Sky Sports pundit backs Reading FC for League One promotion.
Former Premier League striker and manager turned pundit Iain Dowie believes Reading has a chance to win promotion this season.
Following a nearly 500-game playing career, the 60-year-old former Northern Ireland international spent nearly a decade managing clubs such as Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic, and Hull City.
Dowie, an experienced pundit who has been with Sky Sports for over a decade, spoke with BoyleSport about betting and his predictions for the upcoming League One season.
The Royals lost their first match at Lincoln City on Saturday and face a significant rebuilding effort after losing Tyler Bindon, Harvey Knibbs, and Amadou Mbengue. However, Dowie remains optimistic that, with some experience, the club can push for a return to the Championship after three years in the third tier. “I expected Reading to struggle with Ruben Selles because of his unpredictable style.
“They’ve lost one of their best players, Amadou Mbengue, to QPR on a free transfer, but I like Finley Burns from Manchester City and Mark O’Mahony of Brighton.
“I don’t see them reaching the level of Huddersfield, but I believe there were some positives last year under Noel Hunt. They’ll be well supported, and there’s a chance they’ll get promoted.
You just need to gain more experience and build from there.” Last season, the Royals finished seventh and were eliminated from the play-offs on the final day, losing to Leyton Orient.
There is hope and expectation that the Royals, now stable under new ownership, will push for a return to the second tier. The club’s last promotion from the third tier took four seasons, from 1998 to 2002.
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