I think the reason that the manager was not fired for so long was money. The owners were not ready to pay more to someone new, and someone new was not ready to take on such a difficult task for the money offered to him. It is quite risky to take a team that is fighting for survival. If the team leaves the league, it will have a bad effect on the future career of the manager. And here came Paul Ince. The man missed football and is ready to return for any money. If he succeeds, it will open the door to great football for him forever. If not, no one will be surprised.
I thought this too... but they wait for things to reach crisis point and then sack him anyway (although the term "mutual consent" suggests that Veljko finally realised that he needed to leave).
From Paul Ince's point of view, he's got absolutely nothing to lose. He's irrelevant as a football manager and has been for a long time. If he fails, then it's just another failure to add to the list.
It's inevitable now that Paunovic has gone that the players will try. With many of them out of contract in the summer, they'll play like Paul Pogba ready for their next pay day. We have a good squad filled with internationals and even a Premier League winner. We have a squad that should be pushing for the play-offs. If they tried, then we'll avoid relegation comfortably. If they try, it will appear that Paul Ince has done a good job, paving the way for a permanent appointment and then inevitably, a disappointing 2022/23 season.
I've thought long and hard about my affiliation with Reading FC. Growing up, they were my pride and joy. Owned by a Reading businessman who loved the club. Built the club up when it almost disappeared and nearly merged with bitter rivals Oxford United. But I don't recognise this club any more. Deducted 6 points for financial dealings which are far from ethical. Faceless Chinese owners who have caused the good directors who understood the club to leave. I feel like a man, looking at his wife and thinking "you're not the person I fell in love with. Where has she gone?"
Reading would have been better off appointing club legend, and Under-23 manager Michael Gilkes as interim manager. He'd have had everybody's backing and like Paul Ince, nothing to lose. And cheap. But we went for somebody who has no affiliation with the club whatsoever. An abysmal track record in management. Who hasn't even been in management for the past 8 years. During which time, even the great Jose Mourinho went from a superb manager too one who gets paid to much before getting the inevitable sack.
I just don't understand it. Even from a financial point of view, it makes no sense.
If it was in my country, and the reason was not money, then I would think that the reason is personal ties. For Paul Ince, this is a perfect way to get a job, but what will he give the club? By what criteria was he chosen? I read about him on the Internet. His coaching career is even worse than mine in the Fantasy Premier League.
Could the owners deliberately want the club to move to the lower league? Hidden financial problems? Maybe there are plans to sell the club for less than its true value? Stop, we're talking about Britain, so I reject such options. Will have to wait, maybe time will tell.
After the victory of Reading, I wanted to congratulate you, but fell asleep :( The next day your post appeared, and there was nothing to congratulate.