After a short summer break Reading FC are now back at training getting prepared for the new season, which is just over a month away. One person missing at training was Assistant Manager Rob Kelly who has left the club for personal reasons. Kelly was with Leam Richardson at Wigan where they won League One in 2022,and it was Richardson that brought Kelly to Reading. However, the duo failed to replicate their previous success last season. The early rumour is John Coleman may be appointed at the new assistant manager. Coleman was previously manager at Aldershot.
There were signs of promise last season as the Royals pushed for a play-off finish before a hugely disappointing late season collapse, picking up just two points from the last six league matches. Fans will be hoping for some changes over the summer to give us a chance of competing at the right end of the table this season. The only summer signing so far is Kyreece Lisbie who arrives from Colchester United and has signed a four year contract. Lisbie comes to Reading after impressing last season scoring 11 times in League Two.
Meanwhile Andy Rinomhota signed a one year contract extension and Kelvin Abrefa signed for two futher years, as the club look to keep the bulk of last season's squad together.
Reading have been confirmed to play away at Bromley in the first round of the League Cup on Saturday 8 August, which will be Reading's first competitive game of the new season with the League campaign kicking off the following weekend. Bromley were promoted to League Two at the end of the season and it will be the first competitive meeting between the sides since the 1940s.
Last week Reading's group in the EFL trophy was confirmed with the Royals set to play Chelsea's Under 21 side, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe. Reading will play each team once in the group and while Chelsea will visit Reading, we will be on the road for the other two group games.
Fixture Updates As Training Resumes
From the Discussion
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SU Sutekh 30 Jun 2026 · 10:03am
Football so often turns into an old mates club. If they do appoint him it might be a disaster and the owners will have to dump everyone by Christmas (as that’s been the Reading way with management for the last decade. At least he has a great deal of experience, my issue is that I just have no idea what sort of dynamic they’re trying to create. Seems to me that it’s all being led by trying to get the key bits done on the cheap yet again.
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WE WestYorksRoyal 30 Jun 2026 · 10:24am
I wonder how people would have reacted to appointments like Wally Downes and signings like Kevin Doyle would have been received if we had social media in the early 00s.
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EP Extended-Phenotype 30 Jun 2026 · 10:38am
People were more nuanced back then. Now everything is either the best or worst thing in the world. People bringing in other people they have had a positive experience working with is not something Leam and Couhig invented.
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BR Brogue 30 Jun 2026 · 10:59am
Come on, guys. The unrelenting positivity around every decision the club makes is tedious. This would be a dreadful appointment. :|
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MO morganb 30 Jun 2026 · 11:25am
Defender Udoka Godwin-Malife officially signs on a 3 year deal for an undisclosed fee
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M1 mikey_1871 30 Jun 2026 · 11:28am
I'm not sure about unrelenting positivity, but it's certainly refreshing to have some more measured view that the hysterical reaction that everything seems to generate on twitter/X. I agree that the jury is out on Coleman but he clearly wants some experience alongside him. Doesn't change anything that the first half of next season is crucial for Leam's future. Anyway, we've signed a new player today so hopefully we're allowed to be postive abouyt that :D
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WE WestYorksRoyal 30 Jun 2026 · 11:42am
Are we nearly there defensively? Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be: Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up. Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed. I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.
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BR Brogue 30 Jun 2026 · 11:43am
Yeah, sorry, it was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek comment as it's the same trope that is thrown at me all the time, but for negativity instead of positivity. It does still seem that the owners can do no wrong in some people's eyes. Whereas I can be both positive and negative. For instance, here is me being positive - I think the signings of Lisbie and GM are good signings for this level. Well done to the club for getting them over the line. Now, maybe some of the unrelenting club sycophants can, for once, come out and say Coleman is a terrible appointment if true.
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JA jahelt 30 Jun 2026 · 11:47am
Any idea on the other two players you said were close a few days ago?
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BR Brogue 30 Jun 2026 · 11:48am
We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo
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RA rabidbee 30 Jun 2026 · 11:51am
I thought one of the main roles of an assistant manager was to be a bridge between the players and the manager, be the one who throws an arm around a shoulder where necessary, that kind of thing. If that's the case, his background and experience is of less value than how well he gels with the players.
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WE WestYorksRoyal 30 Jun 2026 · 11:52am
Williams, Nyambe and Yiadom only counted as one player between them given fitness issues. Stickland wasn't good enough. So overall we're down 2 players, we have signed one and had 2 come back from loan. As mentioned elsewhere, we need to prioritise keeping players fit as much as new signings.