Reading Head of Football Operations revealed that he was left 'disappointed' after the exit of Josh Laurent to Stoke City.

Mark Bowen brought Laurent into the club from Shrewsbury Town in 2020 but left his post before getting the opportunity to work with him.

Re-joining the club this summer after a short stint in charge of AFC Wimbledon, Bowen was tasked with persuading out of contract stars- including Laurent and midfield partner Andy Rinomhota- to commit their futures to the Royals.

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The 27-year-old opted against remaining with Reading, joining Stoke City last month, but Bowen admits they did all they could to tempt the 2021 Player of the Season.

Speaking to the media ahead of a pre-season fixture with Colchester United, he said: “When you’ve got an idea on the people you want to keep, and you can’t keep them because of financial restrictions at times it does to come down to a financial decision for themselves and their families. There’s a disappointment there but you have to live with it.

“Right from the very start of me coming back into the building I had a feeling deep down that he felt this was the one and only time really that he’s got a chance to financially secure his family, so I felt it was a financial decision more than anything else, and you have to live with that.

“Right from the very start of me coming back into the building I had a feeling deep down that he felt this was the one and only time really that he’s got a chance to financially secure his family, so I felt it was a financial decision more than anything else, and you have to live with that.

“I tried my best, but we’ll remain as friends and know that he did a sterling job for the club.”

With no central midfielders currently in the first team squad, Bowen went on to admit that more emphasis will be placed on incomings for the remainder of the window ahead of a late July Championship start.

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“In terms of numbers, I don't think we can afford to lose too many players,” he said. “It's not a money issue at the moment. The only departures we'll have is if we let players go and we can get in better. That has to be the remit. It's purely about making sure our squad is as strong as it can possibly be notwithstanding the EFL restrictions.”