Veljko Paunovic Takes Over At Reading

[CaaC (John)+]

Reading sporting director Mark Bowen has been appointed as the new manager of the Championship club.

The former Norwich City, West Ham and Wales full-back replaces Jose Gomes, who was sacked last week after less than 10 months in charge.

Reading are third from bottom of the Championship, without a win in six and face Preston at home on Saturday.

Bowen, 55, has spent most of his coaching career working under Mark Hughes, most recently at Southampton.

"In the relatively short period of time that Mark has already spent at Reading, he has commanded respect and admiration from all who have worked alongside him," Royals chief executive Nigel Howe said.

"He came in at a critical period last season to help us retain our Championship status and had an immediate impact."

Bowen, who was Wales assistant boss under Hughes between 1999 and 2004, arrived at the Madejski Stadium in March in a consultancy role.

He then became the sporting director in August.

Bowen is Reading's fourth manager in 18 months following the departures of Jaap Stam, Paul Clement and Gomes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50000945

[Dave]

Reading fans are livid about this. It is quite funny from a neutral perspective that somebody who is influential in sacking/appointing managers appoints himself.

I don't know if there owners have a plan or have just lost interest. When they came in with there mad songs and invested in Jaap Stam it looked like they were heading one way again. In the long term though it's been the opposite.

[Smiley Culture]

I always thought Mark Bowen was connected at the hip to Mark Hughes. 

[CaaC (John)+]

 

Paunovic replaces Mark Bowen, who had been in charge since October and is understood to be returning to his previous role as director of football.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53958436