Where are they now? Last Reading side to play at home under Hunt ahead of Blackpool

Hit with a points deduction in April 2022 which plunged Reading into the relegation zone, Paul Ince was sacked with five matches to go and the role of interim boss was given to club legend and Under-21 chief, Noel Hunt.

Drawing three and losing two, the Royals were relegated to League One with one match to spare and after a summer of discontent, Ruben Selles was given the role on a full-time basis.

Fast-forward 18 months and with Reading sat in sixth, still battling crisis everywhere you turn, Selles has departed to join Hull City and the focus turns back to Hunt, who now is the permanent boss on a two-and-a-half year deal.

Drawing 1-1 at League One leaders Wycombe Wanderers in his first match in charge, Blackpool visit the Select Car Leasing Stadium tomorrow for what will be Hunt's first match in permanent charge.

Wigan Athletic were the last opponents, a 1-1 draw condemning the Latics to the drop and extending the Royals' stay of execution, albeit for less than a week.

Take a look below at the last side to feature at home under Hunt, with Andy Yiadom and Amadou Mbengue the only recognisable faces.

Joe Lumley, Southampton

A loanee from Middlesbrough, Lumley became a favourite among supporters and the former QPR regular racked up 42 appearances in his sole seasons in Berkshire. Moving to Southampton in 2023, the 29-year-old has made eight appearances for the Saints in the past two years, making his Premier League debut last month in the place of fellow former Royal, Alex McCarthy.

Andy Yidaom, Reading

The only player to start in Noel Hunt’s last home match in charge, 33-year-old Yiadom is club captain and has over 200 club appearances to his name since arriving in 2018. In his final year of his deal, the Ghana international has not played since April due to injury and is not expected back until the New Year.

Tom Holmes, Luton Town

The first of a few Academy graduates in the side, Reading-born Holmes made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club and stuck with the club after relegation to League On in 2023. Despite dropping out early in Ruben Selles’ tenure, Holmes fought his way back into the fold and earned a Premier League move to Luton in January. Remaining on loan in Berkshire until May, the 24-year-old has become a regular feature for the struggling Hatters in the Championship.

Naby Sarr, Al-Markhiya

A highly anticipated signing who had to wait weeks for EFL clearance, 29-year-old Sarr had impressed in England with Charlton Athletic and Huddersfield Town prior to his arrival. Scoring the winner at Millwall on his debut, the centre-back would make 25 appearances in his only year with the club and a relegation clause in his contract saw him quickly depart to the Qatar All-Stars League.

Nesta Guinness-Walker, Northampton Town

After making nearly a century of appearances for AFC Wimbledon, returning Director of Football Mark Bowen brought the attacking full-back to Berkshire with him from Plough Lane in 2022. Making 41 appearances in 18 months with the club, the defender spent the second half of last season on loan with Stevenage before moving to Northampton over the summer where he has impressed in League One.

(Image: Steven Paston)

Tom McIntyre, Portsmouth

Similar to Holmes, McIntyre made over 100 appearances for his boyhood club and stuck with the side after relegation but moved on in January, in McIntyre’s case joining League One champions-elect Portsmouth. Injuring himself and being sent off on his debut, the 25-year-old is finding his feet at Fratton Park as John Mousinho’s men battle relegation in the Championship.

Jeff Hendrick, Newcastle United

The vastly-experienced Republic of Ireland international was a near ever-present for Reading in their relegation campaign, making 46 appearances for the club on loan from the North-East. Formerly of Burnley and Derby County, the 32-year-old made 12 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday last season but is currently not playing while on the books at St James’ Park.

Cesare Casadei, Chelsea

The only addition in January 2023, the young midfielder impressed in his 15-game stint for the relegated Royals. Earning a loan move to Championship winners Leicester City for the 2023/24 campaign, the 21-year-old scored three times in 25 appearances. Now back at Stamford Bridge, the Italy youngster has 16 appearances for the Blues and plays under former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca.

Junior Hoilett, Hibernian

A multiple promotion winner from the Championship with QPR and Cardiff City, the Canada legend made over 70 appearances for Reading but departed after relegation. Since his exit, the 32-year-old had a short spell in Vancouver but has made a home in Scotland, playing for both Aberdeen and Hibernian in the Premiership.

Shane Long, Retired

The club legend returned in the summer of 2023 to great fanfare after his decade-long spell at Southampton came to an end. Contributing another two goals and 32 appearances to the 203 he had racked up between 2005 and 2011, the Republic of Ireland star hung up his boots in Reading.

Lucas Joao, Persepolis 

One of the most prolific strikers for the club in modern times, the 31-year-old netted 45 goals in 119 appearances for the Royals between 2019 and 2023. The former Sheffield Wednesday man moved to China immediately after his Berkshire exit, winning the Super League with Shanghai Port, as well as stints in Qatar and now the Persian Gulf Pro League.

Substitutes

Yakou Meite, Cardiff City

A real fans favourite during his seven years with the club, Meite scored 47 times in 165 appearances for the club, including the late equaliser against Wigan Athletic. Moving to South Wales after relegation, the 28-year-old has managed three goals in 52 appearances for the Bluebirds.

Femi Azeez, Millwall

After breaking through in 2021/22, scoring twice in August after fans returned to stadiums following Covid-19, Azeez failed to hit the net in 21 appearances during the 2022/23 campaign. However, he made himself a key player last year under Ruben Selles, scoring nine times in over 50 appearances for the club as they looked to offset off-field issues and maintain their League One status. The winger featured just once at the start of 2024/25 before making a switch back to the Championship with Millwall, where he has scored once to date.

(Image: ©Jason Dawson)

Tyrese Fornah, Salford City

A former Reading youngster who moved to Nottingham Forest before breaking into the first-team, Fornah spent the year on loan and was a regular, registering nearly 40 appearances. Crossing the divide in the East Midlands in 2023, the midfielder made 19 appearances for Derby County as they won promotion from League One but limited minutes saw him opt to drop into League Two with Salford in the summer of 2024.

Amadou Mbengue, Reading

Mbengue joined Reading as a rash youngster with just 12 appearances for Metz to his name in 2022, but ‘Cheeseburger’ is now a true favourite in Berkshire. Loved for his energy, personality and unpredictability, the versatile defender is one of the best defenders in League One at the time of writing and is fast approaching a century of appearances for the club at 22 years old.