Coppell’s Contract Conundrum

Reading FC are keen to sign manager Steve Coppell down to the club for longer then the year-to-year contracts the man in charge at the Madejski Stadium prefers.

I don`t think I`m alone saying that as far as I`m concerned Coppell should be given a job for life, a golden dugout and whatever else his heart desires!

The quiet man of the Premiership has worked wonders since being with the Royals and I`d like to see him here for a very long time.

Speaking to the Reading Chronicle newspaper, Nick Hammond, Reading`s director of football said that he and Coppell have spoke briefly about the contract situation and that the pair will sit down together soon.

‘People pick up on Steve’s situation but that’s nothing new. Reading supporters know Steve likes to operate one year at a time.
‘But we’re keen to have a conversation and see what his thoughts are about taking the club forward.’
Coppell has worked on a year-to-year basis with the club since joining in October 2003; he sees it as an honest situation which he or the club can back out should anything go awry.

But understandably with Reading flying so high thanks to Coppell`s driving force the club would like to tie down the manager to a more permanent agreement.

‘We’ll ask Steve what his feelings are,’ said Hammond. ‘He’s always been happy to work one season at a time.”

I can appreciate why the club would want to tie Coppell down; the Reading boss is somewhat of a dying breed being a successful English manager – and as something that is hard to find these days you can see why Coppell is turning a couple of heads.

“But we are aware that this guy has done an exceptional job here and will no doubt be on other clubs’ radars.”
And even the contract situation is appealing to rival clubs, Coppell is technically available come summer and as a manager that does only sign one year deals the club don`t have to pay out should they fire him, an inviting scenario indeed.

“I will ask whether there’s an option of tying him down for longer.” Concluded Hammond, “That would be beneficial from our perspective but we always respect what Steve has to say.’
So now we play the waiting game, will he, won`t he? I think this one will end with a contract signed by Coppell and another year at the Mad Stad.