Signing a player is never as straightforward as you would imagine.
We’ve all played Football Manager or FIFA, it can’t be that hard. Find the player, make a bid, agree a fee, iron out the contract and there you go, you’re ready to announce the signing to the fans.
In real life, though, the game is far from the fantasy football that most of us are used to in the comfort of our own homes.
Hours, days, months and sometimes years of work is put in to ensure teams land their targets for the price they want to pay. It’s not just from the manager either.
More often than not, the process starts with the scouts who are out on the road making contacts, watching players and talking with agents.
One man who has made this his life for the past three-and-a-half years at the top level is former Reading centre-back Barry Hunter.
The 43-year-old Northern Irishman had been working alongside Roberto Mancini as Manchester City’s eyes and ears in Italy and Switzerland up until last month.
Now, Hunter, who still lives in Caversham, looks set to link up with another man with blue and white connections, Brendan Rodgers, the new manager of Liverpool.
“I have to regularly travel abroad. Mainly for first-team players, but also younger age groups too,” Hunter explains.
“We constantly keep an eye on the top leagues and who is doing well.
“I would then look at our team and see if they would fit in with it, if the manager would like them and then we would begin a very through process of bringing them to the club.
“There is an incredible amount of looking into peoples backgrounds before you sign a player – especially if it’s for a lot of money.
“You want to make sure you know what you are getting so players are watched at every level for a very long period of time.
“It’s important to build up a full profile of someone both technically and also off the pitch.
“When they come into the club there are no surprises. There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s a fun job. You thrive on the pressure.
“It’s been an interesting three-and-a-half years and winning the Premier League topped it off.
“I’ve never seen a game or finish to a season like that. It was fantastic for neutrals and great for the league.”
Hunter chalked up a century of games during five years at Reading.
A £400,000 signing from Wrexham, the 6ft 3ins defender was brought to the club by Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding in July 1996.
Keeping his roots in the town has also meant that Hunter has kept a lasting affinity with the club.
“If I can help them out, of course, by all means I would,” he replies when asked if he would ever give Royals the heads up on any players that might fit in at his old club.
“It was great to see Reading come up the way they did last season.
“I try to go to Reading games as much as I can and I speak to Brian McDermott and Nicky Hammond a lot.
“I have a lot of affection for the club and it will be fantastic next season.
“Brian is at the centre of everything there. He knows how the club breathes, how it feels and how it works.
“Brian and Nicky together have built a brilliant team with a great spirit.
“If you talk to Brian and Nicky they will say how certain players are Reading players - that’s how they view it.
“The players they bring in have to fit the club and know what it is all about. Jason Roberts was an example of that from January.
“The club has always been like that. I think it’s amazing how it has retained that family feeling even though it is growing like it is.
“I hope the heart of the club stays like that because that’s part of where the success has come from.
“Next season will all be about staying up for Reading and then just building on that.
“I’m sure they will have a good go at it. I know my daughter will be supporting Reading all the way too - she loves to go to the games.
“Even last season I thought it would be tough. I never imagined they would get to the Premier League when I was there.
“The guys have done an unbelievable job and Reading supporters have been spoilt a bit in recent times, it’s fantastic.”
Hunter has also watched on with pride as Royals continue to bring some of the best young talent through the ranks at Hogwood Park.
With Jem Karacan and Alex Pearce already establishing themselves as regulars and Hal Robson-Kanu and Simon Church in contention, Hunter believes fans might soon be able to get excited about the next batch of stars breaking through.
He added: “There’s a couple more that will be in the team soon too you would think.
“That’s how they work it at Reading. Again, it’s well organised and structured.
“Any successful organisation has those structures in place and Reading also have good people there working at everything."
