Published: Thursday, 2nd October, 2008 12:00
Doyle and Hunt ponder future
By Anthony Smith
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Waiting game: Kevin Doyle admits he does not know where his future lies.
KEVIN Doyle and Stephen Hunt have dealt a blow to the club’s long-term plans by refusing to commit themselves until the end of the season.
Royals feared the Republic of Ireland duo would be snapped up by Premier League clubs last summer following relegation.
Everton and Sunderland were in hot pursuit of Hunt while Aston Villa, Tottenham and Sunderland were strongly linked with Doyle.
But any possible moves failed to materialised and the pair’s impressive performances since have been crucial to the club’s success back in the Championship.
However, that is certain to put a number of top-flight clubs on red alert and ready to pounce when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Doyle’s comments this week are bound to leave Royals fans on edge after the 25-year-old admitted he was unsure where his future lies.
“I don’t know,” he stated. “You don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
“It’s good for both me and Reading if I can continue playing well, good for everyone. Our aim is to get back in the Premier League this season, as quickly as possible.”
Doyle, who Reading value at about £8 million, was heavily linked with Aston Villa and it was even reported that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy phoned the club on transfer deadline day but could not get an answer.
That rumour was strongly denied by Royals, though manager Steve Coppell has not ruled out players leaving in the New Year.
“For any player to go, they’ve got to go out there and play well,” he argued. “ If they’re playing rubbish we won’t just sell them at a discount.
“That applied in the summer and will apply in January too. As a club we can’t lose – we only lose if they play rubbish.”
It is believed Hunt, a free transfer from Brentford in 2005, will be allowed to leave should a club meet Royals’ £5 million valuation. Coppell, though, has denied widespread reports suggesting Everton failed with a £3.5 million bid towards the end of August.
So far no-one has come close to meeting the asking price for Doyle who signed from Cork City for a bargain £78,000 in 2005.
And this week Hunt dropped a big hint about his future by insisting he has set personal targets only until January.
“I scored 14 goals for Brentford from left wing one season,” he said. “I don’t know if I can beat that but I have a target until January which I will keep to myself.
“Then I will change it again in the New Year but there is no point setting long-term goals because you never know what is around the corner, as we showed last season when we got relegated.
“But I’m enjoying life though it’s hard to say if I’m playing my best football. You set as many targets as you can at the start of the season and hopefully you achieve them.
“I’ve got targets for goals, assists, crosses and tackles – I suppose they are the main parts of my game. Hopefully I can keep things going and I’m enjoying playing well.”
Coppell is already looking at potential long-term replacements for Hunt and Doyle from both within the club’s ranks and beyond.
Chairman John Madejski will almost certainly release funds from any potential sales for Coppell to utilise in the transfer market.
However, neither Hunt nor Doyle appear to be affected by the speculation and Coppell admitted: “Stephen’s attitude has been superb. I don’t want to lose him but in today’s market he would be great value.
“If a big club comes in we’ve got no right to stop someone bettering themselves. It’s the way of the football world; money talks.”
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