BBC Radio Berkshire’s Reading commentator Tim Diller
Competent, calm and well organised, the character of Robin Sales was fully tested at Reading.
A lesser man in charge of the Royals over the past 18 months has thrown the toys out of the pram and snapped at least once but Sales has taken all the nonsense thrown at him by the owner and chief executive in his stride.
He also patiently and politely fielded media questions week after week about the puzzling situation, when really others should have come forward. He is also eligible to join Westminster’s cabinet as a Championship football manager.
He disproved all tactics during his first few months in charge by playing a poor 4-2-2-2 formation that was completely ineffective and, in another instance, going nine games unbeaten. After and bottom of the League One table, his tenure at Reading would expire after three months.
However, a change in strategy and selection and a remarkable turnaround in results, along with young players, all helped Sells become one of Reading’s most popular managers of all time.
All said and done though, the basic human quality of being a truly likable man is by far the most important quality, and it was what made him so effective during his 18 months of reading.