Former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince was hired as Reading interim manager after Veljko Paunovic's sacking on Saturday.

Ince's appointment was announced just an hour after Paunovic oversaw a 3-2 win at Preston in his final game in charge of the Championship strugglers.

Reading are five points above the relegation zone and Ince faces a battle to stop them sliding into the third tier.

Reading pointed to "strict transfer embargo restrictions and contract limitations, an injury crisis like never before seen at our club, a global pandemic and the challenge of a six-point deduction imposed by the EFL" as obstacles faced by Paunovic in his second season in charge.

In their statement announcing the Serbian's departure, Reading confirmed the arrival of Ince, whose last managerial job was at Blackpool in 2014.

The former England star will work alongside Reading academy manager Michael Gilkes.

Ince has also had spells as boss at Macclesfield, Milton Keynes Dons, Blackburn and Notts County.

"The board and I will now work diligently to identify the right candidate to take this club forward," Reading chief executive Dayong Pang said.