READING-BORN Hayden Mullins took charge of Watford in last night's (Wednesday) Premier League match at Leicester City, managed by Brendan Rodgers, the former Reading FC team chief.

Under 23 coach Mullins has been given temporary control of the struggling Hornets following the sacking of Quique Sanchez Flores and will be assisted by ex-Reading keeper Graham Stack.

His professional career was started by Geoff Warner, who at the time was coaching at the Crystal Palace Academy. He spotted him playing at Spencers Wood.

The midfielder went on to make more than 220 appearances for Palace, before going on to play for West Ham, Portsmouth and Birmingham, in addition to having a short spell on loan with Reading early in 2012.

Hayden has a son who plays for Bracknell Town, where Warner now coaches.

WOODLEY United have appointed Jamie Williams as their new first-team manager, promoting him from their reserve side (the Royals) who play in the Thames Valley Premier League.

He will be assisted by former skipper Adam Barnard, who has been forced to retire from playing, and Rachael Laws, a goalkeeping coach with Reading FC Women.

With both Woodley sides training together, Williams will continue to also select the reserve team each week, although leaving the match-day management to senior players.

READING Hockey Club men's 1st XI are having the worst season in living memory, failing to win any of their 11 Premier League games so far.

But chairman Tim Mann is continuing to back them, saying: "The entire club is behind the management team and the squad, and we are all leaning in to try to support M1 as they look for their first victory."

Hopefully, that will come next Sunday when they host Beeston, who were held to a 2-2 at home by the Blues in October.

WHILE Woodley United were playing Wallingford on Monday, Reading City chairman Martin Law was keeping himself occupied in the Rivermoor Stadium's recently-extended kitchen.

Perhaps we will see him appearing on The Great British Bake Off before long.