Reading FC manager McDermott frustrated by Leicester's transfer tactics

Anthony Smith • Published 1 Sep 2011 15:56 25 Comments

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READING FC manager Brian McDermott has accused Leicester City of trying to unsettle Jimmy Kebe.

Royals boss was furious when reports emerged on transfer deadline day yesterday (Wednesday) suggesting a late approach from the Foxes for the 27-year-old winger.

But McDermott believes the tactic was purely the work of Leicester themselves.

Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, McDermott declared: "I might put something on Sky Sports saying we're trying to buy three or four Leicester players.

"Other clubs do, it's very easy to do that sort of thing. If that's what you are into then fine, but we choose do things differently at Reading."

News of big-spending Leicester's alleged interest in Kebe intensified yesterday. But Reading were insisting they had received no contact from the Foxes regarding the player who is yet to sign a new contract at Madejski Stadium.

"There has been no contact from anyone regarding Jimmy," insisted McDermott. "Whatever Leicester do is up to them.

"To be honest, I'm not really bothered how Leicester conduct their business. But if we wanted to do that sort of thing there is nothing stopping us either.

"I think they were linked with about 10 players on Wednesday alone. It was ridiculous."

Leicester have already signed one Reading player this summer with the capture of former skipper Matt Mills for a staggering £4.5 million.

It is believed Kebe's reluctance to sign a new deal with Reading alerted Foxes boss Sven Goran-Eriksson.

Kebe, a £1 million signing from Lens in 2008, has declined to put pen to paper on an improved three-year contract.

If that situation stays the same, he will become a free agent next summer when a host of clubs are likely to be fighting for his services.

Despite the uncertainty over Kebe's future, McDermott insisted: "The only certain thing is that Jimmy is under contract with us for one more season. After that, we shall see what happens.

"I love working with Jimmy and he loves playing for Reading. There is an offer on the table for him if he wants it, but that's his prerogative and things are ongoing at the moment."

He added: "Look, if Jimmy wants to sign a new deal he can, and I'd love him to. If not, he becomes available next summer. But no matter what happens, Jimmy has been a great player for this club."

Meanwhile, McDermott ruled out more new arrivals at Reading last night having landed Adam Le Fondre, Kaspars Gorkss and Joseph Mills in the past week.

However, out-of-favour duo Brian Howard and Marcus Williams could be off-loaded, possibly on loan.

"They can leave if someone comes in for them," explained McDermott. "If not, they come back into the squad."

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 01 Sep 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Bobbyp57
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Sep 1, 16:03
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Having striped us with the price for Matt Mills I would have thought Mr McDermott would have been more than happy with Leicester's transfer tactics. That said I also think he would find, if he bothered to check, that "interest" in Jummy Kebe, apart from being originally historic, has been manufactured by various media outlets one of which may have been the local Leicester Mercury newspaper as I understand their story from yesterday was refuted by club "sources". If such media outlets had been believed then, yesterday alone, we were either chasing/interested, in talks with, or about to sign 5 or 6 players and Sven has been quoted today as saying how many agents were ringing him claiming to represent various players.

Mr McDermott is an excellent manager however I suggest that this won;t be the first time that his players become the apparent interest of clubs who, themselves, know nothing about it.

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MrSmith
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Sep 1, 16:07
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Alternatively the story could have come from somewhere else?

Like what actually happened if anyone had bothered to find out. A Leicester fan blogged about seeing Kebe at LCFC yesterday and then SkySports picked up the story. The fan may well have been mistaken and seen someone else but that is what happened.

Sounds like sour grapes from Reading who've just lost their captain to Leicester. And of course Brian McDermott criticising the way other clubs do business is clearly the height of professionalism or may be not.

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******
Sep 1, 16:08
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kevin
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Sep 1, 16:08
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Mr Mac should check his sources before making inflammatory comments of this nature.

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Nuneaton Fox
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Sep 1, 16:20
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McDermott, who do you think you are criticising Leicester for our transfer tactics with no evidence to support your comment? Quite often we hear managers slate the Media who are known to create these stories and I share the opinion too, but to openly criticise Sven is wrong. I've not seen any interest declared by Sven and he is very open about who he's signed usually.

Why don't you spend more time focusing on football and stop complaining of stories that have no fabrication and evidence towards?

Judging by the business that has gone on between us and Reading, I should've hoped you would have had an insight how Leicester work. Idiot

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Luke lcfc
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Sep 1, 16:31
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You have to get your facts straight before you make statements like that, anyway probably just frustration from losing some top players this transfer window.

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boc-lcfc
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Sep 1, 16:41
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Or perhaps, Mr McDermott, you should ask Kebe's agent if he has any idea where the story came from. Your offer of a new three-year contract has obviously been found lacking if the player has declined to sign it.

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Charles Orton
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Sep 1, 16:41
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It'll all end in tears for little old lester. They're acting like big boys - it'll come back to haunt them.

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RustyRoyal
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Sep 1, 16:47
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with the increasing number of social media outlets, agents and fans gossiping on the likes of Twitter it is quite possible that Kebe's agent put out a story to generate interest in his client. I think alot of ppl/ agents have picked up on Leic's investment and done that during this pre-season.

Leic seem to have been linked with every player going

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Superfox64
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Sep 1, 17:00
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How naive of McDermott to think that the story came from Leicester when Sven has already criticised Rangers for leaking the Jelavic bid. Agents create these stories to make it appear that their players are open to offers, Leicester is an easy club to use as we are openly in the market for players. Maybe one day McDermott will be in a position to spend money, he may even crack a smile at that point!

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Dave
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Sep 1, 17:02
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turd grip has been quoted in the media mentioning other teams players, all a bit under hand really. You have to laugh really but leicester are spending way beyond their means, if they don't get promotion this season it will all blow up! and the swedish lothario sven will be off, he'll be at another club splashing the cash.

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Darren b
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Sep 1, 17:15
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This is from the BBC web page on the morning of 31st Aug, it seems that Mr Grip was quite happy to mention other teams players.

"BBC Sport's Simon Austin reports that they are still after a striker and their consultant, Tord Grip, told him that they retain an interest in Nikica Jelavic, Jimmy Kebe, Andy Johnson and Jermaine Beckford."

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Superfox64
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Sep 1, 17:19
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Interesting to read an article on this very site saying Reading interested in Le Fondre. Now where did that story come from I wonder? In the end you signed him but the story was published before you had so a bit of pot and kettle going on here I think.

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Darren b
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Sep 1, 17:22
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The difference being that the quotes regarding the players never came from an employee of the club. Its a very simple concept to understand really.

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Superfox64
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Sep 1, 17:35
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No, they hide behind journalists and that seems to make it ok. It's football, it's unfortunate that this is how the game works these days. I don't like it as much as the next but it is what it is.

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LFC_Rulz
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Sep 1, 17:36
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RFC- check your facts before dishing out the blame.

And why your at it, can we get a refund for Mills? You can take him back, and 1 for done would pay his bus fair! Biggest waste of money we have seen

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Y24EAST
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Sep 1, 17:45
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It strikes me that Leicester have now had time to work out that the purchase of Mills from Reading was at least over priced and at worst a major mistake and a great piece of business by Reading.

Therefore their intention in releasing details of their interest was purely to unsettle the god that is Jimmy Kebe (not) and to get in some kind of small minded retaliation towards Reading for ripping them off so badly!

URZ

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tilehurst bob
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Sep 1, 17:46
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the facts are quite clear, you can find quotes from tord grip about other teams players all over the media yesterday. As superfox says its all too common in modern football

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Leicestonion
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Sep 1, 18:45
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yes i got to agree with the social outlets, mainly Twitter. It was manic with rumours flying around. All it takes is one person to mention something and before you know it, chinese whispers kick in and the throw away comment becomes big news. So Mr McDermott... i do agree with a lot of the comments that you SHOULD get your facts right as to WHO was responsible for suggesting Jimmy was in talks with lcfc.

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TheLoyalRoyal
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Sep 1, 18:48
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Sven is a twat. First he said he wanted Long and stared going on about how good he was. Now he is trying to unsettle Jimmy ... How about Sven you **** off and try and get your own team promoted ( Which your doing pretty **** at the moment)

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McLovin
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Sep 1, 19:20
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Have you all realised how awful Mills is yet? £4.5m ha ha ha ha ha.

Some of you even got so carried away that you claimed he was the best defender in the division! At best he is average, and has never been better than that.

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billyfox
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Sep 1, 19:30
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leicestonion- have you read the comments regarding tord grip, he was openly commenting on other teams players in the media yesterday, so Reading may have a point in this case

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Eddie Hitler
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Sep 2, 09:11
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I seem to recall Sven being quite open in the press of his interest in Shane Long - even though Shane Long had no intention of joining Leicester. Unlike Matt Mills, Shane Long showed some ambition, and joined a Premiership club, and did not move simply for the money!

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LoyalRoyal
13 posts
Sep 2, 11:26
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TheLoyalRoyal

Sven is a decent bloke. He managed to get England to the quarter-finals at the world cup and Euros, which is better than Capello and McClaren.

Do agree though Sven is a bit of a git about this.

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Benjilcfc
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Sep 2, 14:38
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He says that if that's the way we want to do business then that's fine but reading will go about it their own way.

So what u flipping moaning at then if it's fine?

Shut up Brian, just shut your silly face :)

Up the citeh!!!!!

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neutral
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Sep 2, 20:18
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Leicester attracted a foreign benefactor who was looking for a cheap purchase to allow them to throw money at a quick fire promotion.

Whether they succeed or not, Leicester City have lost their identity as a football club. The club is Asian from top to bottom. It’s very sad to see a small but proud club prostitute itself for the dollar.

Those past trips to Filbert Street were great win, lose or draw with a pretty good atmosphere but the bowl stadium has lost that ‘feel’ and has helped the club lose that identity and, of course, the bowl was one of the reasons that the benefactors chose to buy in at Leicester – I do fear for them.

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