Many Reading fans will feel as though their search for Paul Clement’s successor has dragged on far too long, and their delay could be costly.

The Royals are currently occupy one of the relegation places and they have a potentially season-defining clash against relegation rivals, Rotherham United this weekend.

Interim manager, Scott Marshall is expected to take charge of the first-team for this weekend’s game, where a defeat would have many Reading fans fearing the worst about where their season is heading.

According to the Reading Chronicle, Phil Parkinson is currently the favourite to succeed Clement, whilst the likes of Slavisa Jokanovic and Luis Castro have also been linked to taking over.

But the Reading board seem somewhat reluctant to appoint a new boss, and their delay could be costly as many would have hoped to have seen their new manager in the dugout for the game against the Millers this weekend.

We look at the reasons why Reading must appoint a new boss as quickly as possible.

Find out what those reasons are here...

Whoever the new manager is at Reading, they are going to have an almighty task on their hands if they are able to guide the Royals clear of their relegation fears.

They will be wanting to implicate their own style on the current squad and that takes time to do that.

If the club are serious about developing and pushing up the table, they will need to do this sooner, rather than later, as if they delay the decision too long, then it could be too late for the Royals to turn their season around.

It’s no secret that this current Reading squad consists of a number of players that are underperforming on a consistent basis.

So, this is likely to mean that a new manager will want to clear out the so-called ‘deadwood’ at the club with the January transfer window edging ever-closer.

They will need time to assess who is surplus to requirements at Reading and will surely be tempted to make wholesale changes to the current playing squad.