Reading: Veljko Paunovic departs as manager despite first win in 13 games

Reading have parted company with manager Veljko Paunovic despite a first win in 13 games against Preston, with Paul Ince coming in as interim boss.

The Royals won 3-2 at Deepdale on Saturday, leaving them five points above the Championship relegation zone.

But ex-Serbia international Paunovic, 44, had won just two of his last 15 league matches in charge of the club.

Former England captain Ince, 54, has not held a managerial role since leaving Blackpool in January 2014.

Academy manager and former Reading winger Michael Gilkes will assist Ince, whose son Tom also joined the club on loan last month, while the Royals embark on a search for a permanent manager.

Paunovic leaves after 18 months in charge having been appointed in August 2020.

Confirmation of his departure came less than 30 minutes after the club's win at Preston and Paunovic revealed in his post-match interview that he had been relieved of his duties before Saturday's game.

«We came to the point where this decision was best for the club,» Paunovic told BBC Radio Berkshire.

«I'm pretty self-aware of the things that are happening and the negativity that was surrounding me.

»I never thought that it was fair, but I also don't think the team needs it at this point.

«I'm completely unselfish in this decision, I want the team to excel and I want the best for the club. I really have a huge respect for the opportunity and the time I've spent at this club.

»I just wanted to do the best for the club and we reached an agreement where this was the right time to make this decision for the future of it."

Reading ended a seven-game losing run in the league with a point at Peterborough on Wednesday, keeping a first clean sheet since beating bottom-of-the-table Barnsley 1-0 in mid-October.

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