The performance wasn’t what we hoped for and the result went against us on a disappointing final day in Huddersfield. But praise was rightly reserved for the travelling fans who, having supported their team throughout a dead rubber and from the start to the bitter end of the 2022-23 campaign, chanted ‘Reading Til’ I Die’ at the final whistle in West Yorkshire.

“We didn’t play the game the way we wanted to,” Royals Interim Manager Noel Hunt began. “We had some good spells in the first half, but we didn’t really hurt them.

“But we were flat, which is understandable after the week we’ve had. It was a tale of two teams, one has achieved the great escape, while we have got tangled up in it all.

“The players have been great throughout the last three or four weeks, but we are relegated and there was a definite flatness today on an afternoon we wanted to give something back to our fans.

“And the fans were great. I think they had a cut off time when, after Thursday’s result, they could have claimed a refund on their ticket. But not many did. And that just shows their class as a set of fans.

“And the fans who came up here this afternoon were outstanding. They were fantastic all the way through the game and some of the chants that were coming out made me smile.

“We’ve got a strong fanbase, loyal, passionate people who believe in this club. And with our fans with us, that can only be a good thing going into the future.

“I think now we all need some time to mourn. I said to the boys, it doesn’t matter if you’re here next season or back at your loan clubs or somewhere else – you will remember this feeling. And you won’t want to feel like this again.

“And if you stay together as a team, play as a team, these things are less likely to happen again in the future.

“As for me, this was a job I was to take until the end of the season. And I’m just proud to be part of this football club. If I was Under-21s manager this afternoon, I’d still be as proud to be part of this club.

“It’s been an unbelievable experience, but I’m gutted we haven’t been able to do the job we needed to do. I’ll take this opportunity with me and if an opportunity like this comes around again in the future, it will stand me in good stead.

“And I said to the boys, that if I die tonight, regardless of the situation, I’ll be a proud man and I’ll rest easy. Because I gave it my all for a club that means so much to me.”

“Our fans were class. Loyal, passionate people, who care about this club”