Ex-Liverpool forward Andy Carroll has divided opinions with his "committed" social media post after Reading were relegated from the Championship on Thursday night.
The Royals' fate was confirmed following Huddersfield's 1-0 win over already-promoted Sheffield United. Reading, who were handed a six-point deduction earlier this season, needed the Terriers to lose and hope they beat Huddersfield on the final day to stand any chance of survival.
However, Neil Warnock's side edged out the Blades at the John Smith's Stadium courtesy of Danny Ward's long-range effort. This meant Reading would join Blackpool and Wigan in League One next season, despite once looking like play-off contenders during the first-half of the campaign.
Following Reading's relegation, striker Carroll, who has scored nine times in 30 Championship appearances this season, decided to post on his Instagram a message to the supporters - and apologised for the Royals' demise.
However, he did confirm he would be staying at the club next season.
In an Instagram post that included several photos of him at Reading, the caption read: "The People The Place I Love You All. I’m So So Sorry We Weren’t Enough This Season. I Know I’ll Be Working My F***** Arse Off This Summer To Get This Fantastic Club Back Up And Beyond. Thank You For Making This Club My Home."
It is safe to say fans had mixed views on Carroll. One said: "There are a few petty comments on here. How many top players drop down and play their hearts out in a struggling team. He gave 100% in every game he played. Blame him if you want, but you weren't relegated because of AC. Show some respect...."
Another commented: "Sorry to say but genuinely think we get 3 points if you didn’t get red against Luton. You owe it to the fans to grind it out in L1." A third said: "Get your CV updated hey. You all let down ever single fan this season." A fourth added: "Not you -the boys got 50 points is the people upstairs who have let everybody down."
"One of the only highlights of this season! I can't help but like the guy. He's been nothing but 100% committed since the day he arrived," a fifth said on Twitter. Another claimed: "Unfortunate for but with a player like Andy Carroll on the pitch, anything is possible! Can't wait to see what's in store for next season."
Reading would be sitting in 19th if they didn't suffer a six-point deduction last month. A club statement on April 6 read: "Despite radical changes implemented at first team level and right across the structure of the business to its very core – and a rigid adherence to a strict league-monitored wage structure and transfer embargo, the club accepts that it has not sufficiently satisfied certain elements of the planned budget and that, as a result, the independent club financial review panel has been unable to ratify that the club has met its forecast for compliance.
"We have worked closely with the EFL and the independent club financial review unit throughout the process in our aims to achieve the targets set out in the agreed business plan and every reasonable effort has been made to construct a competitive squad of players whilst avoiding further punishment.
"However, despite the substantial progress we have undeniably made and the lessons that have indeed been learned, as promised, we accept that the situation was never going to be easily or quickly fixed."
