Paudie O’Connor slams claims of tension between Reading players and Leam Richardson

Paudie O’Connor slams claims of tension building between Reading players and Leam Richardson, after a source went to Reading Chronicle last week.

The source from within the dressing room told Reading Chronicle that there are complaints of a ‘lack of game time’ for some squad members, players being ‘played out of their natural positions’, the ‘change in formation’ and ‘poor in-game management’. This came days after a 1-0 defeat to Doncaster.

But before the Cardiff game, club captain Lewis Wing said there wasn’t any unhappiness within the squad, with the matter reportedly addressed as the players held a meeting.

The Reading Chronicle said that Leam Richardson is still being backed by the board, with Paudie O’Connor also giving his backing.

Paudie O’Connor has slammed ‘outside noise’ as he says that the players being unhappy with manager Leam Richardson is a ‘load of cr**’.

This comes after Lewis Wing told the media the players had a meeting about the ‘leak and unrest’. #readingfchttps://t.co/1zcuHjuBuO

— Ramy Abou-Setta (@ramy_abousetta) April 21, 2026

O’Connor said on defeat, as per Reading Chronicle: “I thought we started quite well, first half.

“Carried out the game plan to the way we’d set up on Thursday and Friday pretty well. Part of our transition had a lot of shots on goal. Chances in around our box and felt pretty comfortable.

“Then again, get done in the second phase, which is doing me head at the minute because speaking about it Monday to Friday last and lads taking ownership and saying things to keep at it.

“It’s disappointing.

“We’ve obviously all come to the football club to go and get promoted and as you said, we put ourselves in a good position. Coming into these terms, the performance is down to the players, do you know what I mean?

“The gaffer sets us up the best way he can and gives us a really good game plan. He’s helping the coaches every week and at the minute we’re not doing it for 90 minutes.”

On the collapse this season: “It’s been a different instance in every game. Yeah, the Huddersfield one was late but we got away to Lincoln and conceded after four minutes when we knew how good a set-piece, they weren’t like I said, they spoke about it numerous times, Monday to Friday, we go out on the pitch and we concede after four minutes.

“So, Ledge, the gaffer, Scully, if they can stay on the training pitch for five hours a day, they can’t go out and waste a set-piece.

“The players have to look themselves in the mirror. If they want to be here next year apart or something, they’re going to have to work hard.”

I don’t think any of us are left in much doubt what @readingfc defender Paudie O’ Connor really thinks here! https://t.co/fl5Ub3CtlS

— Tim Dellor (@TimDellor) April 21, 2026

Tim – I think you need your memory jogged. #readingfc https://t.co/H6OUhklfn7

— Ramy Abou-Setta (@ramy_abousetta) April 21, 2026

On if frustration from senior players could spill over to the rest of the team: “I don’t agree with that. As a senior player, it’s part and parcel to have played 3-400 games.

“It’s up to us to bring the other ones through. I was there as 21 and 22-year-old at Bradford is playing in front of 25,000 people every week. So to turn around and point your finger at the younger boys. We’re not going to be doing that.”

On players being unhappy with manager Leam Richardson : “I think the only one that knows is probably standing in front of me, to be honest. This is a really close-knit group. We won’t let some outside noise and all the cr** that’s going on infiltrate our group.

“We’ve been around the game too long to let that happen.

“So, we’ll stick together and move forward.”

On if he thought the leak had substance: “I think it’s all a load of cr**.”

Here’s the fan reaction after Paudie O’Connor slams claims of tension between Reading players and Leam Richardson…

@ElmParkRoyals: Being serious on this, it’s clear the player who leaked information hasn’t revealed himself to the rest of the squad. That’s surely going to create distrust or at least suspicion. That’s not a good environment

@insandouts25: Tell the whole truth Ramy , he is slamming you and he told you that on Saturday in the after game press talks !!

@Dubstep1988: This season has got so toxic that even two local journalists are taking chunks out of each other. On the plus side, siege mentality has helped Reading in recent years… …maybe they can create a new ‘us against the world/Reading Chronicle’ energy for next season?! #readingfc

@JamieRaynor: O’Connor has always been a fighter. You can sense that in this very honest interview amid Reading’s disappointment #bcafc

@Reading106: @timdellor given you personally have previous for getting players to leak dressing room unhappiness (possibly from players who are still at the club), are you going to share why you think its so unbelievable that it’s happened now? #Readingfc