Ruben Selles Out, Noel Hunt In: Where We Stand Now

After a somewhat terrible week, things are finally going better than Harry had anticipated.

Supporting this team just keeps finding new ways to tear out any optimism we supporters may have built up, throw it

on the ground, and walk all over it. I honestly don’t know how many times I’ve said or written this in the last five or so years….

This occurred once more last week when Hull City acquired Ruben Selles. It was said that no one player, manager, or

individual is bigger than the team, and in the end, Selles was, but it felt like a truly seismic moment. It was painful

for all of us. However, once done, it’s done.

The club moved on, and very swiftly. Soon after Selles’ departure was announced, Noel Hunt was officially confirmed

as the new manager, with a contract that would last until June 2027.

Anger shook the fan base as the rumours that Sles was leaving began to circulate and get more and more

pronounced. I was mostly trying to figure out what we were going to do next—not just in terms of replacing him, but

also in a broader, more expansive sense. It appeared that Selles’ departure might have been—and still might be—the

club turning down a path it finds impossible to follow.

But as was already indicated, Hunt’s appointment provided a significant answer to that query. Although I myself

would have chosen James Oliver-Pearce, Hunt was, in actuality, the clear option. By hiring him, we can at least

capitalise on the momentum Selles generated in terms of his tactical identity—and perhaps even build on it in the

future. He is familiar with the team and the players.

Both practically and figuratively, we couldn’t afford to go out and get a new boss from outside. Due to our, let’s say,

unusual circumstances, the appointment had to come from within: someone who knows the club’s condition and is

prepared to take on this group of players head-on, like Selles was.

Selles’ biggest achievement, and what he will be remembered for primarily (by myself at least) is the harmony,

togetherness and mentality he instilled within everyone at the club – bringing the fans along for the ride too. We

couldn’t risk jeopardising that by trying to bring in a new manager from the outside.

Let’s be honest, even if we could do that, even if we had the resource to do that, this owner and CEO don’t care

enough to do so.

It’s safe to assume that the early indications are encouraging as well. Hunt got off to a fantastic start on Saturday

with the draw at Wycombe Wanderers. Reaching the league leaders and winning a point is no small accomplishment.

Look, I doubt I’d be saying too much when I say that we would all still much rather have Selles in charge. However,

Hunt was the one person the supporters would unite behind and decide to look forward to instead of abandoning.

Although it seems cliche, having individuals in the setup who are familiar with the organization’s culture and what it

means to represent Reading is crucial, especially at a club like ours. That does not preclude us from moving forward,

changing, or developing as a team, but we should make sure that the fundamental elements of the teams from 2005–

06 and 2011–12 remain ingrained in our operations. Cooperation, perseverance, and giving it your all.

Hunt will bring that. He already has. I’m not saying he’ll bring it back, because these players already have it. For

them to be knocked back by Selles’ departure and then to bounce back with a performance and result like Saturday’s

shows their mentality and attitude aren’t going to waiver.

What happens in the coming weeks and months remains to be seen. There are still huge questions hanging over

Selles leaving, and there is still more than a ripple of anger and emotion running through us all, but it has quelled

slightly from the tsunami it was a few days ago.

In addition to the gut hit of Selles leaving, we also learnt that erstwhile hero Roger Smee’s bid for the club was turned down and that Rob Couhig is suing us. I couldn’t think of a way out of the muck we were all in. When you consider what that could have led to, it felt like yet another apocalyptic moment and, in a way, the last nail in the coffin.

Some of those things could yet occur. We may lose players in January, despite the fact that Selles’ contract apparently prohibits him from bringing any players to the KCOM. Furthermore, it doesn’t appear that the takeover drama will be resolved very soon, despite the fact that Blue Horizon was identified as the entity responsible for the most recent acquisition effort. But after the Wycombe game, both as a team and as a fan base, we’re in a far better place than I thought we would be.

Some supporters are resentful of Selles, while others are simply sad that he is no longer among them and anxious about what lies next. But regardless of how we feel about it, we must make an effort to look forward rather than back at the past. Nothing can be changed: Hunt is the guy in command and Selles left; we must acknowledge this and proceed accordingly.

As strange as it sounds, despite everything, our fan base may grow even stronger and closer. In the end, you want people that want to remain at your club, so even though it seems harsh and I feel a little bad saying it, I would much rather Selles was still our manager and I wish he stayed. In the end, the players and those who wish to be present will be present.

It will be this way, and this is where we are. In many respects, nothing has changed, but it feels like a significant shift. Little old Reading will continue to fight because it’s us versus them.

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