A DEVASTATED Chris Gunter is confident Reading can use yet another play-off heartbreak to their advantage.
But the Royals’ stand-in skipper says it is vital the club do not make any sweeping changes in the wake of Monday’s tragic 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat to Huddersfield Town at Wembley if they are to continue the remarkable progression witnessed over the past year.
New Reading owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li are due to hold a debrief with boss Jaap Stam at some point this week and will no doubt want to start putting their own stamp on things following their recent purchase of the club.
Gunter, who took on the captain’s armband in the absence of suspended Paul McShane for the play-off decider, however, believes it is important the siblings do all they can to ensure Stam is still sitting in the hot-seat come the start of next season.
Since sworn is as a managerial unknown last summer, the Dutchman has dragged a club which finished 17th in 2015/16 and heading nowhere up to the dizzy heights of third and within spot kicks of the Premier League, stunning work which has not gone unnoticed elsewhere.
Stam, therefore, has been linked with a move away from Madejski Stadium in recent times, but Gunter, who was a big part of this revival having turned out 52 times last term, says he and the squad have unfinished business.
“The club need to make sure the right things are done and we get a bit of consistency and the first thing to make sure is done is this manager is in charge for the first game of the season,” said the 27-year-old.
“That is the most important thing this football club can do, regardless of anything else, and if we do that, I think we have seen this season that we have got a guy that knows what to do, how to win football matches and can take the club forward.
“If we do that then we will come back stronger next season. If that is the case and he can stay then, for sure, we will be better for this experience.”
Gunter, whose attentions now turn to Wales’ vital World Cup qualifier away at Serbia on June 11, added how the pain of losing on penalties is the worst.
But time, as the saying goes, is a great healer and the full-back is very much of the opinion the squad will return from the summer break determined to avenge a fourth play-off final defeat.
“In time you do get over things and we will get over it and recover from it,” he added.
“In this moment in time you feel bad and sorry for yourself, but you feel worse for everyone connected with the club right the way through.
“That’s the way I feel at the moment, but congratulations to Huddersfield, it is important to say they have had a good season as well. Sport is a cruel game at times, but there has to be a winner and a loser and unfortunately it is us today.
“You just hope, in time, we will reap the rewards for the hard work we have put in.”
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It is easy to forget the successes and giant strides taken by the club this past season amid the despair and upset which surrounds the club following defeat to the Terriers.
Gunter, though, agreed with the suggestion that once the sadness begins to shift the squad can no doubt look back over the past 11 months with a great deal of pride.
“We will be,” was his response.
“It is hard in this moment in time because we have just lost the ultimate dream, really, on a couple of penalties, so it is hard.
“But in time we will look back and think we finished third and we were so close. We need to use that, but at this moment in time we are hurting.”
