Reading legend Michael Gilkes revealed he has no intentions of returning to first team coaching, despite multiple spells in Berkshire.

Gilkes played over 500 times for the club in the 1980s and 1990s, and is now the Head of Academy at the football club.

As recently as this year, the former Barbados international was more used to sitting in the dug-out than in his Bearwood office, joining Paul Ince's coaching staff during his interim spell last season.

Not the first time he worked as a coach, Gilkes has spent time coaching under the likes of Jaap Stam, Paul Clement and Mark Bowen during his post-retirement association with the Royals.

Reading Chronicle:

Speaking on his time on the touchline at the SCL Stadium the 57-year-old admitted it was not always an enjoyable experience.

"I was a part-time coach, then Under-14s, Under-18s, Under-23s and became the Under-23 coach for about two or three months," he started. "Then Steven Reid decided to part the club and Jaap [Stam] thought I was good to do that. It was a fantastic time, lasting from August 2018 until March 2019. Paul Clement came in and was very different. By December he had gone, and we had a whole clear-out.

"I came back to the club working with players and their contracts, with the likes of Michael Olise, Andy Rinomhota and Omar Richards, but by December 2019 this job became available, and I was offered the job.

"Mark Bowen asked me to come back with the first team and help out because of the [Covid-19] restrictions, and he asked me to stay with them for the period, which was brilliant. I went back, Pauno came in- a lovely man to work with- and after about 18 months I get asked to go back again with the current manager.

"It’s been a really challenging time for the club, so there was no time to enjoy any of that, but it was great to represent the club at that level. I’m not saying I hope it comes around again, it was an interesting time."

Now firmly in the driving seat of the Academy, currently steering the set-up back toward Category One status after last season's demotion, the speedy winger could not guarantee he won't be be back on the touchline in the future.

"They are so different. The first team is mainly results, and you’re talking 50 games a season. You’ve got to have a strong, robust squad, and when you think of how we’ve survived the last few years it is good going because we’ve not had that. One thing the game has taught me is that you never say never. It is not something I’m striving to do, but football changes so quickly. You just have to be prepared and willing to do what you’re asked to do."