Paul Ince slams reporter’s ‘pathetic’ question; has since spoke on his future at Reading

Manager Paul Ince slams a reporter’s ‘pathetic’ question after his side confirmed safety, and has since spoke out on his future at Reading.

The Royals will be playing in the Championship next season despite losing 3-0 on Saturday. Peterborough’s 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest confirmed the Posh’s relegation, with Barnsley and Derby County’s fates already sealed.

Despite it being job done for Ince, who was appointed in February to replace Veljko Paunovic, Reading supporters saw their side avoid the drop zone, especially after their six-point deduction for breaking EFL financial regulations.

“We’ve come a long way. We’ve achieved our goal.”

Defeat at Hull, but enough points on the board earned with big performances in recent weeks – safety secured with two games to spare. #HULREA

Paul Ince gives his take 💬 pic.twitter.com/B9bsm2BUFT

— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) April 23, 2022

After the game, he spoke with the media, and surprised one reporter when giving back a fiery response when questioned if the manner of the result tainted their survival being confirmed.

“I don’t get that question,” Ince said. “It’s actually a pathetic question. This is the problem about some of you guys – all you worry about is results.

“I’ve had this question so many times – we’re not disappointed. The common goal was to stay in the Championship and we’ve done that. You can’t win every game so I hate to see the word disappointment. I’m not disappointed. Why am I disappointed?

“Two months ago this club was going down. But these players and fans have managed to keep them up. That’s the common goal – not losing to Hull – a game we dominated in the first half and had enough chances in the second. I don’t want people to talk about disappointment – it baffles me.

“It’s a positive time for the club and for the fans, and staff who you don’t see who work their socks off. Half of the people lose their jobs if the club gets relegated into League One. They get made redundant but you don’t see that because you come here every week under no pressure.

“I don’t want disappointment as a word or for that to be associated with Reading FC today. We can’t win every game but the fans will go home happy, knowing Reading are staying in the Championship. There won’t be any disappointment on their faces. I don’t want any negative vibes.”

Ince’s appointment surprised many fans, coming out of nowhere, and it was his first managerial role in eight years.

The last time he managed was Blackpool, who he left in 2014. However, he’s come in, done what was put to him, picked up four wins in his 12 games with recent wins over Stoke and Sheffield United proving to be massive. Ince’s future remains uncertain with his contract to expire at the end of the season.

When asked on that matter after Saturday’s developments, he said: “This coming week is about me having a few days off, seeing my wife and kids and playing a bit of golf which I’ve not done in a couple of months.

“Nothing will be addressed until we get back from Luton (final game). It’s just nice the players can go home now and breathe, knowing they will be in the Championship next year.”

A few days later, Ince explained how far Reading can go and opened up on being in the job next season when he appeared on The Official EFL Podcast.

He said: “I’ve always said that if I was to go back into management it’d need to be a project.

“Looking at my managerial career, it’s been okay to be fair, but I got despondent with it.

“I’ve always said, if I go back into it, it’d have to be a project, I can’t keep doing one years and then losing the job, so I’ll sit down with the owners and see where they want to go with it.

“We know next year is going to be tough because of the embargo, but if we can stay in this league next year, then obviously start spending a few quid on a team that can hopefully get into the Premier League.

“But that’s my opinion, I’ll sit down with the CEO and see where we’ll go.

“But it’s a wonderful club, wonderful fans, the training ground is amazing, structurally it’s perfect, it’s geared to go into the Premier League.

“It’s just that things don’t happen straight away and we know how tough the Championship is, we know how hard it is to get out of there.

“There’s a long, long way to go for Reading as far as getting there, but if there’s a project in place, then hopefully we’ll get there soon.”

Twitter users reacted as Paul Ince slams a reporter’s ‘pathetic’ question and has since spoke on his future at Reading…

@1871podcast: If a journalist actually asked him if he was disappointed with the result but pleased Reading stayed in the division, what did he expect? Better questions needed!

@dadros70: I guess you had to be there

@106Chat: Oh no he’s totally gonna do the Gomes thing where he acts like a Messiah despite taking us from 21st to erm still 21st

@RFCJoeJ: Don’t really see how this is bizzare

@madstad1998: If he wants to be the manager of my football club then I want him to be disappointed’ with that result. If he’s not ‘disappointed’ then I don’t want him to be the manager of my football club.

@gibbsey517: This is gonna and so badly, he’s a pashun merchant who will inevitably lose his rag and the dressing room as soon as things inevitably go to shit #readingfc

@Readingfanman: I’m disappointed, it’s the 11th time I’ve watched #ReadingFC away this season. In those 11 games, we’ve conceded 25 goals, scored 8 and picked up 5 points. Forgive me for being disappointed. Fucking ridiculously short sighted from Ince.

@Houlton11: I’m disappointed, Paul. This month I’ve been to Barnsley, Sheffield United & Hull (combined 20 hours driving in April). Today was the polar opposite of recent performances, as if survival was already confirmed, players in holiday mode. Pathetic from the players #readingfc

@daveyjayyy: Don’t buy that their fans wouldn’t be bothered about a 3-0 loss to us after a three hour trip. Silly bloke.

@royal_seano96: Can’t agree with this – yes survival is a relief, but to get outclassed by a benchmark lower mid table team is worrying ahead of next season. Players looked off the pace and side was devoid of creativity without Swift.

@ThatjamieT: Says it’s about the players then says “I’ve managed to keep our players in this league” to make it about himself 🤣 absolute tit

We’ll now look forward to that and see what the future holds in terms of planning and preparing this clubs so that we put ourselves I the best position possible for next season.”

Now that sort of reply would not have been bizarre.

He was very aggressive and defeatist IMHO.

— Mark Hamilton (@M4rk59) April 24, 2022