Former Republic of Ireland star lands managerial job in the Championship in huge opportunity

FORMER Ireland striker Noel Hunt has been named caretaker manager of Reading as they look to stay in the Championship. 

Paul Ince and his assistant Alex Rea were dismissed following Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Preston North End that extended their run to eight games without a win. 

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During his time as an assistant with Swindon Town in 2020Credit: Getty

A six-point deduction for breaching the Football League’s Profit and Sustainability limit has also left the Royals in the drop zone with five games remaining. 

And Hunt, 40, has now been promoted from managing the club’s Under-21s for the run-in, alongside Eddie Niedzwiecki and James Oliver Pearce. 

Head of Football Operations Mark Bowen said “I would like to thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far.

“We would like to wish them well in their future endeavours.

“The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this football club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.

“However, for the next five games, our only focus is on doing everything we can to survive this season.

“Put simply, that means everyone – from myself, to the staff, to the supporters – lending all their support to Noel, Eddie, James and the first team players as we go into five crucially important games at the end of our 2022-23 campaign.”

Hunt, who won three Ireland caps under Giovanni Trapattoni alongside his brother Stephen, previously managed Swindon Town as caretaker in 2020. 

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And he has long harboured the ambition to manage since first dipping his toe in coaching when out injured when a Reading player 14 years ago. 

He told SunSport in January: “Brendan Rodgers was the manager and he said I needed to start looking at those types of things.

“Through my playing days, I would always be out watching the youth teams play and train.

“And then when I went to Wigan towards the end of my career, I played for the first team but I’d do some coaching with the 18s in the afternoons and with the Under-14s and Under-15s in the evenings. 

“I didn’t know it at the time but I was going that way if that makes sense.

“When I made the decision to finish playing, it was a natural progression.

“It’s pretty much like my football career to be honest, I’m just taking it step by step.

“I want to be a good coach, not just think of being a manager. I love what I’m doing now.”

He joined Reading as youth coach last year having previously coached at Waterford, and being assistant at Swindon and Doncaster.