Former Reading defender Wayne Bridge has labelled the club's demise 'horrible.'

A club favourite at Chelsea and Southampton, the former England international spent the 2013/14 season with the Royals after the club suffered relegation from the Premier League.

Struggling with injuries, the full-back made just 12 appearances before announcing his retirement.

A decade on, and the club he left on the brink of the top-flight are now staring at the prospect of a first season in the fourth division since 1983 as they battle the drop from League One.

“I think there have been mistakes made on and off the field at the club which have ultimately led to their big downfall," the left-back told BetVictor. "When you’re on that downward spiral, it’s so hard to pick things up again,” Bridge said. “It’s horrible. When I spoke to the Reading fans, I got the impression that Reading’s situation is leaving them down in the dumps more often than not – football has that effect on people.

“For Reading now, I just hope that they can avoid relegation from League One, because if they do end up falling into League Two, it is a massive fall and becomes a real tough ask to make it back out. It can take a very long time to climb back up the divisions.”

Reading sit three points adrift of safety at the halfway stage after serious financial mismanagement has seen the club hit with points deductions and transfer embargoes for three straight years.