Reading have announced they have sacked former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam as first-team manager.
Reading have been in poor form for most of the season and the Championship side have opted to sack the Dutchman with their league status under threat.
The Royals are only three points above the bottom three with eight games remaining and have begun the search for Stam’s successor with immediate effect.
“Reading Football Club announce that Jaap Stam has left his position as manager of the club with immediate effect,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“Majority shareholders, Mr Yonnge Dai and Ms Xiu Li Dai, had wanted to give Jaap every opportunity to turn around what has been a difficult and challenging Championship campaign.
“Jaap has not wavered in that time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try and steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in. However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary.
“We would like to thank Jaap for his hard work and commitment to the club, in particular noting what he achieved in a memorable first season in club management, and we wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours.”
Stam was appointed Reading manager in the summer of 2016 and the 45-year-old guided the club to the Championship play-off finals in his first season in charge, where they lost to Huddersfield’s on penalties.
His second season at the club has been of complete contrast, as Reading have only won one of their last 18 Championship fixtures and are seriously in danger of getting relegated.
In fact, if the Championship table onto took into account results in 2018, then Reading would occupy the final relegation spot with eight points from 13 matches.
