Reading FC Sack Manager Brian McDermott

We woke up with news that Jaap Stam was in talks to become new Reading manager, and before lunch the big news had arrived which added weight to those rumours: Brian McDermott has been relieved of his duties as manager.

At exactly 11am the club published an announcement on the club's website which revealed:

After careful consideration, the board of Reading Football Club have taken the difficult decision to relieve Manager Brian McDermott of his duties.

We would like to sincerely thank Brian for all his hard work since his return to the club in December 2015 and wish him well in his future career.

The board of Reading Football Club will now undertake a rigorous recruitment process over the next few weeks to identify the right man to lead this club forward and into the 2016-17 season.

The club will make a further announcement to our supporters in due course.

Whatever your thoughts on his return and his subsequent performance, it is hard not to think that McDermott has now been shabbily treated by two sets of owners.

His return always felt like it had been pushed by Nicky Hammond and Nigel Howe as a last ever return to the old "Reading way". With Hammond, and now McDermott, exiting, Howe must be worried for his future.

Reading FC needed McDermott to return after Steve Clarke was sacked. We needed to give the old way one last try so that era could finally be put to bed. Whether we'll regret this change of direction we'll have to see.

The Tilehurst End will bring you more news and reaction as it comes.