Reading are keeping tabs on Sunderland’s U21 boss Graeme Murty, with the Royals weighing up the future of current boss Paul Ince, according to Alan Nixon.
Reading currently sit 16th place of the Championship table after their defeat at home to Millwall yesterday. The Royals have now lost their last three in the league and sit 12 points above the drop zone, but with a potential six-point deduction hanging over them.
Ince impressed many with his work at Reading last season, but this season has certainly been a tough one. And Nixon has now suggested on his Patreon account that Reading are looking towards their next boss, with Sunderland U21 coach and former Reading player Murty on their radar.
Murty made 339 total appearances for the Royals between 1998 and 2009 and had a brief spell in management with Rangers between 2017 and 2018. He’s now at Sunderland where he manages the club’s U21 side, but he’s recently been linked with a move away, with Oxford United having been mentioned.
Murty failed to rule out a possible return to management, but the U’s have since appointed Liam Manning.
Thoughts?
Sunderland are becoming a side well-known for developing younger players and Murty will have certainly played a part in giving the Black Cats that reputation. And it’s a reputation that will – and seemingly is – making him an attractive name for clubs in the English Football League, so Sunderland might find it difficult to keep him on board for the long-term.
Th Reading job could well be opening up in the coming weeks or month and for former Reading legend Murty, it’ll surely be an exciting opportunity. But with a lot going on at Reading right now, a potential managerial change might take a backseat until the summer. So for now, Murty seems to be safe at Sunderland.
