READING FC boss Brian McDermott is set for major talks with the club's Thai owners this week after a second successive season of struggle ended with a 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers, writes Anthony Smith.

Royals' loss at Ewood Park – a ground where they have never won – on Saturday means McDermott's men took just one point from their last seven games of the Championship campaign and finished in a lowly 17th position.

A year earlier Reading, then under Steve Clarke's management, had laboured to 19th place in the table, though he did take them to an FA Cup semi final.

Now, McDermott accepts actions must be taken this summer to stop the malaise setting in.

"It’s a disappointing end to the season, but I’m glad to put this season to bed," he confessed. "We can look forward to the summer now.

“The owners and I will have a conversation and see where we go from here and we'll get ready to go and do what we have to do to make sure we’re right for pre-season.

"We have to make sure that we get the blend right - we haven’t got the chemistry right for a couple of years here, so what we do in the summer is important going forward.”

Reading's FA Cup quarter final appearance when they were beaten by Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace was a rare highlight in another poor Championship season that saw McDermott re-appointed after Clarke's sacking in December.

"There have been some moments this season, mainly in the FA Cup, where we can say we came away really proud of our performances,” argued McDermott.

“But next season we want that feeling after 46 league games, week in and week out, turning up in every game and showing real strength and commitment to win and get back to what we're all about.

"We've got a lot of work to do but I have been looking forward to this summer for quite a while now - with the right support and everything that goes with it, we can get the right blend to finish at the top end of this division next season.”

Royals supporters have been critical of the club's Thai owners and a lack of investment in the team.

It is unlikely that any of the six loan players – Ola John, Michael Hector, Lucas Piazon, Andrew Taylor, Matej Vydra and Alex Hernandez – used this year will be returning to Reading next season.

It is also believed Hal Robson-Kanu, Simon Cox and Anton Ferdinand will be released now their contracts have expired.

McDermott added: "We’ve got an awful lot of players going out of the building, so it’s important that we do what we have to do and recruit the right players and the right characters. If we can do that, we can be successful.”

McDermott took a young squad to Blackburn and gave a debut to 20-year-old defender Rob Dickie and a third appearance for 17-year-old midfielder Josh Barrett.

Reading's bench was also packed with Academy players including Aaron Kuhl, Jack Stacey and Tennai Watson.

The visitors faced an uphill struggle after Elliot Bennett and Danny Graham both scored to put Rovers 2-0 ahead.

Yann Kermorgant reduced the deficit with a superbly-struck free-kick, but Blackburn notched a late third through Simeon Jackson.

"We didn’t start well and went 2-0 down before the game got going,” stated McDermott. “We got ourselves back into it and had a few little opportunities, but nothing major.

"It was good that Rob Dickie and Josh Barrett got 45 minutes each today and Hal Robson-Kanu also got a half going into the Euros with Wales – they are pluses. But I’m glad this season is done.”

Despite another bad result for Reading, many of their fans partied in the stands on their annual 'inflatables day'.

McDermott added: "Credit to the fans behind the goal, we've been on such a poor run and we don't want that for them.

"I know these fans really, really well. I don't want to be sat here saying the same things after every game and I certainly don't want to be saying the same things next season - we want to be in a very different position in the league.

"We appreciate everything the fans have done for us this season, the support they've given us, travelling in big numbers away from home to places like this, and I know what it's costing them.

“We want to put a team out on the pitch that they can be proud of next season."