Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged | OneFootball

Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged | OneFootball

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·15 settembre 2025

Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged

Immagine dell'articolo:Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged

As Reading's poor start to the season continues, some supporters have called for manager Noel Hunt to be sacked.

Reading manager Noel Hunt is coming under increasing pressure from supporters as his side's poor start to the season in League One continues.


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Hunt replaced Ruben Selles as Reading manager in December following his move to Hull City, and despite working in incredibly challenging conditions under former owner Dai Yongge, his side only narrowly missed out on the play-off places last season.

After Rob Couhig completed his takeover of the club in May, many expected the Royals to kick on under Hunt's guidance this season, and he brought in 12 new signings this summer, including the likes of Paudie O'Connor, Finley Burns, Kamari Doyle, Matt Ritchie, Mark O'Mahony and Jack Marriott.

However, Reading endured a horror start to the season as they lost their first three league games, and while five points followed from their next three outings, they fell to their fourth defeat of the campaign as they were beaten 3-2 by Barnsley at Oakwell on Saturday.

Josh Earl gave the Tykes the lead in the ninth minute before Marriott equalised for the Royals to level the scores before half time, but the hosts regained their advantage after the break, with Davis Keillor-Dunn's header and Adam Phillips' penalty putting them firmly in control.

Daniel Kyerewaa pulled one back in the 66th minute to set up a tense finish, but Barnsley held on to secure all three points, and Reading are now 21st in the table after their latest setback, piling the pressure on Hunt as his side's underwhelming start goes on.

Noel Hunt makes honest Reading admission amid growing fan pressure

Immagine dell'articolo:Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged

After the defeat at Oakwell, Hunt said that he was "disappointed to come away without anything" and he admitted that "heads are hanging down in the dressing room", but he insisted that his side are "getting better" and claimed that "little mistakes" are proving costly.

However, given the feel-good factor at the club over the summer following Couhig's takeover, Reading supporters came into the season with plenty of optimism, and expectations increased even further after the influx of new signings, so it is a surprise to see the club sitting in the relegation zone after seven games.

Hunt has now been in charge of the Royals for just over nine months, and he has won 15, drawn 11 and lost 15 of his 41 games in charge, which gives him a win percentage of 36.6%.

The 42-year-old is a popular figure at the Select Car Leasing Stadium having scored 39 goals and provided 25 assists in 162 appearances during a five-year spell at the club as a player, while he was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League in the 2011-12 campaign, and he also has some credit in the bank in managerial terms after his side fell just short of the play-offs last season.

However, the loyalty of the fanbase towards Hunt is being tested as Reading continue to struggle in the early stages of the season, and many took to social media to vent their frustration after the defeat to Barnsley on Saturday.

Immagine dell'articolo:Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged

Given Hunt's standing at the club, Reading supporters will be keen to see the Irishman succeed as manager, but after the defeat at Oakwell, some reluctantly admitted that they believe a change in the dugout may be in the best interests of the club.

While some expressed sympathy with Hunt, others delivered a much more damning verdict on his position and demanded Couhig to relieve him of his duties immediately.

While it is still early in the season, the Royals are already 10 points adrift of the play-off places, and some supporters expressed their anger at how a campaign that promised so much is quickly turning into a nightmare.

Hunt remains in post at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, and there is no suggestion that his job is under any imminent threat, but some Reading supporters are already discussing possible replacements, with former manager Selles, who was sacked by Sheffield United on Sunday, one name to get a mention.

Immagine dell'articolo:Reading FC manager Noel Hunt under increasing pressure - calls for Ruben Selles return have emerged
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