INCE FANS FLAMES OF RALLY

IAN BAKER

BY

PAUL INCE has challenged his Reading side to avoid another relegation dogfight.

And he reckons their supporters can play a big part in a revival.

Ince said: “Last season we started to close the gap between us and the fans.

“That’s great and our fans came to see us because we gave it our all.

“That’s one of the priorities this year – give it your all, and see what happens!”

The Royals, hit by financial woes, have finished 20th or lower in three of their last five Championship seasons.

Ince (above) said: “We know where we are as a club and the challenges we’re facing.

“And we also know that if we play right, with spirit and togetherness, we can achieve better than we did last year.

“We don’t want to be in a relegation fight – we want to go as far as we can. So for me as a manager, I’ll make sure we have targets to achieve.

“Now we have to pull together, have a positive vibe. We have to keep believing and not get despondent if we lose a couple of games – there’s 46 games. If we pull together, who knows how far that can take us?

Ince kicks off the campaign at former club Blackpool.

It has been all change at Bloomfield Road with Neil Critchley leaving to join Steven Gerrard’s backroom staff at Aston Villa.

New boss Michael Appleton is still chasing a host of new signings.

Despite seeing top target Cameron Brannagan staying put at Oxford this week, Appleton said: “We’re still pretty confident that there will be one or two more players coming in.

“Hopefully that will improve us and help take us to another level.”