TalkSport pundit, and former Premier League star, Darren Ambrose has labelled Reading a 'poisoned chalice' after the club sacked former England captain Paul Ince.

The Royals are winless in eight and sit inside the relegation zone with five matches remaining, pulling the trigger after a 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on Monday.

Former Reading striker Noel Hunt has been handed the reins until the end of the season, tasked with keeping the side in the Championship.

Ambrose, a former teammate's of Hunt, issued his verdict on TalkSport.

"It seems a poisoned chalice at Reading at the moment and there are a few teams around them that are like that at the moment. Paul Ince will get another good job in my opinion, in the Championship if not League One. When he does take over a club when there’s no restrictions he does a relatively good job.

"This could be a positive move for Paul Ince. Unfortunately for Reading, they’re looking for a new manager now, looking like they’ll get another relegation on their hands again. It’s a good club, Reading, just run by the wrong people at the moment.

"What he will do, Noel, he’ll have the boys onside and he’ll get the supporters back on side because it’s a difficult moment for Reading. I’ve been there, in terms of points deductions with Crystal Palace, and the one thing you have to do is galvanise the team. If you do that, no matter what happens from now until the end of the season, if you end the season on a high you could look into League One and restart and rebuild. Hopefully, for Noel Hunt, he can do well in the last five games. If he can pick up a result against Burnley, which is going to be difficult, who knows next season you could be seeing him as the full-time manager."