Five exciting prospects in store for Reading in 2024/25 campaign

It feels like only yesterday that supporters were bouncing around the SCL Stadium after a 3-2 win over Blackpool, marking the completion of the great escape and looking forward to a brighter future.

Fast-forward a month and the club is back in choppy waters, uncertainty around every corner. But, there's still plenty to look forward to as pre-season edges ever closer for a new campaign in League One.

Take a look at five potentially exciting prospects for the supporters next season.

(Image: jasonpix)

1. A conclusion to the ownership saga

It may feel like an eternity away sat here now in mid-June, but the bottom line is that the current issues cannot continue. Having stretched on for nearly 300 days, it has been the scariest rollercoaster Royals fans will ever ride. Although there is no guarantee that this story will have a happy ending as of yet, it will most definitely have an ending. One way or another, the long-term future of the club should become clearer next season, which will bring much-needed closure and stability.

(Image: PA)

2. New grounds

It's a line always thrown out, particularly after a bad season, that the supporters can at least visit new grounds. Away support was nothing short of incredible last season, averaging nearly 1,400 at every match. With Mansfield Town, Stockport County, Wrexham and Crawley Town promoted, there are four grounds that the club have not appeared at for at least a decade or two. Should keep the groundhoppers happy.

3. European visitors

After the club's short hiatus as Category Two, the prestigious youth set-up returned to Category One status with a bang. Winning the Berks and Bucks Senior Cup, Noel Hunt's Under-21s finished in the top six of PL2 and secured an invite to the Premier League International Cup.

Last appearing in the competition back in 2019, the likes of Bayern Munich and PSV were welcomed to Berkshire. Who will visit next season?

(Image: jasonpix)

4. Progression

The Ruben Selles project took a bit of time to get going, but the Royals were one of the form teams from November onwards and finished nine points clear of the drop zone even after having eight points docked by the EFL. Scoring nearly a century of goals to boot, a season without off-field distraction could be a very exciting one.

(Image: jasonpix)

5. Teenage development

Reading had one of the youngest average ages in the EFL last season, with youngsters such as Nelson Abbey, Tyler Bindon and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan enjoying breakout campaigns. Clearly enjoying their work under Selles, another year of development for these young prospects could be a joy to behold.