Iconic former Reading manager Brian McDermott has said it's 'a joy to watch' the current Royals team as they sit third in the Championship.
Having a 13-year association with the Berkshire outfit, including leading the club to the Premier League in 2012, McDermott took to the field over the summer in a legends match to celebrate the club's 150th anniversary.
Still a regular viewer of the club, the 60-year-old raved about the flying start.
Speaking exclusively to the Reading Chronicle, he said: "It’s been incredible. You look at the start of the season with Financial Fair Play and everything that goes with that. I said to anyone that would listen, you’ve got good people there. Paul Ince, Alex Rae, Mark Bowen, Brian Carey, Noel Hunt, Mikele Leigertwood, Michael Gilkes.
"And then they’re signing people like Jeff Hendrick, Shane Long, Sam Hutchinson. The common denominator is people. Good people. It’s not about how much money you’re spending, it’s about getting the right characters. That’s exactly what they’ve done.
"I’ve spoken to Brian Carey many times and he just talks about people and the right characters about the place. This is what Reading used to do in the past and it’s what they’re doing now- it’s been a joy to watch."
Just six months ago hundreds of supporters took part in a protest at the SCL Stadium to call for changes in the way the club was being ran.
Fast forward to the present day and the club appears to be on the up, with supporters together and looking up rather than over their shoulders.
Discussing the resurgence, the former Leeds United boss said: "There’s action being taken. Mark [Bowen] came in, Paul [Ince] got the job as manager, Brian Carey came in, Noel Hunt came in. I know all of these people, they’re good people. They’re football people doing what they have to do. Then they go and sign good people.
"They’ve done exactly what I would’ve expected good people to do. They’ve signed good characters who will battle for the team and won’t give up. Sometimes they have a bad day at the office, we all do that. One thing they didn’t do is have two bad days at the office- they bounce back. That’s what I look for in a team."
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