Paul Ince takes charge at Reading, Paunovic sacked

 

 

Paul Ince will take temporary charge of Reading after Veljko Paunovic was sacked in the wake of the Royals’ win at Preston their first in the league since November 27.

Paunovic took charge at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in August 2020 and guided the club to a seventh-place finish in his first season in Berkshire.

But his side have lost 18 of their 32 league games this term and sit just five points above the relegation zone.

Ince now returns to the dugout having left his last manager’s job at Blackpool in 2014.

Reading announced the decision to replace Paunovic just moments after their 3-2 win at Preston.

The club said Paunovic had been afforded more time to turn things around after facing difficulties out of his control including transfer embargo restrictions and a six-point deduction imposed by the EFL.

But a decision had already been made with the club acknowledging their recent form “sees us in a battle for second tier survival”.

A statement read: “With nearly a third of the season still remaining and every point now vital in our bid to retain Championship status, the decision has been mutually agreed to make a change.

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Ince, whose son Tom is on loan at Reading, will take charge of the first team as chief executive Dayong Pang leads the search for a permanent appointment.

“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,” Pang said.