SIMON Cox has voiced his concerns over the direction Reading FC is being taken by the club's new Thai owners in the wake of Brian McDermott's sacking.

Ex-Royals striker Cox posted a heartfelt message on social media after McDermott was unexpectedly axed last Friday.

McDermott's second stint in charge lasted a mere 161 days after he had replaced Steve Clarke when he too was sacked in December.

His departure came just a fortnight after Director of Football Nick Hammond had left to join West Bromwich Albion and only days after assistant manager Chris Davies quit to link up with former Royals boss Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.

In addition, six loan players left the Madejski Stadium at the end of last season while Hal Robson-Kanu, Anton Ferdinand and Cox himself were also released after their contracts ran out.

Now, Reading-born Cox has taken to Twitter to voice his genuine concerns.

He wrote: "Reading Football Club prides themselves on hard work and overachieving people who love our club.

“At OUR football club they stay the test of time and bring success not only to the club, but to the town that supports it.

“In recent years this hasn’t been the case and we have diverted from the hard work policy that we love and that the people of Reading desire.

“It only shows what success can bring when you bring in the right people that know the ‘Reading Way’ of playing football, not necessarily the ‘sexy’ footballers to the football club.”

Reading have been in the hands of Thai owners since September 2014, with co-chairman Khunying Sasima Srivikorn, Narin Niruttinanon and Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth in control.

They took over from Russian businessman Anton Zingarevich, whose lavish spending left the club in serious debt when he left.

But Cox, 29, is not convinced Reading are on the path to success, after finishing 17th in the Championship last season and 19th the season before.

He added: “As a supporter and a former player it disheartens me to see the way the club is in its form today.

“This is my club and I will follow it wherever my career takes me, but as a supporter I feel this needs to be voiced as much as it hurts me to say.”

Cox's message received widespread support from Reading fans and even some former players including Jem Karacan.

The club says it has already began the process of finding a replacement for McDermott with Jaap Stam, Gianfranco Zola, Avram Grant, Garry Monk and Gary Rowett among the early contenders.

Reports also state Royals have also held talks with former Atletico Madrid winger Milinko Pantic, 49, while the Serb was in London last week, though the rumours have not yet been confirmed.

Pantic last managed Azerbaijani club FC Baku between 2013 and 2014.