborough and Birmingham City followed before Monk returned to the management hot seat to take on the job at Sheffield Wednesday in September 2019, replacing Steve Bruce who resigned from the role a few months prior.
The former Swansea boss would only manage 58 games during his time in Sheffield as he left the club in November 2020 and second-bottom in the Championship table, with the 44-year-old being out of work ever since.
BREAKING: Garry Monk leaves Sheffield Wednesday. #swfc pic.twitter.com/wPgsSDSxvu
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) November 9, 2020
A League One Tour for the Royals
The season just gone was no doubt a disappointing one for Reading as the club is set to embark on a League One tour in a bid to fight to return to the Championship, where they feel they belong.
In a bleak season in which the Royals won 13 of their 46 games, the biggest reason why they took the drop was due to the sic point deduction imposed on the club following a breach of financial rules, as well as failure to fully satisfy a business plan agreed after a historical breach of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability limits.
Without the points deduction imposed on the club, Reading would have survived the drop comfortably on 50 points but instead, the point deduction meant the club finished the season on 44 points, being relegated from the Championship alongside Wigan Athletic and Blackpool.
Writer’s View
For me, Reading’s next managerial appointment has to be one of their most important as they set to go on a League One journey following last season’s relegation. Is Monk the right man for the job? I have my doubts in all honesty.
There’s no denying Monk’s managerial qualities as he has previously taken over some of the biggest sides in the Football League, but with the way his last few jobs have gone and the fact he hasn’t managed since late 2020, there is always that element of risk attached to it.
It will be intriguing to see what happens but as much as the club are not in a rush to make the right appointment, there is a point to appoint one sooner rather than later as they look to give League One a right go next season in order to retain their place in the Championship.
