It has been a struggle supporting Reading over recent seasons, finishing no higher than 20th in four of the last six years.

Succumbing to relegation last year, despite sitting in a comfortable position for more than half of the campaign, Reading will now kick-off the 2023/24 campaign in the third tier for the first time since 2002.

But with a turnover of more than 15 players and the prospect of a season without an embargo ahead, there are signs that things are moving in the right direction.

Take a look below at just a few things to be positive about heading into pre-season.

Reading Chronicle:

Transfer window

For the first time since Ovie Ejaria in 2019, the Royals are heading into a window with the prospect of spending fees on players.

Embargoes and points deductions have littered recent seasons in Berkshire, with the club battling for survival with both arms tied behind their backs.

No transfer fees or loan fees able to be spent, the club have been dependant on handouts and good relationships since the eventful window in which George Puscas and Lucas Joao were purchased.

Speaking of Puscas, a club-record buy from Inter Milan, his time in Reading looks to have come to an end after loan club Genoa secured promotion to Serie A.

With over £3m recouped of his £7m+ move, after hitting 20 goals in 91 appearances for Reading, there is money able to be reinvested to build a side capable of challenging in the third tier.

Currently without any central midfielders and Andy Carroll the only senior first-team striker in the squad, it should be an exciting window.

Reading Chronicle:

Backroom set-up

A positive move brought in by former boss Paul Ince, Reading have brought in a highly-experienced and respected team behind the team.

Mark Bowen, a former player and manager at the club, has come in as Head of Football Operations, while Brian Carey and Jared Dublin head up the recruitment.

A constant gripe under the previous regime was a lack of scouts, and this is slowly but surely improving with talent-spotters out and about now looking for the next big talent to bring to RG2.

Run into the ground financially and run amateurishly in the past, processes are finally being put in place to bring Reading back into the 21st century and recruit talent not only good enough for the first-team, but to be sold on for profit.

The fruits of these labours will not necessarily be visible overnight, but the club are moving in the right direction.

First job for Bowen and Co., recruit the manager to lead the club into this new age.

Reading Chronicle:

Academy

The lifeblood of the football club, the youth set-up at Reading for a long while was the envy of most of the country.

From the likes of Alex Pearce and Jem Karacan, to Michael Olise and Danny Loader, more than 70 youngsters have progressed into the first team in the last 24 years.

This explains why there was such uproar last year when it was announced that it had been demoted from Category One (amongst the country's elite) to Category Two.

Citing issues of Covid-19 and the move to Bearwood as reasons for the demotion, the club stuck by the entity and backed it as if it was a Category One level.

Kelvin Abrefa, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan and Jay Senga proved last season that the talent was still there despite the demotion, and the club look set to be rewarded for their faith as it is thought that the club are confident of returning to the elite of academies at the first attempt.

Now the club find themselves in the lower leagues, nurturing their own talent will be more important now than ever. Still producing players for the first-team, and potentially regaining it's reputation in the coming weeks, the likes of Michael Gilkes and Noel Hunt deserve all the praise they garner from supporters.