EFL: Reading appoint Selles as manager
Reading are to appoint former Southampton head coach Ruben Selles as their new manager.
The 40-year-old Spaniard will take over subject to him obtaining a visa, which the club applied for last week.
Selles took charge of Southampton following Nathan Jones' departure in February but only won two of his 17 matches at the helm as Saints finished bottom of the Premier League.
Premier League reaction: Southampton relegated (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
He left his former club last month after being told his contract would not be renewed following the club's relegation.
During his time at Southampton, his record was pretty bad, but there were clearly many reasons for this. There were two wins, four draws and 10 defeats; 18 goals scored and 33 conceded. That’s not to mention a shock FA Cup defeat at home to Grimsby Town, who ran out 2-1 winners at St Mary’s. Most Southampton seemed to like him and believe he could have done a decent job in other circumstances.
In his latest role, he succeeds Paul Ince, who was sacked by Reading in April. The Spaniard takes over a side recently relegated to League One after having six points docked for breaching the terms of a business plan for a previous profit and sustainability rule infringement.
Their final five games of last season were under interim manager Noel Hunt, who stepped up from his role as under-21's head coach, but he was unable to prevent relegation to League One.
European Super Football has loads of interesting news and stories from the EFL.
Should Reading remain under a transfer embargo, Selles will be forced to use free transfers and have restrictions placed on the amount of money the club can spend on wages.
What are the Reading fans saying?
Peter, a Reading fan said: "I think that this is a decent appointment. He appears to be a talented coach. Hoping he has learned from his time at Southampton and the blank slate at Reading is the perfect opportunity."
This was a view supported by the Reading Talk Twitter account who posted the below tweet.
Excellent piece on all things Rubén Sellés. Certainly a talented coach keen to make the step up to management. Hoping he has learned from his time at Southampton and the blank slate at Reading is the perfect opportunity. #readingfc https://t.co/LPa2QLPovY
— Talk Reading (@TalkReading) June 27, 2023
The official Reading Twitter account announced the move by saying this:
We are pleased to announce that Rubén Sellés is set to sign a contract and become first team manager of the Royals.
His appointment is subject to the club’s successful application for a work visa, which was submitted at the end of last week.
Luke replied: "Welcome to the club, Rubén Sellés! You’ve got an indescribably huge job on your hands. Hope he does very well and he starts his very successful managerial career here. Time to get players in and the owners out the door."
Welcome to the club, Rubén Sellés! You’ve got a indescribably huge job on your hands. Hope he does very well and he starts his very successful managerial career here. Time to get players in and the owners out the door
— Luke (@Luke1871_) June 26, 2023
