Man Utd legend Paul Ince SACKED as Reading manager after crisis talks as club face Championship relegation
PAUL INCE has been sacked by Reading after a run of five defeats in eight games.
The Royals' latest loss - 2-1 against Preston - left them in the Championship relegation zone with just five games to go.
Under-21s boss and ex-striker Noel Hunt will take charge until the end of the season.
Reading's head of football operations, Mark Bowen, said “I would like to thank Paul for his efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far. We would like to wish him 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."
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Reading's situation has not been helped by a six-point deduction they received from the EFL.
This came as a result of the club failing "to fully satisfy a business plan agreed after a historical breach of the EFL's Profit and Sustainability limits".
After yesterday's defeat, Manchester United legend Ince said: "At the end of the day, we are in this position that we've been put into (the six-point deduction).
"You need to think about that when you think about how unfair that is to me and the players.
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"We'd be sitting on 47 points and if you look at the injuries it's going to be tough.
"If you get Pep [Guardiola] in here, it'd be no different. You could get [Jurgen] Klopp in here, it'd be no different because we have eight first-team players out."
Ince took over at Reading full-time last May after holding the position of caretaker manager.
He also added to BBC Radio Berkshire: "It's not like the lads are not fighting or playing for me, you see that. Everyone is frustrated.
"At the end of the day, we are in this position that we've been put into (the six-point deduction).
"You need to think about that when you think about how unfair that is to me and the players.
“We lack the character to see out games. I said to them, 'If I'd have been playing in this team, I'd have been right on it and you wouldn't have got away with some of the things you do.'
"We all make mistakes but the decision-making can't always come from me."
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Reading are up against already-promoted Burnley next Saturday.
They will then face promotion hopefuls Luton and Coventry before crunch ties with fellow relegation battlers Wigan and Huddersfield.