Another Season Another Manager

30 August 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?

It's now barely a surprise when Reading FC's owners make stupid decisions to replace yet another manager who has been given hardly any time and done what might be considered a reasonable job. This this around it is Mark Bowen that is being relieved of his duties for no good reason as manager of the Reading FC first team. It's more of a shoulder shrug than anything else as Bowen steps aside in favour of another unknown manager who will turn up for a bit, do ok as Reading bump around the bottom half of the table, and then get sacked next summer or earlier.

You have to feel sorry for Bowen who was appointed Reading manager only in October last year and guided Reading to a respectable mid-table finish with 14 wins from 40 matches. He did all that was really expected of him. Bowen is expected to remain at the club but will shrink back behind the scenes, perhaps in his previous position.

The new manager is Veljko Paunovic who managed American side Chicago Fire in the MLS between 2015 and 2019, where he took them to the play-offs ones season but in his other seasons did a thoroughly average job. Paunovic was an attacking midfielder or striker in his playing days, and is a young manager at just 43. It's a strange appointment and not a very exciting one. But as always we wish Paunovic well and obviously hope he is successful.

Reading's owners put out a statement that quite frankly sounded like a load of old bollocks: "This has been a process and this appointment has been made only after long, careful consideration. After meeting with him, we found Veljko to be an exceptional candidate who impressed us immediately. I am sure he is the right man for Reading Football Club. I'm delighted he has agreed to sign as our new manager."

Paunovic takes over as Reading manger just a week before the new season kicks-off with the Royals playing Colchester United at the Madejski Stadium in the Leage Cup next Saturday. Our first league game is Saturday 12 September - a trip to Derby County. Expectations for the new season are not high.

In better news, Reading have finally secured the services of Ovie Ejaria, who finally joins the Royals permanantly on a four year contract.