Pardew was the new hero at reading at the start of the 2002-03 season and everything got better for Reading FC, they embarked on a fine campaign, during the 2002-03 season. Their first season back in the second tier of English football was a fine year for Reading. After an impressive start they gradually improved even further and it came to no surprise when they finished the campaign off in forth position, narrowly missing out on promotion via the play offs. In total, Reading gained 79 points in the league. They were less fortunate in the cup competitions, crashing out of the FA cup in the third round of the FA Cup, losing to Walsall on penalties and luck deserted the club in the league cup, crashing out in the first hurdle against Cambridge United, losing 3-1.
Pardew left the managerial post at Reading at the start of the 2003-04 season and he was replaced by Kevin Dillon at the club, his first season in charge at the club was highly respectful, he helped gear Reading towards a fine seventh place finish in the league by the climax of the season, narrowly missing out on a play off birth. Once again they were unfortunate in cup competitions, they reached the last sixteen of the league, meeting Premiership runners up, Chelsea in the forth round, narrowly losing 1-0 to the club. They once again crashed out the FA Cup in the third round, on this occasion losing 2-1 to Preston north End.
Dillons’ reign in charge at the club lasted only around a month and Steve Coppell had already been in charge at the club for 10 months by the start of the 2004-05 camapign, his first full season in charge at the club. Dave Kitson was in inspirational form for Reading FC through out the season as they finished off their campaign in seventh position, narrowly missing out on a play off birth.
The 2005-06 campaign was arguably Reading FC’s greatest in the history of the football club, they were outstanding in the league, finishing the season off strongly as the Championship winners, gaining a record 106 points en route to the trophy. Coppell mastered the success and they had the help of their new bargain signing, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita as both players were prolific in front of goal. They also embarked on another fine run in the league cup, reaching the last sixteen, only to be defeated by Arsenal, losing the encounter 3-0. They also reached the forth round of the FA cup, meeting premiership outfit, Birmingham City, forcing the match in to a replay, losing the replay 2-1.