Reading’s 2015/16 season was somewhat fractured, having three different men in charge.

The Royals started the season with Steve Clarke at the helm before his sacking placed Martin Kuhl in interim charge.

Brian McDermott was appointed for a second spell until the end of the season where Reading finished 17th after pulling away from a relegation scrap.

In June of the off-season, Jaap Stam was appointed to be the man to take the club forward.

The former Manchester United defender’s appointment was met with a sceptical response by Royals supporters.

From relegation scrapping and three managers to a spell of continuity at the Madejski Stadium which was met with positive results.

During Stam’s first season in charge of the Championship side, he guided them to a third-place finish, seven points off an automatic promotion spot to the Premier League.

Reading made it to the play-off final but were defeated on penalties by Huddersfield after a goalless 120 minutes.

Sceptics turned into believers after a successful season with a squad that was deemed mid-table exceeding expectations and delivering a Wembley visit.

That success would prove to be Stam’s downfall, however, as in his second season at the helm; a poor start turned into a miserable season.

Having won eight of 38 matches that term, losing ten, Stam was sacked in the March with Paul Clement replacing him.

It was some ride under the former Holland international, from mid-table mediocrity to the cusp of the Premier League, he achieved something with a squad of players who were not meant to have done what they did.

The mood on Stam had changed positively before it then turned sour after a dreadful play-off hangover.