Former Reading striker, Dave Kitson, has claimed that the club won't want him back as they're worried he'd take their jobs.

Kitson was a vital player for the Royals during their record-breaking season where they achieved 106 points, the most in any professional league.

The striker scored 18 goals in the 2005/2006 campaign, and went onto become a star player as the Royals finished eighth in the Premier League, the season after gaining promotion.

Kitson has stated that Reading wouldn't let him in the door, as people like Chief-Executive, Nigel Howe, wouldn't want him to take their jobs.

Speaking to Ady Williams on a BBC podcast, Kitson said: "I spoke to Leroy Lita about this issue, and he said your biggest problem is that people in charge are petrified that you're going to take their job.

"Guys like Nigel Howe, they're not going to let me in the door at Reading. I mean, you'd like to be asked but like Leroy said, they're absolutely petrified of you going there and eventually taking their job. Once you get in the door, they can't get you out again.

"I made a conscious decision to only deal with people I absolutely trust in the game."

The Verdict

What a player, and character Kitson was. He was brilliant during his time at Reading and is really revealing in the podcast with Ady Williams.

It's interesting that he thinks that, it definitely has a sense of truth around it, as supporters would love to see an ex player back which would then make it hard to leave - which he states.

I'm not sure if that's the exact reason why Nigel Howe hasn't asked him back, but the Royals haven't seen many former players come back through the door in recent years. Maybe it's time to bring a few back and see if that can help boost the club's chances of Premier League football.