Inside Reading’s play-off push: LEAM RICHARDSON reveals how he’s revived the club, his transfer window plans, his three-word mantra for success and how Sean Dyche and the Air Ambulance played a key role

When Rob Couhig finally completed his takeover of Reading last May, ending the ruinous ownership of Dai Yongge, there was enormous relief and celebration among the Royals fanbase.

After years of turmoil that saw the former Premier League club drop into the third tier, endure a series of transfer embargoes and receive three separate points deductions, this marked the end of a nightmare and the beginning of the new era everyone associated with the club had been craving.

But a summer of optimism was followed by a mixed start to the new League One campaign. 

When club legend Noel Hunt was sacked by Couhig in late October, the Royals were two points clear of the relegation zone after winning just three of their first 14 games. Having played 162 times for the club, Hunt led the Royals to seventh place last season after Ruben Selles left to join Hull City, despite the off-field difficulties. His impact across several years in multiple roles should never be underestimated.

Leam Richardson, the well-respected former Accrington Stanley, Wigan and Rotherham manager – and long-time assistant to Paul Cook – was the man tasked with stabilising the club.

At Wigan, Richardson kept them up in League One in 2020-21 despite spending most of the season in administration – an achievement he describes as his greatest – before they went up as champions the following year.

Sixteen-goal Jack Marriott has thrived at Reading under the management of Richardson

Now, four months after taking the reins in Berkshire, Richardson has propelled Reading up to seventh in League One, with nine wins from 19 league games. The Royals have collected 33 points in that time and scored 33 goals.

That record would have been even better had they not conceded stoppage-time equalisers to both Bolton and Port Vale last week. Even so, Richardson’s side are only four points off the top six with a game in hand.

‘It’s been enjoyable,’ the Reading boss tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘The people have been welcoming, the fans have been excellent, and the ownership group have been approachable and honest. That helps me do my job.’

There have been several notable wins along the way, including home triumphs over Luton, Stockport and Wycombe, as well as a 4-1 victory at Plymouth.

Initially tasked with stabilising the club and improving results after years of turmoil, Richardson has generated momentum. Reading have lost only two of their past 14 matches.

Richardson, who was linked to the Blackburn job this month after his strong start at Reading, has unlocked a squad with genuine quality. Sixteen-goal Jack Marriott has thrived, alongside the likes of Lewis Wing, Paudie O’Connor and Charlie Savage, son of Robbie.

‘When we walked in, the team were looking over their shoulder,’ explains Richardson, who was told by Couhig that he was coming in as manager and not as head coach. ‘The group was low on confidence and lacked a bit of direction, so it was about getting to work as soon as we could.

‘There’s nothing better than a pre-season where you can establish your fundamental habits and make your own signings, but sometimes it’s not an ideal world. Luckily, I’ve been doing this for about 16 years now, so I’ve got a lot of experience. You’ve got to get the most important things up and running first and then build from there.’

A key aim for Richardson has been instilling a new culture and mentality around the club. He has sought to embed a range of standards within his squad, ensuring they are ‘punctual, presentable and professional’, and has encouraged players to spend more time at the club’s Bearwood training ground – facilities he describes as ‘outstanding’. He has also worked hard to foster a culture of respect.

Lewis Wing (left) has been another key player for Reading during their fine run of form

Midfielder Charlie Savage (left), son of Robbie, has also impressed for Reading this season 

‘The girls who clean the gym and the changing rooms do a fantastic job and the chefs are unbelievable,’ he says. ‘They’re as important to me as the players are. We need to respect each other, have strong values and make sure we don’t just put words on the walls.’

Richardson has also stressed how crucial upcoming transfer windows will be in the rebuild of the club. During Yongge’s reign, signings were often a luxury the club could not afford due to financial and regulatory constraints. Seven players have arrived during his tenure, including former academy graduate Andy Rinomhota and Will Keane, who won the League One Golden Boot under Richardson at Wigan.

‘January windows are a fix-and-mend kind of window, but we knew what needed to be done. Going into the summer, it’ll be about building,’ he says. ‘We have to come out of every window stronger so we can develop a squad capable of going around the country and winning games. The next few windows will be really important given where the club’s been.’

Although several new players have joined, a core from recent years remains. Given Reading’s financial struggles, academy graduates such as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Kelvin Abrefa and Jeriel Dorsett were among the youngsters thrust into first-team football earlier than may have been planned.

Those younger players are complemented by an experienced group that includes Wing, Andy Yiadom, Marriott, former Manchester United goalkeeper Joel Pereira and Matt Ritchie – and Richardson is pleased with the balance.

‘We’ve got good senior players, which you need to have half a chance, but we’ve also got a good youthfulness about us,’ he says. ‘It’s a good blend and we’ve got a foundation we can build on and move forward from.’

Richardson’s appointment at Reading brought an end to his own lengthy break from the game. The 46-year-old took 18 months out after being sacked by Rotherham in April 2024. The hiatus was purposeful. He wanted to refresh and reflect on his coaching journey to examine where he could improve and evolve.

He was similarly keen to spend time with his wife and two children after years of moving around the country. Richardson felt he needed to support them and repay the sacrifices they made, citing his son George – now 14 – having attended four different schools before the age of eight.

Richardson is big on standards at Reading, insisting on his players being ‘punctual, presentable and professional’

‘We’ve got good senior players, which you need to have half a chance, but we’ve also got a good youthfulness about us,’ Richardson says of his Reading squad

But the break was also about enrichment. Richardson immersed himself in the sport, spending time at Leeds United with Daniel Farke and Gretar Steinsson, then the club’s technical director. He also visited Sean Dyche at Everton and Nottingham Forest, along with Chris Wilder at Sheffield United. Former Brentford and Wigan boss Uwe Rosler – who has coached in Denmark and Germany in recent years – was another manager who welcomed him.

Richardson also explored other environments. He dipped into rugby; but a period spent with the Air Ambulance proved particularly eye-opening.

‘I wanted to see how they perform under pressure,’ he says. ‘I wanted to see what the elite looks like when they have to make real split-second decisions. My break was about doing things like that to enhance me as a person and coach.’

Richardson was offered several jobs during his time away from the game, but Reading’s appeal was obvious, and he was impressed by Couhig and CEO Joe Jacobson and their track records in football. Jacobson was a legendary goal-scoring defender during a decade at Wycombe as they rose from League Two to the Championship, while Couhig was chairman when the Chairboys reached the second tier for the first time in their history.

Looking ahead, Reading face crunch games against fellow play-off hopefuls Bradford, Luton, Plymouth and Stevenage in the coming weeks. Jacobson and his colleagues have talked about re-establishing Reading as a sustainable Championship club, with the Royals currently on their longest spell in the third tier in a generation.

Richardson, however, refuses to be drawn on long-term targets. His focus remains solely on the immediate task in hand. ‘If you get too far ahead of yourself you can come unstuck,’ he concludes. ‘It’s my job to plan and be aware of every game – right up to Blackpool at home on the final day of the season and possibly beyond (with the play-offs).

‘From a player’s point of view, their pressure is to be available, fit and ready for kick-off at 3pm on a Saturday. If I look beyond the next game, I’ll go mad.’

The former Manchester United goalkeeper Joel Pereira brings experience between the sticks

Imps continue to thrive

It is a good time to be a Lincoln City supporter. The Imps are second in League One, 10 points clear of third, putting them in a strong position to return to the second tier for the first time since 1961. Their progress is not limited to matters on the pitch though. Last week, the club unveiled a multi-million-pound redevelopment plan for the LNER Stadium ahead of next season.

New seating will be installed in three stands, alongside a range of improvements designed to enhance the matchday experience. These include a new events and hospitality area, as well as a community space that will be open throughout the week.

The club’s Fan Village will also be upgraded with two permanent big screens, while another screen will be installed inside the stadium. In addition, the public address system will be replaced as part of the modernisation project.

They are a superb example of an upwardly mobile EFL club.