Exclusive: Reading FC eyeing up Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth as Noel Hunt pressure mounts | OneFootball

Reading are eyeing a potential move for Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth amid doubt surrounding Noel Hunt's future Football League World understands

League One strugglers Reading are weighing up the possibility of a move for ex-QPR and current Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth amid doubt and pressure surrounding Noel Hunt's future in charge at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, sources have exclusively told Football League World.

The Royals would have hoped to kick on in the 2025/26 campaign after Dai Yongge's long-awaited sale of the club to Rob Couhig back in May.

However, concerns were evident among the fanbase throughout the summer pertaining to investment and recruitment, despite eye-catching deals for the likes of Kamari Doyle and Paddy Lane, and Reading have struggled in the opening stages of the season after narrowly missing out on a play-off finish last time out.

Hunt's side find themselves situated 21st in League One and inside the division's relegation zone following just one victory from seven matches, that being a slender 1-0 win over newly-promoted Port Vale at the end of August.

Reading have already lost four times and fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Barnsley over the weekend, which has prompted pressure and scrutiny on Hunt and his future in charge of the Berkshire-based outfit.

Football League World understands that a change could soon be made in the Reading dugout, with Couhig intent on turning around the Royals' fortunes and making his first season at the helm a successful one.

That, however, could be done by parting ways with Hunt in favour of a new manager, and sources close to FLW have disclosed that a successor to the Irishman could just be Gareth Ainsworth.

It's understood that the ex-Wycombe Wanderers and QPR boss, whose Gillingham side are currently second in an undefeated start to the League Two campaign, is on Reading's managerial radar if they decide to dispense Hunt in a bid to turn around the club's season.

FLW has been made aware that Ainsworth has no shortage of admirers in the Reading boardroom, and Couhig is known to be huge fan of the 52-year-old after working with him at Wycombe.

Joe Jacobson, meanwhile, who is currently operating as CEO, is also an admirer, having been a mainstay under Ainsworth during his lengthy stay at Adams' Park.

Whether those existing relationships can turn Ainsworth's head remains to be seen, as the Royals target has only been in charge of Gillingham since March.

Ainsworth was managing in League One last season with Shrewsbury Town, where he won five of his 22 games after being appointed last November before leaving to drop down a division at Gillingham.