Leam Richardson speaks in his first interview on decision to become new Reading manager

Leam Richardson speaks in his first interview on decision to become new Reading manager on a one-and-a-half-year deal until summer 2027.

He comes is as replacement Noel Hunt who was sacked after a poor start left the Royals sitting 19th in the League One table.

The 45-year-old, who won League One with Wigan in 2022 but was later dismissed by them and Rotherham, joins with assistants Danny Schofield and James Beattie; owner Rob Couhig praised his hard work, organisation, and promotion experience.

Leam Richardson said: “It feels fantastic to be here at this historic football club. The opportunity, through the ownership group, to be able to go and meet all of the staff today and now see the stadium- I just can’t wait to get going.”

What should we expect from Leam Richardson? – “I would like to think that I am a person who holds strong values- integrity and honesty. I will never be wanting for work ethic. I have a relentless work ethic.

“These fans have been through things that no fan should go through, it happens around the country, it is happening at the moment, and it has happened to myself. The way that they have stuck with the club and galvanized themselves to grow again with the new ownership and structure that has been put in place.

“In my opinion, there is only one way for this club, and it is up.”

On his experiences of League One – “I’ve been quite lucky in that I have been promoted as champions twice and been in a play-off as well. It’s a level I know well. It is unrelenting with some good players and good coaches. It holds different challenges, you have to build a team- our team is still evolving- at any given time to run, play and fight for the badge.

“You need the best version of yourself all through the week and within this young squad, we will try and educate and elevate.

“With the wealth of experience we have got, we’re here to help them and make them better people, better professionals and better players.”

On his learnings From Wigan Athletic – “You learn in every environment, especially in this game. As managers, we are criticised every 72 hours, so all the best ideas are ones that haven’t been tried. You have to be strong to your beliefs and realise what the city, town and badge means to people.

“There will be fans sat here on Saturday who have seen so many things: the Premier League, a record-breaking point and so many strikers and great managers. Everything evolves towards that and grows towards that.

“We’re here to enhance the work that has gone on before with Noel and his staff and help the ownership bring the football club forward.

“You only have to spend a minute going around Bearwood and the stadium, although it was quick with the ownership group and Joe, and the amazing staff I have met. New faces and old faces have come together and are united.

“It is very similar to a couple of experiences that I have had, Portsmouth coming out of admin and Wigan as champions and promotion, that is what we want to do here.”

On his philosophy – “My philosophy is winning football. You have to win to build any culture or philosophy because in our game, you don’t get a minute. I’m sure Club 1871 will make that clear- it will not be for the lack of trying or wanting. Front-foot, aggressive, high-press, I want to dominate and control games.

“These fans have seen all sorts of ups and downs in the previous few years. For fans coming on a Saturday, it’s not cheap for tickets, you want to have smiles on faces and see goalmouth action and get excited on a Saturday morning. That is hopefully what we will put into the players, staff and myself, and onto the pitch.”

On his learnings from time out of the game – “I was offered quite a few jobs from coaching in the Premier League, Championship and abroad. I felt that I started very young as a coach, I have been doing it for 15 years with different clubs and environments. A bit of time out with family and reflecting on what works and doesn’t work and how you can be successful. I’ve been abroad to different football clubs and in England, I’m fortunate to have different peers in different situations, and I’ve been educating myself.”

On James Beattie and Danny Schofield – “James Beattie, I have worked with before. He’s an excellent human being and understands football, a professional for years at the top of his level with England. With offensive players, he has worked well with them and gotten good numbers out of them. With the young group here and a couple of senior players, he will be fantastic for them. He’s a fantastic person to add to my coaching team and to the football club.

“There will be another couple of additions, they have all been managers in their own right so they know what it means to wear a badge and have a club and organistation that want to push forward.

“To compliment the fans again, the way they have stuck with the team and galvanized and supported the team, I only have compliments for them.”

On the importance of culture – “To build any culture takes a bit of time, to build a winning one takes a little bit longer. Daily habits to try and instill that into staff and players, even the fans as we need support sometimes and they need support sometimes, when you unite like that and the criteria and expectations match. It can only grow from there and the only way is forward.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Leam Richardson speaks in his first interview on the decision to become new Reading manager…

@Nozzzaaaa: You had us all at front foot, high press football – the new era begins #ReadingFC

@Huddy1993: Felt sorry for him at Rotherham. He came into a shit situation. Majority of fans wanted him to stay on. It was obvious what he wanted to do, speaks well, conducts himself very professionally and I wish him all the best like most millers do!

@naithanxbasra: Good interview, obviously trying to get the fans well on side. Did sound like David Brent when he said his philosophy is winning football matches…

@alisterrfc1: You can tell why the ownership group are so sold on him speaks well and clearly very confident in his ability time will tell if he can back it up I personally will give him my full support as a fan and hopefully he can get us up the table #readingfc

@Jamie_Hodder21: Well spoken.. he mentioned it’s expensive when you bring your family to football with tickets and programmes…to be fair he’s right @leamrico but it’s a touchy subject currently.. Bring back paper tickets and programmes and the rest will fall into place. #ReadingFC

@gudladme: All the best, Leam. Dealt an impossible hand at Millers. Wouldn’t judge him on that but more his Wigan team who were excellent

@dingarchive: Might just be me but I was getting strong Pardew, McDermott vibes from this interview. That can only be a good thing, #ReadingFC 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️

@CScott____: Well as 1st interviews go, he’s nailed that one hasn’t he. Said all the things you want to hear as a football fan… now to hope it translates into our fans being able to enjoy football again #ReadingFC

@RFC_News_utd: Excellent interview, had 18 months off to work on management and a fresh start, onwards and upwards!

@adamReadingFC: wow the production on this is class, very exciting words from the gaffer, can’t wait to see his magic in action

@MarkHopgoo46439: An excellent interview. The word for me is “credible”. As much as I liked Noel he never sounded convincing to me.

@Orrgarde: Big words! Front foot and dominating is easy to say…. If he can do it then fans will get behind him very quickly #ReadingFC

@Tatum1871: He’s said all the right things. They’ve pulled me back in, fully behind him #ReadingFC

@thesimpsonRFC: After hearing this, I’m a little bit more reassured than what I was 24 hours ago. He’s got a long way to go to win many fan over who weren’t happy with the appointment. However he’s got my full backing and I hope it works out for him. Good luck Leam/gaffer #readingfc

@ollie_rfc: Excellent interview. Loving the idea of high press. Production is 😍😍😍

@Hunsy1969: Front foot and high press I like that. Proof of course will be in the pudding, but I liked the way he came across.

@LeoRoystonPerry:
“My philosophy is winning football”
Why hadn’t we thought of that before

@TransfernewsRFC: Speaks very well 💙🤍 also media team 👏👏

@Michael_BHunter: Interesting that more staff are incoming, which is needed