PROMOTION-WINNING Reading FC captain Jobi McAnuff believes his old club is facing a major crisis of identity.

McAnuff voiced his deep concern over the direction Royals’ are heading following Saturday’s heavy 4-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion which left Paul Clement’s men one point off the bottom of the Championship.

McAnuff believes a high turnover of staff in recent years means those connected with successful times are no longer working at the club.

The likes of former director of football, Nick Hammond, and Academy manager, Lee Herron, are no longer around, while sporting director, Brian Tevreden, departed recently following an alleged breakdown in relationship with under-fire chief executive Ron Gourlay.

In addition, a host of backroom staff have also left Madejski Stadium including long-serving marketing manager, Dara Thomas.

McAnuff, who skippered Royals to the 2012 Championship title under former boss Brian McDermott, suggested: “There has been such a big turnaround staff-wise and some very good people who were the heartbeat have left the club.

“They kept the place ticking over and kept certain standards in the way they did things.

“There’s been a big turnaround on that front and I just think the club has gone away a little bit and lost a bit of its identity.

“It’s very disappointing to see where the club is at the moment and the results they are suffering.”

McAnuff joined Reading in summer 2009 when he followed ex-manager Brendan Rodgers from Watford to Madejski Stadium.

The 36-year-old midfielder and former fans’ favourite played 206 games and scored 16 goals before moving to Leyton Orient in 2014.

Reading Chronicle: Jobi McAnuff says Reading will try to enjoy tonight's game at Old Trafford.

Jobi McAnuff played more than 200 games for Reading FC.

He played in the Championship play-off final defeat to Swansea City in 2011 then captained the team that clinched the Championship title the following year.

McAnuff also skippered Royals during the following Premier League campaign.

Speaking after Leyton Orient’s 2-0 win at Maidenhead United in the National League on Saturday, he also told BBC Radio Berkshire: “It was a successful period and I enjoyed it immensely.

“Even after a bad start under Brendan Rogers we got ourselves going that first year.

“From there we didn’t really look back and we were always in and around the play-offs pretty much every season.

“For me that’s where Reading should be. It’s a fantastic football club with a very loyal support base. It’s just a matter of getting it going again and getting the right people involved from top to bottom.

“It’s about getting everyone on the same page which is another thing we always had.

“From top to bottom, everyone wanted the best for the club and that needs to happen in the future.”

Former Jamaica international McAnuff will turn 37 next month, but he says he has no immediate plans to hang up his boots.

“I’m taking it each game as it comes but I’m settled and enjoying my football,” he explained.

“I’ve got all the young guns to keep me going. I would say they can do my running, but I think I’m running around for most of them.

“This is a great fit for me and I’m still enjoying it. A lot of my mates have retired for various reasons so I’m very fortunate to still be playing at a great club.”