The Backroom Staff Thread

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royalp-we
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The Backroom Staff Thread

by royalp-we » 01 Dec 2020 00:44

It’s occurred to me that it’s been quite a few years since we’ve found ourselves nearing the Xmas period without any controversy or questionable appointments in the coaching set up. From Bowen being announced under a grey cloud, to that crazy Mendonca chap, Steve Clarke being a snake or the questionable decisions under the ill-fated Dutch revolution. Some may say it’s far too early to call but to me, the owners have invested in sourcing a unique first team backroom which is finally getting toward the best ability out of a good group of players.

We have a relatively young and exciting coaching set up here at Reading and it will be great to see if the squad can continue resonating with them. There’s no dinosaurs of the game and when things are going well; the players appear to express their skill set with smiles on their faces again. When Meite ran to the bench after putting us ahead at the weekend the entire bench ran to him and celebrated, it was really great to see and got me thinking... on paper, do we have the most promising set up outside the top flight?

First Team Management

First Team Manager - Veljko Paunović
First Team Assistant Manager - Marko Mitrović
Analyst and Assistant Coach - Nuno Gomes
First Team Coach - John O'Shea
First Team Coach - Quinton Fortune
Goalkeeping Coach - James Bittner
Head Physiotherapist - Matt Hirons
First Team Physiotherapist - Ramon Holland
First Team Sports Therapist - Danny Flitter
Football Operations Manager - Michael Gilkes
Kit Manager - Stewart Bannister
Head Scout - Steve Shorey

Academy Management

Academy Manager - Michael Gilkes
U23s Manager - Mehmet Ali
U23s Assistant Coach - Peter Scott
U18s Manager - David Dodds
Academy Development Phase Manager - Mikele Leigertwood
Academy Lead Scout - Nicky Shorey


To me, it’s a really unique blend of characters. Some of the staff have come through playing careers with Partizan and cutting their teeth in the tough Serbian football system. Others have Champions League winners medals and have starred for their countries at World Cup Finals. Looking through other teams current non-playing staff ours is really quite compelling when you consider the playing experience in there. There’s none in the champ that I would swap for ours that’s for sure.

I felt this was worthy of a new thread - so feel free to update the list over time. Some will no doubt disagree and still harbour dreams of Hughton or Hoddle joining RFC lol! I personally hope it won’t be changing any time soon. URZZ!

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Millsy » 01 Dec 2020 00:46

Good info thanks mate.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Nameless » 01 Dec 2020 06:16

Derby’s line up is extremely impressive. Can’t be many clubs have a guy with over 100 caps giving the benefit of his experience to the players !

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From Despair To Where?
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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by From Despair To Where? » 01 Dec 2020 07:12

Do you mean someone like John O'Shea?

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by NewCorkSeth » 01 Dec 2020 07:18

Nicky Shorey was made redundant in December last year. Source is the Elm Park Royal podcast.


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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by From Despair To Where? » 01 Dec 2020 07:36

Was that a decision made by the Head Scout?

Old Man Andrews

Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Old Man Andrews » 01 Dec 2020 07:39

Millsy Good info thanks mate.

It isn't though is it? Nicky Shorey was made redundant a year ago. Get your tongue out of his backside.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Nameless » 01 Dec 2020 08:04

From Despair To Where? Do you mean someone like John O'Shea?


Someone similar, certainly.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Sanguine » 01 Dec 2020 09:27

Didn't know Steve Shorey was still with us, a good bit of continuity.


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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Hound » 01 Dec 2020 09:44

Its quite interesting to see the names on paper

Obvs we've no idea how good as coaches they actually are though. Some promising signs this season though

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by NewCorkSeth » 01 Dec 2020 09:48

I'm a big fan of John O'Shea as a coach. He spoke really well after the game he took for Pauno too. I think the fact he was trusted with so much match day responsibility speaks volumes too.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by From Despair To Where? » 01 Dec 2020 12:14

I like the mix. Obviously the manager has brought in his own team who he has worked with closely and then we have 2 experienced internationals who have played at the highest level but the rest of the set up is kind of low key and has maybe a different experience. I also like the fact that there are 2 ex players who had considerable success with the club, but have gained experience away from the club and then come back.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by South Coast Royal » 01 Dec 2020 12:42

There certainly are a lot of mouths to feed these days both off and on the pitch-all of those plus the players with no matchday money coming in.
Those deep pockets that the Mad Man used to go on about really do need to be deep.

As with most clubs the structure is made up mainly of a manager and his mates plus a few that they inherit.
In our case we have a manager and his two mates as assistants plus the manager's mate from his playing days who in turn is mates with an ex-playing colleague at Man Utd.

As the above poster says, it is good to see a bit of old Reading influence, albeit at just youth level, in Gilkesy and the Ledge.

We will know by the end of the season if this group is acceptable to the owners but so far, so good both on and off the pitch.


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Sutekh
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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Sutekh » 01 Dec 2020 13:36

Two Michael Gilkes
There’s only two Michael Gilkes

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by From Despair To Where? » 01 Dec 2020 20:58

I presume from "plus the manager's mate from his playing days who in turn is mates with an ex-playing colleague at Man Utd", you are referring to one of the coaches who was already at the club having also previously played for the club.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Millsy » 02 Dec 2020 09:47

Old Man Andrews
Millsy Good info thanks mate.

It isn't though is it? Nicky Shorey was made redundant a year ago. Get your tongue out of his backside.


Fair enough.

All the more reason for this thread then to educate thickos like me.

So I'll edit that to: good thread, thanks for the effort mate.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by Norfolk Royal » 02 Dec 2020 10:37

What about Beryl the tea lady?

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by South Coast Royal » 02 Dec 2020 10:58

From Despair To Where? I presume from "plus the manager's mate from his playing days who in turn is mates with an ex-playing colleague at Man Utd", you are referring to one of the coaches who was already at the club having also previously played for the club.



.....who was a player previously at the aforementioned horrible club in Manchester alongside the other first team coach who turned out a few times for Reading so we are both correct.

Very incestuous but all good so far and let's hope there are no great family fall-outs. :wink:

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by bagman » 02 Dec 2020 12:15

I thought both Steve Shorey and David Dodds had left sometime ago.

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Re: The Backroom Staff Thread

by morganb » 11 Mar 2021 07:31

Q: Is Eddie Niedzwiecki still at the club? Went all quiet after rumours of him leaving when pauno came in?

A: Looked set to go but he is now in a more consultant style role. I’m not sure what he does on a daily basis.

Before the Rotherham game on ifollow he walked in with all the staff and players so it seems like he still part of the club in some way.

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