Reading Academy has been demoted to Category Two, the Reading Chronicle understands.

First broken by popular outlet, the Training Ground Guru (TGG), the Chronicle understands that after failing its audit, the highly-regarded youth set-up is to be demoted.

One of the founder Category One academies from 2013, issues such as understaffing and access of facilities were flagged up in the report.

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A name synonymous with the set-up at the club, Eamonn Dolan was an iconic figure in Berkshire who ran the Academy from 2003 until his tragic passing in 2016- a period which saw the likes of Alex Pearce, Jem Karacan and Simon Church break through and become first team regulars.

Now overseen by club legend Michael Gilkes, barring a breif spell with the first team last season, new staff such as Antoine Thompson and Michael Donaldson have entered the club in recent months.

A shining light for the club, more than 70 graduates have broken into the first team since 1999, with almost 20 since 2019 alone.

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Alongside the first team and women's team, the Academy train at the new Bearwood facility and recently won the Berks and Bucks Senior cup under former Royal striker, and now Under-23 manager, Noel Hunt.

Staff and players were teold the news on Thursday, July 14, with the report from TGG confirming that the club "will not lay off any staff because of the demotion and will reapply for a Category One licence at the earliest opportunity."