Published: Thursday, 2nd October, 2008 09:00
Madejski: `Good times are back'
By Anthony Smith
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Loving it: Royals chairman John Madejski is relishing the club's recent success.
ROYALS chairman John Madejski declared “the good old days are back” after the convincing 3-0 victory over Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Last season’s relegation from the Premier League hit Madejski and the club hard. But the gloom has gradually lifted and Reading are in the winning habit once again.
An encouraging start to the campaign gained further momentum on Tuesday when they became the first side to take points off Wolves at Molineux by securing their own maiden victory away from home.
And the eye-catching performance clearly reminded Madejski of a few years back when Reading ran away with the title with a record 106 points.
“At this moment in time it couldn’t be better,” he declared. “The good old days are back, we’re firing on all cylinders, the strikers are scoring goals, the defence is good – everything is falling into place. It’s wonderful so let’s enjoy it.
“To break the bogey of an away win at a place like Molineux against the top team is absolutely sublime. We played tremendously well, we were the business. It was another exhibition game again and all credit to the squad and the management team.”
Madejski, an old friend of former Wolves chairman Jack Hayward, was at Molineux to witness the Royals close the gap on the Midlands club to five points.
Some argue it also sent out a clear warning to the rest of the division and the odds on Reading winning the title were immediately slashed.
However, Madejski insisted: “I don’t do warnings. All I’m interested in is Reading doing well and getting back into the Premier League as soon as possible.
“I have a good feeling – I think we all do. You cannot fail to after a result like that. I think it was the first time Wolves had been beaten this season and to win 3-0 was just fantastic.
“Hopefully this will inspire us to carry on doing well, not only at home but also away. It’s a long season and obviously we can’t get too carried away at this juncture, but it does look good. There is such an esprit de corps in the camp that everything is positive.”
It was not always that way over the summer as the fallout from relegation took its grip. Manager Steve Coppell threatened to walk but was persuaded to stay by the overwhelming support of fans and Madejski.
Now the Royals are on the march once again with a fresh team assembled by Coppell. Of the side which started at Molineux only Marcus Hahnemann, Kevin Doyle and Ingimarsson were regulars the year they clinched the Championship title.
Now, the likes of Stephen Hunt and brother Noel, Jimmy Kebe, Liam Rosenior and Andre Bikey, together with Academy graduates Jem Karacan, Alex Pearce and James Henry are shaping the club’s future.
“Credit must go to Steve Coppell, Nick Hammond and our scouting system for doing such a fantastic job in terms of bringing in really good players,” added Madejski.
“As a board we sometimes take stick and all the rest of it. But some of our recent displays just show how capable we are and the potential that is here.”
A fast return to the Premier League is also essential if 67-year-old Madesjki is to find a “billionaire with deep pockets” to buy the club.
He has invested close to £60 million since he took control 17 years ago and now he feels it is time to step aside.
“If we carry on like we are then I’m sure there will be interest,” he argued. “We’re the best club in the country.”
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