Reading FC lauded for 'solid' Leam Richardson appointment - 'entertainment' warning issued though | OneFootball

Leam Richardson has been linked with the Reading job – we put the potential link up to a supporter who has watched him closely.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Former Wigan Athletic manager Leam Richardson is close to being confirmed as the new Head Coach of Reading.

The Royals searched for a new head coach after deciding to sack former boss Noel Hunt, following a 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers at the weekend.

We asked our Wigan fan pundit, Corey Bissell, for his thoughts on the potential move.

Mixed views on Leam Richardson from Wigan Athletic

Speaking to Football League World, Corey said: “It’d be a solid appointment if Reading went for Leam Richardson, I think.

“Look, you can't deny his record of keeping up a team of mismatched players in administration, and then taking us up the following year.

“Did he have an extreme budget to sign the likes of Jack Whatmough, Charlie Wyke, Josh Magennis, and Tom Naylor, and everyone like that? Yes, he did.

“He was blessed with a very good squad at the time, in a league, that I would argue was less competitive back then than it is now.

“Personally, when it all came out in the wash, and his time was over at Wigan, I look back at it and the footballers and the entertainment, It wasn't really there, the entertainment value wasn’t really there for me.

“But again, his record is undeniable, and he could easily take over a Reading side and have them in the play-offs, and everyone will turn around and go, ‘Wait, what happened there?’ And it'll be Liam Richardson sort of pulling up the table.

“So, I'd say it's a solid appointment, yeah.”

Rotherham United supporters may fear more for Reading FC

Richardson did incredible work at Wigan, as outlined by Corey, but those connected with Rotherham United may have a slightly different view.

The Millers were Richardson’s last employers, appointing him in December 2023, before sacking him just months later in April 2024.

However, he may justifiably point to a task any manager would have struggled with at the AESSEAL New York Stadium.

There, he took over a club in the Championship already in last place, and was sacked not long after relegation was confirmed for the Yorkshire side.

He managed just 24 games, registering two wins, four draws and 18 losses, giving him a points-per-game average of 0.42.

Richardson was replaced by Steve Evans to take on the job of getting Rotherham back out of League One, but he only lasted 50 games himself, despite being a club legend who had taken the club from League Two to the Championship earlier in his career.

At that point, it may be prudent to assess the club itself, rather than the managers taking charge, and so Richardson may yet get another chance with a club in better shape.

Reading find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone, only five points ahead of Peterborough United in last place, so it will be no easy gig at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, either.

But at Wigan, Richardson has shown he is capable of turning tough situations around, even if he didn’t manage it at Rotherham.