READING FC’s search for a new manager for the 2023/24 season is underway as the club prepares for life in League One.
It will be the first time in more than two decades that the Royals will play in England’s third tier after suffering relegation from the Championship.
Paul Ince took charge for the majority of the 2022/23 campaign before he was dismissed with five games to go and replaced by under 23s boss Noel Hunt who stepped up to manage the first-team on an interim basis.
After not being able to save the club from relegation, the club are in the midst of drawing up a list of candidates to take over the Berkshire club in a new and challenging chapter.
Here are five potential suitors to be in place at the Select Car Leasing Stadium next year.
John O’Shea
The former Manchester United stalwart was part of Reading’s coaching staff for two years.
After playing the final year of his professional career with the Royals, O’Shea moved into the coaching team as a first-team coach in July 2019 and departed in July 2021.
The 42-year-old has yet to have a full-time role as a first-team manager and most recently left his role at Stoke City where he was a first-team coach after one season with the Potters.
O’Shea, who was capped 118 times for the Republic of Ireland, is currently assistant manager under Stephen Kenny since being appointed in February 2023.
Jobi McAnuff
The former Royals skipper could prove a popular choice among fans, despite having little in the way of managerial experience.
The Jamaican international captained the team that won promotion to the Premier League under McDermott in 2011/12.
After finishing his playing career with Leyton Orient, who he captained and then took up a player-coach role with, he found himself in the hot seat in February 2021.
He managed just 16 games for the O’s with a record of six wins, four draws and six defeats before he departed in May 2021.
McAnuff was selected to join the FA board in a non-executive director role in 2022.
Neil Critchley
After putting himself on the radar with some excellent work with Liverpool’s academy sides, Critchley was approached by Blackpool in March 2020.
In his first full season, he steered the team to promotion with a triumphant play-off campaign that saw the Tangerines defeat Lincoln City in the final.
After helping Blackpool to a 16th place finish in 2021/22, he made a shock decision to leave his role as first-team manager and join Steven Gerrard’s coaching team at Aston Vila.
His spell only lasted four months as Gerrard and his coaching staff were sacked by Villa with the club teetering close to the relegation places.
Critchley replaced Michael Beale as first-team boss at Queens Park Rangers in December 2022.
However, it turned out to be a disastrous time as QPR won just one of his 12 games at the helm, leading to him being relieved of his duties in February.
Graeme Murty
Another former Royals captain on the list and possibly another sought after option with the supporters.
Murty became the first ever Reading captain to lead the club to promotion to England’s top flight when Steve Coppell’s side stormed to the Premier League by winning 106 Championship points in 2005/06.
Making himself a Royals legend in the process, the Scot made more than 300 appearances for the club in 11 seasons.
Murty has had just one first-team managerial position which was with Rangers.
He took over an interim manager in February 2017. He had two spells as interim coach before being appointed as the full-time manager.
Rangers finished in third position behind Celtic and Aberdeen under his guidance in the 2017/18 campaign.
After suffering heavy consecutive losses to bitter rivals Celtic, he was removed from his position.
Murty is currently in charge of Sunderland U21s, but has not had a first-team role since leaving Rangers.
Chris Wilder
Arguably the most popular choice with Royals’ fans among the rumoured names thus far.
Wilder has great experience throughout all levels of the English pyramid and is looking for his next opening after leaving Watford.
Despite having an unsuccessful 11-game stint with the Hornets who continue to cycle through managers season upon season, Wilder’s stock remains high.
His best achievement in coaching to date was at Sheffield United.
With the club in League One, he masterminded a 100 point campaign that saw the Blades win the league in his first season in charge in 2016/17.
Wilder then led the Blades to the Premier League by finishing as Championship runners-up in the 2018/19 season.
Sheffield United enjoyed an excellent first season back in the top flight and finished in ninth.
But the next campaign didn’t go to plan and Wilder left by mutual consent in March 2021 with the club bottom of the table.
