"The pressure is on" - Noel Hunt issued warning about his Reading FC future | OneFootball

FLW's Reading fan pundit has given his verdict on Noel Hunt's future at the club

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…

Reading manager Noel Hunt is under pressure after a difficult start to the new League One season.

The Royals narrowly missed out on a play-off place in the previous campaign, coming seventh in the table, just three points behind Leyton Orient in sixth.

But the Berkshire outfit have earned just 11 points from their opening 11 games of the new term, leaving them inside the relegation zone as we reach the quarter mark.

Three draws in their last three games has left them one point behind Burton Albion outside of the bottom four, and 10 behind sixth place Lincoln CIty.

If they are to challenge for a play-off place again this season, then they will need a sudden and drastic turnaround in fortune.

Noel Hunt needs to change to survive at Reading

When asked about potentially replacing Hunt, FLW’s Reading fan pundit Johnny Hunt claimed that he has until the November international break to turn things around or else he should be replaced.

He urged the manager to make changes to his system, highlighting the 4-3-3 as being unsuitable to the squad currently available to him.

“It’s a tricky one, 11 games into the season, 11 points and in the relegation zone,” Hunt told Football League World.

“Still don’t look like we have a settled way of playing, it’s kind of a bit scattergun and a bit of hoof-ball.

“Should be getting more out of the players we have, a system I don’t think works, the 4-3-3 that he continues to play with with the players we’ve got.

“The pressure is on him, I know the chairman’s backed him but I’d say he’s starting to run out of time.

“I’d give him up to the next international break in November, but if there isn’t any drastic change in fortunes by then, you’d have to look at someone else.”

Hunt is unsure who should come in as manager should a change be made, naming the likes of Gareth Ainsworth and Matt Bloomfield as likely candidates due to their connection to owner Rob Couhig: “The question being who?

“I think the chairman mentioned earlier that he had a book with one or two names in it, and I’d imagine those names are people he knows and trusts, probably from his Wycombe days like Ainsworth and Bloomfield.

“But they’re not exactly wow factor managers.

“I see Luton have got Wilshere [Monday], that’s a bit left-field, somebody with not so much experience.

“Who would you go for? Who would want to go to us? Because, in this position, it’s hard to call.”

Hunt has also claimed Reading must avoid the old school managers like Steve Bruce, saying experience of promotion from League One would be perfect: “You want somebody experienced at this level who can take the club forward, has experience getting promotion from League One.

“Who that could be, I really would struggle to say.

“The old school managers of Steve Bruce, that’s done and dusted, we don’t need to be looking at one of those.

“But somebody that fits what we’re trying to achieve would be perfect.”

Reading are currently 21st in the League One table after 11 games, although the Royals do have a game in hand on some of their rivals.

Next up for Hunt’s side is a trip to face Cardiff City on 18 October in a 3pm kick-off.

Noel Hunt is running out of time at Reading

After everything Reading have been through behind the scenes, the club finally went into a new season with reason for optimism.

Hunt had also done a great job in steadying the ship at the Madejski Stadium, and their seventh place finish showed it might be possible to contend for promotion this year.

An underwhelming start is disappointing, but he’s earned the opportunity to be given some time to turn it around, especially as they are now four in a row without defeat.