Sky Sports pundit delivers verdict on Veljko Paunovic’s departure from Reading

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes Championship club Reading’s mutual decision to part ways with manager Veljko Paunovic could come back to haunt them amid their current relegation battle, speaking on the Sky Sports EFL Podcast.

In the Serbian’s last game in charge at the weekend, the Royals secured a morale-boosting 3-2 victory away at Preston North End with Lucas Joao’s brace and John Swift’s finish all but sealing the game before the Lilywhites threatened a comeback.

Going winless in 2022 before that, the atmosphere at the Select Car Leasing Stadium turned toxic with a selection of supporters running onto the pitch against Coventry City earlier this month and surrounding the team bus after Peterborough United tie as they looked to vent their fury at the state of the club.

Protests were even arranged by supporters groups with Paunovic one of their main targets, with one of these demonstrations taking part before the Coventry game as some made their displeasure heard about the 44-year-old’s stewardship.

His departure was all but sealed on Friday prior to his final match in charge at Deepdale – and managed to leave on a high despite the toxicity surrounding the club since their 2-1 loss against sixth-tier side Kidderminster Harriers last month.

Calls for the Serbian to be sacked on grew louder since that FA Cup tie – but Sky Sports commentator Hendrie believes the club may come to regret this decision at the end of this term with Paul Ince coming in as his temporary successor.

He said: “I feel that they are certainly capable of stretching away from the bottom three, I really do. I know that Paunovic has come under all sorts of pressure, the results haven’t gone his way.

“There’s been a lot that he’s had to swallow and digest