Reading Football Club have taken an unprecedented step in English football by appointing a head of artificial intelligence as they seek fresh tools to help them return to the Premier League. The new role of Director of AI has been filled by Stuart Fenton, believed to be the first such appointment in English professional football. Fenton, a lifelong Reading supporter, told Sky Sports that the club are deliberately looking for ways to do things differently. Sebti described the initiative as “ground-breaking” and said the ambition was to “revolutionise how we analyse performance and begin to create the ‘Reading model’”. Reading have endured a difficult few seasons, slipping into the third tier in 2023 after financial problems threatened the club’s future.

Source: Sky sports February 05, 2026 10:57 UTC