Exclusive: Reading FC poised to make big Noel Hunt decision | OneFootball

Noel Hunt's time as Reading manager could be coming to an end...

Reading FC are on the verge of parting company with manager Noel Hunt, Football League World has been exclusively informed.

The Royals have had somewhat of an indifferent start to the 2025-26 League One season, which has come after the feel-good factor of Rob Couhig's long-awaited takeover back in May, saving the club from Dai Yongge's hands.

Couhig's arrival even saw a fee being paid for Portsmouth winger Paddy Lane, who was one of 12 new signings at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and the American attorney and businessman also stuck with manager Hunt too instead of bringing in his own man.

2025-26 has not started in the way that anyone at the club would have wanted or expected though, and it could soon cost Hunt his job.

Going into this weekend's away clash at Exeter City, Reading sit 19th in the League One table after 10 matches played, with just 10 points accumulated out of a possible 30.

They only missed out on the third tier play-off places by one position and three points last season, and FLW has now been told that Reading's hierarchy are preparing to sack Noel Hunt due to the performances in the opening stages of the current campaign.

That decision will more-than likely occur should Reading lose to the Grecians at St. James' Park on Saturday afternoon, and in the event that the Irishman does indeed lose his job, then a list of replacements is being drawn up by Couhig and co, should they pull the trigger.

Reading have only lost one of their previous seven league matches, but crucially they have only won two out of a possible 10 games in League One, and they failed to beat Mansfield Town at home last time out.

Noel Hunt's first managerial job looks close to ending

Hunt is currently in his first senior managerial job, having been appointed as Royals boss in December 2024 after Rubén Sellés exited the club to join Hull City.

Previously, Hunt had been an assistant manager with Swindon Town and Doncaster Rovers, as well as having a brief stint as caretaker manager of the former, but he stepped up from his role as under-21's manager of Reading late last year to steer the ship at first-team level.

Having played 162 times for the club as a player between 2008 and 2013, Hunt was a popular choice to succeed Sellés at the time, but results have stalled in the 2025-26 season so far, and a change could be imminent.