Reading have agreed a deal for Mark Bowen to become the new manager, with the club to announce him in the coming days.

Bowen is the current Sporting Director at Reading, and last night agreed a deal with the club to become first-team manager, according to the Telegraph.

It’ll be Bowen’s maiden experience as a first-team manager, having previously served as an assistant manager with Wales, Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, QPR, Stoke City and Southampton.

He was initially employed as Reading’s Technical Consultant in March of this year, before being promoted to Sporting Director in August.

The 55-year-old replaces Jose Manuel Gomes, who was sacked last week with the club in the relegation zone of the Championship.

Gomes managed just eight points from 11 games in charge this season and sunk Reading into 22nd with a 1-0 loss at Bristol City last time out.

His departure was widely expected during the international break, and his successor's first game in charge will be at home to Preston this weekend.

The verdict

Gomes' sacking was timely and the club have worked hard to appoint a fresh face in time for the Preston game.

Bowen's plenty of experience as a number two and at some reputable clubs, but he faces an uphill task at the Madejski, and keeping the club in the Championship this season will be a huge success.

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