Noel Hunt takes charge for first game at Reading FC
The interim boss will oversee his side's game against Burnley on Saturday
Reading FC's interim manager Noel Hunt is about to face his first game in charge.
It's the first of five matches in which he has to try and save Reading from relegation.
It's a far cry from when he was a player at Reading - 11 years ago his goals helped Reading achieve promotion to the Premier league.
“There was no hesitation in stepping up…it’s a massive honour,” he said. “This is a club I love and from that point of view it was a no brainer. I didn’t think twice.
“I’ve lived in this area ever since I moved down from Scotland. It’s home. The circumstances are unfortunate with the gaffer and Alex leaving – they were really good to me, good people. But that is football. And we’ve got to look forward now and to the task in hand.
“It's a privilege to be out there working with these boys every day. The last two days have been great. They’re a great bunch, fantastic professionals, a good spirit and there’s loads of experience out there.
“From AC down to Joe, and all the lads in between, the boys have been great. They are a really good group of strong characters and we’re going to need every single one of them.
“That’s what I told them in our meeting yesterday – from the starting eleven, to the subs, to the boys not involved, to the injured players, to the young lads, everyone is needed.
“And when I say ‘everybody’, I don’t just mean everyone in this building. I mean everybody in the town. The fans are so important and the people of Reading are so loyal to their club.
“I hope we can give them something to cheer about. The boys feed off it. The more encouragement we can give them, the more it will breed success.
“And we’ve got to stick together. I want everyone to be in and around it. I don’t want anyone to feel that they’re not a part of it. This is a massive challenge, but the only way we’re going to achieve it is by sticking together as a family.”
19-year-old Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan celebrated his first senior goal last Monday - now he's hoping to get more chances as his U21 boss Noel Hunt takes charge of the first team.
“It’s been a crazy few days. To get the goal was a great feeling – my first Championship goal for the club, I was pleased I was able to impact the game which is something I always try to do from the bench.
“My family saw the goal when it happened and by the time I was back in the dressing room I had messages on my phone from them all.
“But obviously it was disappointing at the end of the game not to be on the right side of the result. That’s football and now we have to focus on the next one.
“That result and then the manager going, it was a hard hit. But in this game, things change very quickly. So the only thing we can allow ourselves to focus on are the next five games and Saturday – a big game, a tough game, but an important one.
“Burnley have been so good this season – we know what they can do and the threats they hold. But it’s about how we can stop them and how we can hurt them ourselves.
“And we have to put up a fight.
“It’s a tough period right now. But we’re going to need everyone to get over the line – and that includes the fans!
“The only way we can do this is we all believe. And we’re pulling together. Five games and we have to pick up as many points as possible. We are good players. We have done it before so we can do it again.”