Reading are set to appoint former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder as their new manager, as per an exclusive from Football Insider.
The club have been without a permanent manager since they parted ways with Paul Ince in mid-April. Noel Hunt went on to take charge as interim manager until the end of the season, however, he was unable to save the club as they were relegated to League One from the Championship, marking the first time the Royals will play in the third tier of English football since 2002. Reading were deducted six points back in April for breaching the terms of a financial plan they had agreed following a previous profit and sustainability breach.
Wilder is said to be keen on the role with the Berkshire club and the responsibility of leading the club back to the Championship as they recover from a relegation which was mostly brought on by financial difficulties leading to points deductions. Talks are underway between both parties and both are hopeful of reaching an agreement.
Wilder’s most recent role was with Championship club Watford, which he departed at the end of the season after just 11 games which saw him pick up three wins. He was also with Middlesborough early on in the 22/23 campaign but was relieved of his duties after 12 games which saw him pick up just two wins.
The former right-back has enjoyed a mostly successful managerial career spanning almost 600 games prior to those roles which saw him spend five years with his boyhood club Sheffield United. During that time between 2016 and 2021, he earned promotion twice with the Blades as he took them from League One to the Championship and even led them to a ninth-placed finish in the top flight, but he would depart Brammall Lane just a year on from that season.
The 55-year-old faces a tough project as Reading announced their released/retained list and a number of stars have departed the club which includes key players such as Scott Dann, Shane Long and Lucas Joao. Another name on the list which comes as a surprise is Luke Southwood who has enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with Cheltenham Town keeping 16 clean sheets this season.
Writer’s View
Wilder is an experienced manager and with his track record of taking Sheffield United to the Premier League, he is certainly an ideal candidate to help take the club back to the Championship. The project is definitely a tough rebuild with the club’s situation financially, as well as the experienced players who have parted ways with the club.
