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Heading into November 2023, Reading had lost their five most recent games and were bottom of League One on a miserly six points.

Twelve months on and they have won three of their four most recent games and sit ninth in League One on a more promising 22 points, one point off the play-off places.

Performances have ranged between high quality - the wins against Burton, Huddersfield, Charlton and Wigan - to the dismal, with defeats at Stockport, Bolton, and Rotherham.

Ruben Selles is in a strange predicament.

On the one hand he can point out how well his team has done, despite being just out of nappies, while all the time having to deal with a bigger financial crisis than the one Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she is in.

On the other hand he wants to keep expectations modest, because he can see trouble ahead.

A couple of injuries, the annual points deduction that is Reading’s usual way and a dip in form could plunge Selles into another relegation scrap.

To casual observers taking a quick look at the league table this may seem extreme pessimism, but it is important to remember the utter chaos behind the scenes that Selles has so deftly managed to shield his players from.

There is currently a period of exclusivity in place, for a potential purchaser to negotiate a deal with Dai Yongge.

Rob Couhig’s collapsed deal was played out in public, this new potential purchaser is perhaps more wisely staying out the limelight until everything is signed, sealed and delivered.

When and who that might be is anyone’s guess.

Of the 92 football league clubs, Reading has for me been the front-runner when it comes to crazy ownership and leadership.

Until that is sorted out, a few wins and mid-table status is simply papering over the cracks.

During this first quarter of the season, Selles and his young team have done well on the pitch, but the predominant issue remains the ownership situation.