Iconic former Reading boss Brian McDermott admitted he is 'upset' at not being able to attend the final home match of the season on Saturday.

The Royals face bottom club Wigan Athletic, and still sitting in the bottom three it has taken on a 'must-win' reputation among players and supporters.

More than 20,000 tickets have been snapped up, the biggest crowd for over a year, but one man who won't be there is McDermott.

The man who took the club to the Premier League in 2012, current interim boss Noel Hunt was a key cog in McDermott's successful teams of a decade ago.

Reading Chronicle:

Speaking on BBC Radio Berkshire, the 62-year-old admitted that it was 'personal'.

"It is personal. I really want him to do well, and we want Reading to stay up. It’s really personal.

"It’s difficult. In a situation like this you have to take all the emotion out of it and just do your jobs and deal with what you have to deal with. Play each half and in whichever way you can, just get a result. I’m sure there will be 20,000 people in the ground on Saturday.

"I wanted to go but I can’t because I’ve committed to something- three months ago, a charity event- which I can’t pull out of. I’m upset that I can’t be there, to be there for Noel and the players. Shane [Long], from my days, will be involved. You just hope that the boys can perform. Even if they don’t perform, I don’t care as long as they nick a 1-0 win or any kind of result."

Reading Chronicle:

Facing Huddersfield Town on the final day of the campaign, the team directly above the Royals, results are needed to take it to a final-day shootout at the John Smith's Stadium.