Published: Saturday, 3rd May, 2008 18:00
Hunt prefers points not plaudits
By Anthony Smith
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Player of the Year: Stephen Hunt faces up to the massive challenge ahead.
ROYALS winger Stephen Hunt claimed the coveted Player of the Season award – then admitted he would swap it in an instant for Premier League survival.
Reading travel to Derby County for the final game of the season this Sunday (4pm ko) with their top-flight status hanging by a thread.
And Hunt knows that personal honours will mean nothing if he and his team-mates are relegated after a long and difficult campaign.
The Royals lost 1-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday to slip into the bottom three.
Fulham, however, climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to their victory over Birmiingham and now go to Portsmouth on the final day.
It means Reading's destiny is no longer in their own hands and their confidence is rock-bottom.
Steve Coppell's side have not won in six games now and have failed to score in nine hours and 11 minutes.
“It’s obviously nice to win something like this, especially as I was in the running last season as well,” added the Republic of Ireland star.
“It’s great to know fans appreciate what you have done and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.
“But we’ve reached the critical stage where the team comes first. I’d give the award away if it meant staying up.”
Hunt was revealed as the winner of the club’s official Chronicle sponsored award before last weekend’s clash with Tottenham.
An incredible 10,000 votes were registered with midfielder James Harper finishing in second place, and goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann a close third.
“It’s an honour to win any individual award, every player wants them,” added Hunt.
“But at the same time we are fighting to survive as a team. We are all in this together, it’s all about the team and how we perform on Sunday.
“Derby is a massive game, certainly the biggest since I’ve been at Reading. People expect us to win easily but it’s wrong to think that.
“Derby will be disappointed with their season and they will want to give their fans something to cheer. We’ve got to be prepared for a tough game and hopefully we can do it.”
Meanwhile, Emerse Fae has hinted his Reading career may be over as he prepares to sit out Sunday’s crucial game at Pride Park.
The Reading midfielder and centre-back Ibrahima Sonko are both serving a two-week suspension for refusing to play for the reserves.
The pair were also fined a fortnight’s wages and were forced to miss last weekend’s final home game of the season against Tottenham.
They have been ordered to stay away from the Madejski Stadium and the club’s training ground until May 12, the day after the Premier League finishes.
Fae fumed: “I cannot understand their attitude. They were not courageous enough to tell me things in the eyes, man-to-man.
“They do not need to suspend me to show everybody that it has not worked. They did not treat me well during the season. I never caused controversy.
“I have been a professional, but they are showing me that I do not have a place at the club. There is no need to fight or to persevere, for my future is not with Reading.”
Fae and Sonko have struggled to hold down a regular place in Steve Coppell’s first team all season.
But it is thought Ivory Coast star Fae and Senegal defender Sonko were reluctant to play against Spurs’ second-string last week, which ended 2-2, for fear of risking injury as both have important international fixtures coming up in the summer.
And Fae, the club’s record £2.5 million signing from Nantes, added: “They have been acting strange towards Sonko for a while. They lack recognition towards him.”
However, boss Coppell insisted: “As far as I’m concerned it’s an internal disciplinary measure and it’s been dealt with. I don’t want to take anything away from our focus of what’s important. Everything else is just incidental.”
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Further Details
Hahnemann slams team-mate's commitment