With the Reading players back in training for the new season, it should be business as usual at the Madejski Stadium. Several stories linking certain players with moves to Premier League clubs, are proving to be a disruptive influence.
Reading boss Steve Coppell blaims greedy agents for the speculation surrounding the future of some of Reading’s star assets.
Coppell said, ‘There`s a thirst and desire for speculation stories and we are not immune from it. This is a by-product of the agency industry. Agents don`t make money if players stay at clubs – they only make money when players move. So it`s in their best interest to fan the flames.
‘When the speculation dies down, players may realise they have fewer options than they thought.’
Meanwhile, Coppell has expressed his desire to repay the Reading fans for their loyalty to him and the club, despite relegation.
He continued, ‘I thought if I ever got relegated here everyone will want to see the back of me, but the response was totally the opposite of what I expected. I`m delighted to start the new campaign and we now have an opportunity to make amends.
‘The attitude and atmosphere will be determined over the next month when the games and the hard work develops and unfolds – then we`ll be able to see 100 per cent if we have a real hunger to get back into the top division.
‘A team`s success is built upon ability and attitude. I feel we have the ability, but our attitude is going to be tested. It will become very apparent to everyone once we start playing games.’
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he’s too modest is coppell! I have a feeling you’ll keep hold of a lot of players til January, when the state of your league position will determine who stays and goes. A lot of the players owe their success to the club, and should also owe it to Coppell who kept faith with the majority after gaining promotion (how often do you see a team walk away with the championship, only to replace the whole squad next season?). Reading has always struck me as a close knit team with both fans and players so i’d be suprised to see a mass exodus – even with all the media hype about who is going where. don’t worry about it! we get it every year at the lane and usually not a lot happens!
Cheers Dave. My only worry is that we do sell players and leave it too late to replace them! I do agree with you that alot of the players there owe thier careers to Reading but nowadays that counts for nothing. Coppell has a great eye for a good deal (ala Doyle, Hunt, Sidwell, Harper) I think the key will be keeping Kitson, Lita,Matejovsky,Bikey, ingimarson.