James Earnshaw

Reading boss Ruben Selles has labelled those targeting promotion to the Championship next season as 'unrealistic' due to remaining uncertainty around the club's ownership. Off-field calamity has hung over the club for the last 18 months, with the EFL and tax authorities hitting the club with sanctions for late payments. Despite points deductions, transfer embargoes and winding-up petitions, the Royals maintained their League One status with time to spare, finishing 17th. There are hopes that these issues could be resolved, with the club currently in exclusive negotiations with an unnamed buyer until mid-May. However, Selles is refusing to nail down any ambitions until plans can be made for the future.

Former Reading star Liam Rosenior has been sacked as manager of Hull City less than a week after narrowly missing out on the play-offs. Rosenior made 69 appearances for the Royals between 2007 and 2010 before enjoying Premier League success with Hull and Brighton. Making his name in coaching with Derby County, the Tigers appointed their former captain in November 2022.

Reading's former record transfer, Sone Aluko, has announced his retirement from professional football. The 35-year-old goes out at the top having helped Ipswich Town return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence. A former Nigeria international, the winger featured for the likes of Rangers, Hull City and Fulham before moving to Berkshire in 2017 for a reported club-record fee of over £7m. Failing to impress, the forward scored just six goals in 102 appearances and was sent out on loan to Dai Yongge's Chinese club Beijing Rehne for a spell in 2019.

Reading first-team stars Femi Azeez, Michael Craig and Tom Holmes were in attendance for Saturday's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the PL2 play-offs. Adrian Akande's brace in the second half was enough to earn victory in the round of 16 for Noel Hunt's Under-21s, setting up a quarter-final with Nottingham Forest in the coming week. Over 800 Royals supporters were in attendance at the SCL Stadium, alongside a group of first-team staff to back the youngsters.

Premier League Burnley have taken Reading City teenager Emil Mursalov on trial after sending scouts to Rivermoor this season. 17-year-old Mursalov, educated at the John Madejski Academy, has made 12 first-team appearances for the Cityzens in a memorable campaign which ended in play-off heartache. Burnley, who look set to return to the Championship under Vincent Kompany following a difficult year back in the top flight, sent scouts on multiple occasions to watch the youngster. Manager Simon Johnson commented: "He works hard at multiple places to improve his ability, and I’m glad that Reading City has given him the platform to start his journey in men’s football in which he has excelled so far. Good luck, Emil!”

Portsmouth are keen on signing Reading midfielder Michael Craig, according to reports. The 21-year-old enjoyed a breakout campaign in Berkshire, featuring 36 times in all competitions. Arriving in 2022 after a trial period from Tottenham Hotspur, the youngster made five appearances under Paul Ince while the Royals were relegated from the Championship.

For most in League One and League Two, holidays are well underway and feet are firmly up after last week's final game. However, for eight teams in the bottom two tiers, the crunch spell of the season has only just begun with the pressure cooker of the play-offs getting underway this weekend. Those in the Championship, who have their final game of the season this weekend, will face the same jitters and nerves next week. While Reading are not involved this season, there are still a handful of Royal connections in this year's play-off lottery for League One and League Two. Take a look below at three former Royals to root for this week.

Adrian Akande's second-half double was enough for Reading to beat Middlesbrough 2-0 in the round of 16 in the PL2 play-offs. More than 800 supporters enjoyed the Under-21 action at the SCL Stadium as Noel Hunt's men booked their place in the last eight of the prestigious academy competition with a dominant display. Creating chances at will in the first half, the ball would not cross the line as the Teessider's rode their luck in Berkshire.

Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town have joined Rotherham United in being relegated into League One next season. On a dramatic final day in the Championship, Ipswich Town sealed back-to-back promotions and will be in the Premier League for the first time in over 20 years. At the other end of the table, Rotherham United cruised to victory over Cardiff City but the Millers' fate was already confirmed rooted firmly to the bottom of the table.

Former Reading striker Dave Kitson has admitted that 'tears have been shed' during the off-field crisis at the club witnessing his side's 'legacy' tarnished. Kitson, a weekly columnist at the Reading Chronicle, continues to invest in the local area almost 15 years after leaving the Royals- setting up The Dave Kitson Academy and helping coach at Bluecoats School. Since leaving with the club fresh out of the Premier League in 2008, the Royals now find themselves in League One and lurching from one financial crisis to another under the ownership of Dai Yongge. Surviving last season despite being docked points for a third campaign in a row, there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel as exclusive negotiations rumble on with potential new owners.