Former Reading midfielder and BBC Sport pundit Mike Gooding has offered his verdict on his ex-club's controversial appointment of Mark Bowen.

The Royals confirmed the news on Monday afternoon to a largely negative response and Gooding, who made over 300 appearances for the club, also admits he was take aback by the decision.

"I'm surprised," he told BBC South.

"It obviously hasn't worked out for Jose Gomes so I thought they would get someone in like Chris Hughton.

"Somebody who has got a good track record in the Championship. It's obviously Mark's first managerial role so I am a little bit surprised."

With 11 matches in the Championship played, the Royals sit third from bottom, with a 1-0 defeat to Bristol City proving the final act in Jose Gomes' ten-month reign as manager at the Madejski.

The Portuguese rescued the club from relegation last season, taking over from Paul Clement, before carrying out a host of exciting summer signings.

However, with just two wins from their opening 11 games, patience at board level eventually snapped with drastic action being taken just before the international break.

Bowen's first test will be a tough one as high-flying Preston North End visit Berkshire, looking to improve on their current thrid-place status.

The verdict

I think a lot of fans are as surprised as Mike, although many are certainly a lot angrier.

It is an enormous risk for Reading to take and it will take an awful lot more than merely staying up for the club to win their own fans back on side.

But that is what Bowen must now do. It was a huge advantage of Gomes' and now he must try and find a way of doing the same.

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