Brian McDermott returns as Reading manager

The 54-year-old took the Royals into the Premier League during his first stint in charge but was sacked in March 2013 with the team stuck in the relegation zone.

McDermott replaces Steve Clarke at the Madejski Stadium with Reading currently 13th in the Championship table having lost 2-1 at promotion hopefuls Hull on Wednesday night.

The former Leeds boss had been working as a scout at Arsenal, a role he first took on at Reading in 2000 when Alan Pardew was the manager, but returns to the dugout for a second spell with the Berkshire club.