[3] He was on the books as a football player for Cambridge United, Watford, and Wycombe Wanderers as a centre forward,[4] but did not play any league matches for any of the three clubs.

[citation needed] In 1998 Reed rejoined the FA as part of the England national coaching setup under Kevin Keegan.

During Euro 2000, Keegan allowed Reed to respond to virtually all the tactical questions posed by the English press after England's defeat by Portugal.

Many journalists wondered in their columns how a manager and his coaching team had allowed a minor member of their entourage such an important role.

They didn't seem to understand that not everyone can board a plane, settle in a strange hotel far from the family they love, and find it easy.

Reed's spell at Charlton became infamous, as the media attacked him frequently, nicknaming him "Les Misérables" and "Santa Clueless",[11] and he was later voted in an unofficial online poll "the worst manager of all time".

[12] Reed was linked with a consultancy role helping Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez, who approached him after a League Managers' Association meeting at West Bromwich Albion in February 2007.

[13] After a period advising the Football Association of Ireland, he became first-team coach at Fulham in April 2007, where he helped the club retain their league position at the expense of Charlton.

"[16] On 16 April 2010 Reed was appointed Head of Football Development and Support at Southampton, and later the Vice-Chairman, overseeing four main areas: the Youth Academy, Scouting and Recruitment, Sports medicine and Science, and Kit and Equipment Management.