Reading boss Noel Hunt admitted that the pitch at the Select Car Leasing is not up to the club's usual high standards due to the ongoing financial crisis.

The playing surface in RG2 has usually been impeccable, even battling through years of sharing with rugby club London Irish.

However, due to the ownership crisis and a general lack of cash, the lighting is not kept on the pitch and as a result it has not been in the best of states.

During Saturday's 0-0 draw with Birmingham City, at least two injuries were thought to have something to do with the playing surface, an issue highlighted by Hunt.

"We want to play and want the pitch to be the best it can be. Unfortunately, right now the finances aren’t there," he said after the stalemate.

"We’ve asked and asked. The groundsman- it’s their baby. I told them the biggest thing they can do is not take it to heart. We know that they are doing everything they can to make the pitch the best it can be. We highlighted this a couple of weeks ago, that it can cause injury. It looks like they got a couple today.

"I guarantee there are worse pitches than ours in the league. We are so used to high standards at our stadium and our facilities, it’s just on the wrong side of it at the moment. I know that the lads, the groundsmen, are putting every hour into it.

"It comes down to finances. We want the lights on the pitch but it’s £1200-£1400 a night and we don’t have that. We have to get on with it. The sun is coming out now which will give it a massive boost for the next two or three weeks. We’re away next week so hopefully it’ll get some rest and recovery."

Sat ninth heading into the final 14 League One matches, Reading travel to Wigan Athletic on Saturday.