Noel Hunt has been sacked as Reading manager following a string of poor results. The Royals are languishing in 19th place in League One with just three wins from 14 games, and the search is now on for Hunt’s replacement as we preview the next Reading manager odds to see where the early value lies in the market.
A 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers was enough to force the hand of chairman Rob Couhig, who called it ‘a difficult day for everyone’ and notably praised the former Reading forward for his integrity and love for the club. Hunt’s record of 19 wins, 16 draws, and 16 losses from his 51 games in charge isn’t disastrous in isolation, but the lack of form carried over from the back end of last season has Reading in a relegation scrap, which Couhig clearly felt Hunt couldn’t steer them away from.
Latest Odds for Next Reading Manager
The question becomes: who fits Couhig’s brief? As the best betting sites begin to open markets with the next Reading manager odds, we take a preview at a select few who represent value rather than just tabloid headline noise.
| Manager | Implied Probability | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Bloomfield | 40.0% | 6/4 |
| Scott Marshall | 28.6% | 5/2 |
| Jon Brady | 25.0% | 3/1 |
| Gareth Ainsworth | 23.1% | 10/3 |
| Leam Richardson | 20.0% | 4/1 |
| Tony Mowbray | 14.3% | 6/1 |
| Mark Bowen | 11.1% | 8/1 |
| Kevin Nolan | 9.1% | 10/1 |
| Neil Harris | 7.7% | 12/1 |
| Rubén Sellés | 5.9% | 16/1 |
Matt Bloomfield
Matt Bloomfield would be an ideal hire at Reading. The 41-year-old was sacked by Luton Town on 6 October 2025, with the side 11th in League One. He’d initially signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in January 2025, assigned the task of keeping the Hatters in the Championship, but was unsuccessful in that pursuit. To be fair to Bloomfield, the damage was already done, and even though performances picked up, relegation was inevitable.
His stock is still high. The work he put in at Wycombe to earn the Luton job took the Football League by storm, pushing them to League One promotion contenders, an EFL Trophy final and three League One Manager of the Month awards (April 2024, October 2024, November 2024), all on one of the smallest budgets in the league.
Culturally, he would be a good fit for Reading, and he’s proven he can work with tight budgets and still get results. He’s young enough that the club could invest for the future with Bloomfield, and his track record of working with young, hungry squads will appeal to the ownership.
No Expiry Date
Scott Marshall
It’s always interesting to look at the assistant manager from a betting perspective, as more often than not, they get first crack of the whip. Scott Marshall will likely oversee things until a permanent manager is appointed, meaning he might get one or two games to show what he’s made of.
Marshall getting the job long term means a soft reset for the Reading owners, and that they wouldn’t have to rip up the backroom staff to create change. His odds to take the job are artificially short, as is always the case with caretakers, but if he starts well and gets the team ticking, this price will only harden over the next few days. One to watch, for sure.
Jon Brady
The opposite of appointing someone like Marshall would be to bring in someone like Jon Brady. The former Northampton Town man is a rebuild specialist, and if the board think that’s what is required for this squad, Brady makes a lot of sense.
He left the Cobblers in December 2024, citing a desire for a fresh challenge, but in his four years there, he made them obnoxiously hard to play against and kept them afloat despite player sales, injuries, and financial restrictions. Brady likely won’t be an initial fan favourite for the role. He is, however, a no-nonsense manager who will shore up a leaky backline and, more importantly, prioritise survival over champagne football.
