BRIAN McDermott insists he is not scared of being sacked by Reading FC a second time.

Royals’ boss is coming under increasing pressure from fans after a season of struggle in the Championship.

McDermott took Reading to the FA Cup quarter final where they lost to Premier League Crystal Palace, but results in the league have been far from impressive.

Since the 55-year-old replaced Steve Clarke in December, Reading have won just six times in 22 Championship games and taken a meagre 24 points from 66 on offer.

That worrying run has seen Royals slump from just outside the play-offs to 15th in the table.

Supporters are also growing disillusioned and Tuesday night’s 2-1 home loss by Hull City attracted Reading’s lowest attendance for a league match in 12 years, with just 12,949 heading through the turnstiles.

But McDermott, who won promotion to the Premier League with Reading in 2012, stressed he is not worried about losing his job and that it is very much a case of business as usual.

He declared: “Do I fear it (the sack)? I don’t fear it. I don’t fear stuff like that because it’s completely out of my control.

“It is not something I concern myself about. I know this football club really well and I believe I know what it takes to be at the top end of this division.

“If I get support and everyone rallies round and we go in the same direction, then we’ve got a chance of being really competitive next season.”

McDermott also suggests Reading desperately need a period of stability after several turbulent years.

He was axed in March 2013 by disgraced former owner Anton Zingarevich, who left the club saddled with debt.

His successors – Nigel Adkins and then Clarke – were also afforded little time with which to turn things around before they, too, were relieved of their duties.

“It’s been a similar story for the past two years,” he argued. “You had Nigel then Steve, now you have me here.

“From a football club’s point of view, turning managers over constantly – which seems to be the norm – is not a great idea. It’s not a good formula. It’s not conducive for stability and good results.”

McDermott will certainly have his work cut out this summer with Royals set to lose six loan players belonging to other clubs, while senior stars Hal Robson-Kanu and Anton Ferdinand will also be out of contract.

And Royals winger-turned-right-back, Garath McCleary, accepts times are tough as McDermott’s men prepare for Saturday’s ‘hoops derby’ at Queens Park Rangers (3pm ko).

“We did well in spells on Tuesday, but we’re really disappointed we are not winning games or at least picking up points,” he said.

“We’re working really hard, but it’s not going our way. I honestly don’t know why things haven’t worked out, I can’t put my finger on it.

“But we go to QPR on Saturday and hopefully our fortunes will change. We need to end this losing streak.”

Reading have sold more than 1,500 tickets from their 2,000 allocation for the trip to Loftus Road.

Royals have not lost at QPR on their last three visits to west London.