April proved another hectic month, with six fixtures, but supporters enjoyed being able to focus purely on the football with former CEO Nigel Howe heading up the ongoing ‘exclusive negotiations’ for a takeover.

Bolton Wanderers inflicted a heavy defeat on Reading on Easter Monday, beating the defence at will and looking every bit a Championship team in a 5-2 victory.

Lincoln City, chasing down the play-offs on the back of a 13-game winning streak, visited the SCL Stadium for the first time and were fortunate to walk away with a point in what was an impressive Reading performance.

Freddie Draper put the Imps ahead late on, against the run of play, but Tyler Bindon rose highest to head an equaliser and keep the points tally ticking towards safety.

Safety was all-but assured following an emotional 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers under floodlights, with boss Ruben Selles even allowing some emotion to go on display in memorable celebratory scenes with the travelling fans post-match.

Mathematically, the job was done four days later when Reading held play-off chasing Barnsley to a draw in an entertaining 2-2 tie at Oakwell.

Twice the Royals took the lead, through Sam Smith and Lewis Wing, but twice the Tykes pegged them back.

The draw, twinned with results elsewhere, rendered Reading uncatchable from those below them and the squad enjoyed their journey home from South Yorkshire with beer and dancing, watched by thousands on Amadou Mbengue’s social media livestream.

As is often the way once an achievement has been hit, the next game saw the players fail to recapture the heights of a few weeks previously.

Burton Albion, fighting for their lives in the relegation battle, scored three first half goals at home to Reading, more than they had managed in over two months previously.

Wing and Smith pulled two back for the Royals but the Brewers were worthy winners, with Reading supporters more occupied in smuggling in banned contraband: inflatables.

With two matches to spare, survival had been confirmed and it was party time in Berkshire.

Almost 18,500 turned out for the final day against Blackpool, dubbed ‘Dia Del Jefe’ in honour of Selles the Spaniard.

A crowd-funded banner was unveiled before kick-off and paella was still being ordered when Karamoko Dembele put the Tangerines ahead inside three minutes.

However, Reading weren’t going into the summer break quietly and restored parity in first half stoppage time through Smith.

The second half firmly belonged to the hosts and Harvey Knibbs and Femi Azeez did the damage to close out the campaign with a win.

Thousands remained in their seats to serenade the players for their ‘Lap of Appreciation’ as Wing was awarded Player of the Season.

This serenading continued long into the night in town centre pubs and bars across the town, most loudly in Purple Turtle when the squad made an appearance.