Published: Friday, 12th September, 2008 10:00
Coppell braced for more January sales
By Anthony Smith
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Mastermind: Steve Coppell is prepared for a hectic winter in the transfer market.
STEVE Coppell is bracing himself for another frenzy when then transfer window re-opens in January.
The Reading boss lost Dave Kitson, Nicky Shorey and Ibrahima Sonko this summer.
But he retained Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and James Harper who were strongly linked with moves to Premier League clubs.
And Coppell admitted: “It was important to retain certain players, very important. In many ways they could be the key to our success this season.
“We lost three and we haven’t replaced them with like-for-like because there was an imbalance with the squad anyway. So we’re giving youngsters a chance instead.”
Reading denied reports suggesting Everton failed with a £3.5 million bid for Hunt on deadline day.
They also insist there was no contact with Totteham regarding Doyle, even though it was rumoured the North Londoners could not get an answer when they called Royals to ask about the Irish striker’s availability as Dimitar Berbatov moved closer to his £30.75 million transfer to Manchester United.
But Hunt’s future concerns Coppell the most and he accepts it may be tough to keep hold of the 27-year-old winger should top-flight clubs show their interest in the New Year.
“I had one call from David Moyes asking about a couple of players but there was no official offer from Everton for Hunty,” he declared.
“It’s like picking a scab. I don’t want to keep dragging this up, it’s done now and Stephen has to re-focus on his football until the turn of the year.
“Then if he still has ambitions to leave, we will approach the matter again.”
He added: “The transfer window isn’t really stressful but what irritates me more than anything is the fact players are available for months over the summer, then at the last minute before the deadline you receive panic calls.
“That gives us absolutely no opportunity to do anything about it and find replacements. That was my one, big worry. But, despite what people have said, we had no last minute bids.”
Coppell’s dislike of the transfer window is shared by defensive coach Wally Downes who claims it ruins the art of football management.
“The window is rubbish – it should be open all the time,” he fumed.
“If your team is evolving and you see a player you think will fit in – that’s the art of managing because you change your team as and when you need to.
“It takes some of a manager’s skills away and it also encourages bad practice from agents with all this last minute rushing around and giving players false hope.
“They know they have a small window in which to earn their money.
“It’s a bad rule and it shouldn’t be applied, certainly not domestically.”
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