Former Reading boss Paul Ince has lauded the club's supporters as 'unbelievable' while looking back at his time in Berkshire.

The former England captain replaced Veljko Paunovic in March 2022 and helped keep the Royals in the Championship.

Starting 2022/23 in form, results tailed off after the World Cup break and the club finished 22nd, winning just twice from February onwards.

This was alongside a points deduction which hit in April, leaving little time to turn results around.

Reading Chronicle:

"I look back on my spell at Reading and I know it was such a shame. The fans deserve so much more," the former Manchester United and Liverpool star told DAZN. "They were unbelievable towards me and they were so supportive of me and the lads. I can't see a bad word about them at all. They were terrific."

Four points adrift of safety in League One, the club are staring down the barrel of successive relegations for the first time in it's 152-year history.

This is amid serious mismanagement from owner Dai Yongge, who has taken the club from the brink of the Premier League to the brink of League Two in six years.

Reading Chronicle:

"Reading have a very good chance of staying in League One," Ince said. "It'll be tough as it's quite tough down there, but there are still a lot of points to be won. Being the Reading manager is a tough gig, and somebody needs to turn it around and give the feel-good factor back to the fans. They're very frustrated at the moment and I totally get that. 

"People need to understand what Alex and I had to go through during our final few months. I could write a book on my trials and tribulations there! The manager has to concentrate on their players and get the best out of them to keep them on your side.

"The Reading job was tough, but it's one I'm very proud of. I hadn't managed for eight years prior to joining, but we all did a great job there. The relegation wasn't down to us – it was down to the financial mismanagement of the club. I feel quite proud of what I did. 

"Sometimes you don't get credit and sometimes you do. There are, hopefully, people out there who appreciate the job I did down there and understand it."