Mark Bowen has had a tumultuous relationship with Reading, but his return to the club could be the spark needed to turn the Royals around.
After a season which saw the Berkshire side flirt with relegation far more than is comfortable, find themselves on the wrong end of a six-point deduction and end the campaign with Paul Ince in charge and little in the way of a long-term plan, Bowen’s second stint with Reading should provide plenty of cheer and optimism.
Something of a joke figure for ‘appointing himself’ as manager in the 2019/20 season, Bowen’s time in charge was commendable, guiding the Royals from relegation troubles to relative mid-table safety after replacing Jose Gomes. If it wasn’t for Bowen, Reading most likely wouldn’t have spent the majority of the 2020/21 campaign fighting for promotion. That success came amongst the backdrop of financial and sporting decisions which showcased why the club have spent this season battling against the effects of a points deduction.
A respected individual inside the club and many others turned into a figure of ridicule when Reading appointed the former Stoke, Man City and Southampton assistant coach as their man in the hot seat after Bowen himself was tasked with drawing up a shortlist of names to replace Gomes.
That Bowen’s time in charge of the club was amongst the most consistent and successful managerial spells in over a decade in the blue-and-white corner of Berkshire speaks volumes as to Bowen’s decision-making and confidence. Those are two qualities which will serve him well upon his return to the selectcarleasing.com Stadium.
The fact that Bowen even considered returning to the club speaks volumes. His disagreements with Reading owner Dai Yongge are no secret, and he left the club in acrimonious circumstances in August 2020, refusing to take a job back ‘upstairs’ when replaced in the dug-out by Veljko Paunovic.
Now, the former technical director is set to reprise a role behind the scenes at…
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