It’s great news – Noel Hunt hails Reading takeover announcement

Posted Sunday, May 04, 2025 by PA

Reading manager Noel Hunt stressed the need for talks with prospective new owner Rob Couhig after seeing their hopes of a League One play-off place ended.

The Royals had needed to better the result of Leyton Orient to pinch sixth place but went down 4-2 at home to Barnsley as Orient triumphed 4-1 win at Huddersfield.

After a goalless first half, goals from Stephen Humphrys and Jon Russell gave Barnsley a 2-0 lead, only for Lewis Wing to reduce the deficit.

A brace from top-scorer David Keillor-Dunn put Barnsley well clear and Reading’s late goal from substitute Billy Bodin was just a consolation.

Earlier in the day the club announced American businessman Couhig, the former owner of Wycombe, was due to complete his takeover next week.

“We have to have conversations,” Hunt said. “Rob was here today and he said how happy he is and how proud he is of the job we’ve done.

“It’s great news, it really is. It’s really positive. It’s a 100 per cent step in the right direction.”

Reading finished the season in seventh place.

“On the pitch today, it just didn’t happen,” Hunt said.

“Barnsley had enough of the play and I thought they were able to play with a bit of freedom.

“As the game wore on, we sort of fizzled out. But I can’t fault the lads over the season, they’ve given me everything.

“Yes, I do feel a little scrambled. I’m obviously disappointed that we lost the game, although, in hindsight, it didn’t really matter.

“But I have to go back over the last six months, not just today.

“How the boys have rallied and stuck together through all the adversity and grown. You’ve got to be so proud of them.”

Barnsley finished in 12th place.

“We were brilliant, I thought that we were really good today,” head coach Conor Hourihane said.

“We had to come here, the atmosphere was up (for Reading) with their takeover announcement this morning.

“We said at half-time that we just needed to be a little more calm and pick the right passes around the final third. I thought that we would get really good opportunities.

“It’s brilliant to finish off the season on a positive note.

“In the second half, we just had to tweak a few things in terms of when we were out of possession.

“When we upped that in the second half and got it right, you’re going to score goals.

“We have to take all that into the summer and try to build some momentum.

“We all know that there is a lot of work to do and that we need to crank up the mentality and the work rate over the summer.

“Hopefully, today can be a little glimpse in how we move forward.”