Reading favourite Charlie Adam has been left 'bitterly disappointed' after his Fleetwood Town side were relegated to League Two on Saturday.

Dubbed 'Scottish Pirlo' by Royals fans, Adam played 27 times for the Royals in 2019/20 at the back end of an illustrious Premier League and international playing career.

The former Rangers and Liverpool star took his first senior management role on December 31, 2023, and won five of his 22 matches in charge this season.

Fleetwood drew 1-1 with Reading at Highbury Stadium under Adam, back in February, and the former midfielder received a standing ovation from the travelling supporters.

Reading Chronicle:

The Cod Army, in the third tier for a decade, had three managers over the course of the 2023/24 campaign and were relegated with one game to play despite beating Leyton Orient 1-0.

Carlisle United, Port Vale and Fleetwood are all officially relegated, while Cheltenham Town will join them if they fail to beat promotion-chasing Peterborough United this evening.

"It’s a tough day for everybody involved in the football club," Adam told the club media. "From the top, the players, the supporters- we’re all feeling extremely disappointed. It’s been a tough season for the football club but since we’ve come in on December 31, those players have given us everything. They’ve fought, run hard and given us everything. Unfortunately, we’ve just come short. I’m bitterly disappointed for Fleetwood as a club and a town."