"Out of his depth" - Terry Bullivant named in Reading FC worst manager debate | OneFootball

FLW's Fan Pundit has discussed the Royals' worst ever managerial appointments.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Ruben Selles has brought pride back to the Reading FC dugout in the last year after several disappointing managerial appointments in Berkshire.

It's been a good start to the season for the Royals, who have entertained fans on the pitch despite several off-field issues that could have easily disrupted performances.

Selles has worked wonders off a next-to-nothing budget, instead utilising young stars through the club's academy and those who were already at the Madejski Stadium when he arrived, and he deserves huge praise for the success that he has had so far.

Nevertheless, in Reading's nearly 153-year history, there have been plenty of managers who have not quite reached the heights that the Spaniard has, and while he has been held in such high regard, others are remembered a lot less fondly.

Terry Bullivant named as Reading's worst ever manager

While the 2000s and early 2010s saw the Royals enjoy some of their best times as a club, the late 1990s were the opposite.

A four-year stay in the old Division One saw them come close to a first Premier League season, however, they quickly slipped down the table and were relegated back to the third tier in 1998.

Football League World's Reading Fan Pundit, Johnny Hunt, was asked which manager he believes is the club's worst, with the Royals supporter naming the man to take them down just before the turn of the millennium.

He told FLW: "We’ve had a lot recently, but the club's been such a mess. I think one that was at a different time and just didn't work and eventually caused our last relegation from the Championship to League One was Terry Bullivant. He lasted less than one season.

"He took over from Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding, and he really was out of his depth, I think is probably the best way of describing it."

Johnny continued: "A lovely guy, a great taxi driver, a decent coach, but as a manager, he made some odd decisions and, ultimately, with a fairly decent squad with guys like Carl Asaba, he got us relegated to League One.

"Obviously, Tommy Burns came in for the last few games, but by then it was too late. We were a sunken ship and I just think he was out of his depth and didn't get the best out of the players that we had at the time - and that's why we got relegated."

Reading's 1997/98 campaign was a disaster

There had been hopes that Reading were going to maintain their position in Division One in 1997 after finishing 18th the year before, but things got off to a bad start.

The Royals failed to win any of their opening six matches, picking up just one point. While they did embark on a seven-match unbeaten run shortly after, they won just two of those games - much to the frustration of supporters.

The Christmas period once again saw an upturn in form for Bullivant's side, but it was clear this was not going to last, and they quickly dropped off the pace once again, with a 3-0 defeat to Oxford United in March 1998 seeing the then 41-year-old resign.

Reading were 23rd in the table with the worst defensive record in the league, and Burns, who was brought in to try and stead the flow, could not help the team.

The Berkshire club were ultimately relegated back to Division Two, cementing Bullivant as one of the worst managers in the team's history.