READING FC's CEO Nigel Howe has promised fans a lot of "player movement in the coming weeks" to help reduce the squad size.

The club is already looking ahead to the 2019/20 campaign after securing Championship status with one match left in the current season.

Howe, who resumed his role in December, says he "inherited a number of significant club issues" and he expects the summer transfer window to be even busier than the last.

Speaking to the club's official website, Howe said: "Our challenge right now must be to reduce the size and cost of the first team squad to meet Profit and Sustainability targets.

"We will see even more player movement in the coming weeks and months than we achieved back in January. Only then can we continue to move this club forward.

"Perhaps, recently, as a club we lost our way a little. It will now be our collective aim - myself, my staff and with the help of our supporters - to reinject our identity into all we do."

Reading's final match of the season will start at 12.30pm at home against Birmingham City, with both sides safe from the threat of relegation.

Howe has backed José Gomes to lead Royals to bigger and better things next season.

He added: "José will naturally be at the heart of this process and we will all be working extremely hard in the coming months to balance our figures and secure the stability we need to establish a talented, hungry squad of players ready to tackle 2019-20 head on and challenge in the top half of the table rather than scrapping for survival. We have a big summer ahead of us."