Summer Changes Are Afoot For Reading After Promotion Disappointment

20 April 2026
By Hob Nob Anyone?

As we edge ever closer to the month of May, it seems that Reading will now miss out on a late promotion attempt via the Wembley Play Off route, as four League One defeats in the last six matches appear to have cost us dear.

With 44 games played in the domestic 2025/26 campaign, the Royals are sat in tenth place in the third tier table with 62 points, but given sixth placed Stevenage are on 68 points and are one of the teams above us that have a game in hand, it would take a remarkable turn of events now for manager Leam Richardson's first team squad to earn back to back victories (after three straight defeats) and for four other teams to lose their remaining games and not get to 69 points.

Having fallen away at almost the last hurdle, it has become another hugely frustrating and disappointing time for the Madejski Stadium faithful, but the club continues to look forward and build for a much brighter future where fan can use Hellotickets Premier League weekend tickets services for their football fix and that is what fans have to remember and hold on to. It just feels more galling right due to the simple fact that games against Lincoln City and Cardiff City have both seen celebrations as their promotions were confirmed as we slipped further away.

As we look to the future though, it has now been confirmed that we plan to introduce a safe standing section at the ground ahead of the coming campaign and work should be fully completed during the summer off season in readiness for the big new kick off. The plans to replace 1000 seats with a standing area in the South Stand are part of wider major renovations that are planned for our home, and co-chief executive Joe Jacobson remains hopeful that this change will instantly improve and create a better atmosphere moving forward for home matches - a new PA system and pitch are also both on the cards.

These plans were obviously slated to take place irrespective of what ultimately happened in our promotion chase for a return to the Championship, but if it has the desired effect on the noise of the home faithful next season then there is the chance that it could play a telling part in helping us to go one step further at the next time of asking in the 2026/27 season.

With the other changes that are planned, the club are also hopeful that they will soon be able to tap in to other more diverse events at the stadium. Whilst those details are still being worked on, finalised and will hopefully be announced in due course, it is pretty obvious that greater use of our facilities on non-match days would obviously be an additional, and lucrative, revenue stream that would further help and support the club as we look for far more solid financial foundations that enable us to better invest in the squad to achieve the success that we all want.

Fans just have to hope that the steps that we have taken this year, both on and off the pitch, continue with greater pace in the calendar year to come.

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