Coppell asks for fans patience

Steve Coppell has issued a plea for patience to Royals fans eager to see new faces as the Premiership season draws closer.

With just weeks until the big kick-off Premiership newcomers Reading have been linked with a host of signings including Nolberto Solano, Steed Malbranque, Dean Whitehead and John Mensah although the ever coy Liverpudlian is insisting that new faces does not guarantee survival and is quick to distance himself from such rumours.

He told Sky Sports News ‘New signings are not a guarantee of success. If we could sign some Juventus boys it would certainly change the odds in our favour but that is not realistic.’

‘There are many ways of competing in the top division and just buying new players isn’t necessarily the magic formula. It is part of it but there are other factors involved’, insisted Coppell.

The ex Crystal Palace boss seems keen to not rock the boat too much at present having just steered the Royals to their best ever season, and has already admitted he is not in the market for strikers preferring to stick with what he has at his disposal.

The two signings completed at present look like they could be shrewd bits of business with Korean international Seol Ki-Hyeon impressing in pre-season outing’s already, weighing in with a couple of goals and some solid performances alongside his new teammates. His versatility in being able to play a number of positions may also count in the Royals favour.

Nigerian defender Sam Sodje signed from Brentford for £300,000 also looks to potentially be another ‘Coppell bargain’ if previous outings in the transfer market are anything to go by. The highly rated centre-back will be hungry to prove himself at the highest level having been given his chance.