FORMER Swindon Town assistant coach Noel Hunt has been placed in temporary charge of Championship side Reading after Paul Ince was sacked as manager on Tuesday.

Ince was relieved of his duties after a dismal run of results that has left the Royals fighting for survival in the second tier.

During a period which has also seen Reading handed a six-point penalty for breaching the EFL's financial rules, Ince led the Berkshire club to eight matches without a win which leaves them 22nd in the table.

A statement on Tuesday morning read: “Reading can confirm that the contract of first-team manager Paul Ince has been terminated with immediate effect. Assistant manager Alex Rae has also departed the club.

“Our under-21s manager and former Royals striker, Noel Hunt, has been installed as interim first-team manager until the end of the season.”

Hunt joined Town as Richie Wellens' assistant in November 2018 and went on to oversee 92 games in total - two of which were as caretaker boss once the Mancunian had departed for Salford City.

After leaving five games into John Sheridan's tenure at the club, Hunt later joined Wellens against at Doncaster Rovers for a short spell in Yorkshire prior to returning south and taking up a post as Reading Under-21s manager.

Hunt is stepping up from his position as U21s manager and will be assisted by director of player development Eddie Niedzwiecki and first-team coach James Oliver-Pearce.

The new management team will take charge of Reading for the first time on Saturday when they welcome league leaders and already-promoted Burnley to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

A 2-1 loss to play-off hopefuls Preston on Easter Monday extended Reading’s winless run and left them a point adrift of safety with just five matches of the season remaining.

Reading’s head of football operations Mark Bowen said: “I would like to thank Paul and Alex for their efforts throughout what has admittedly been a frustrating and exceptionally challenging season so far. We would like to wish them well in their future endeavours.

“The board will work diligently to identify the manager who is the best fit for this football club going forward – a candidate capable of driving it towards a healthier, brighter future.

“However, for the next five games, our only focus is on doing everything we can to survive this season.”