Harlee Dean has a passion for helping, so I’m helping him launch new career Harlee Dean spent six years at Birmingham City before being released in 2023 and has been on Reading's books for the last two seasons Harlee Dean during his six-year stay at Birmingham City Former Birmingham City defender Harlee Dean is ‘dipping his toe’ into the world of coaching as he waits for a specialist consultation over an ongoing hip injury. Dean has only managed to play 19 games for Reading in League One this season due to a hip issue, the last of which came in the 2-0 victory over Wrexham in mid-March. ‌ The Royals are currently sixth and set to secure a play-off spot, despite the backdrop of an uncertain ownership situation and a lack of investment in everything from the playing squad to the pitch. Whilst Dean isn’t able to play the part he would have wanted to, the 33-year-old is passing on his knowledge and knowhow to a youthful Reading crop. Manager Noel Hunt is helping Dean to kickstart his coaching career after being given a similar experience by Brendan Rodgers when he was an injured player at Reading. Article continues below "I was so lucky that when I was here as a player, I did my knee and Brendan Rodgers got me into coaching in case things didn’t go as well,” Hunt told the Reading Chronicle. "I got involved in the Under-17s and did some of the analysis and it was a really good insight for me. Harlee is at the stage now, his early 30s, where he has had his eye on coaching for a long time. "He is waiting for an opening to see the specialist so in the meantime he gets his gym work done and comes out with us to see how we do things. ‌ "He has a passion for helping and that was the biggest thing when I came into the job, how can we utilise Harlee Dean more if he’s not playing? "He’s got so much experience to give, especially for defenders to learn and see things from a player’s perspective. To have had the career Harlee has had, it is a positive for us. "We got him a jacket to come out and the boys gave him a bit of stick, but it was brilliant, talking to the back four and reading little triggers. He is dipping his toe in here and there, which we love." Article continues below Are Reading the best team Blues have faced this season? Let us know your thoughts HERE