David Meyler Released By Reading

Reading have continued their summer purge by releasing David Meyler. It was no secret that his days at the Madejski Stadium were numbered, with the 30 year-old one of a number of players that the club have tried to get off the books in 2019.

That’s now been achieved by his departure, which was described as “mutual” by Reading’s official announcement. Details of that agreement obviously haven’t gone public, but you’d imagine that there’ll be a decent financial incentive for the Irishman.

His contract with the Royals had been due to run for the rest of this coming season, with him having agreed a two-year deal (option of a third) after joining from Hull City on a free transfer last summer.

However, he’d only make five appearances for Reading at the start of the 2018/19 campaign, failing to impress in the 4-4-2 with which Paul Clement started the season. Having recovered from injury, he was then frozen out of the squad - despite the Royals lacking a ball-winner in the absence of Saeid Ezatolahi (also injured).

The Jose Gomes/Nigel Howe duo made it clear after their arrival that he wasn’t in the club’s plans, reportedly making Meyler (along with Vito Mannone, David Edwards and Marc McNulty) train away from the main squad. That preceded him joining Coventry City on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Excluding those who were on loan last season and those whose contracts expired at the end of June, Meyler joins six other players in quitting the club this summer: Lewis Ward, Liam Kelly, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Darren Sidoel, Marc McNulty and Liam Driscoll (the last two of those departed on loan).

Getting Meyler off the wage bill this window was always going to be difficult, with Meyler presumably on fairly large wages - at least in relation to his ability and age. Kudos to the club for managing to finally achieve that, and best wishes also to the player himself, who can hopefully now focus on finding a club where he’ll play regularly.