Reading FC manager McDermott hits back at Kebe
Anthony Smith • Published 10 Nov 2011 15:30
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READING FC manager Brian McDermott has hit back at want-away winger Jimmy Kebe after a breakdown in contract talks.
Kebe, 27, has rejected an improved two-year deal with the Royals and is set to quit the club.
Kebe broke his media silence on the weekend to speak of his disappointment, a decision that has clearly angered McDermott.
Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, he said: "I know for a fact that the offer we made Jimmy was a good one, especially in relation to where we are as a football club right now.
"Jimmy has gone public with what he said. He hasn't told me personally he wants to leave, he did it through the press, but that's up to him.
"If he wants to go, there's not much I can do."
Kebe is in the final year of his existing contract. Royals offered him an improved deal in the summer with an extra 12 months, but he turned it down.
Reading may be tempted to cash-in while they can and sell Kebe in the January transfer window before he leaves for free next summer.
Fulham and Leicester City have been heavily linked with the ex-Mali international and he is unlikely to be short of offers from England or abroad.
"If Jimmy wants to leave he has to play well between now and January or the end of the season," argued McDermott.
"It will be in the best interests of ourselves and Jimmy that he does well. If he performs to his best, he can make his own mind up where he wants to go.
"At the moment he is leaving next summer but if an offer comes in during January and it is acceptable then we will consider that too."
Kebe opened contract talks with Reading in the summer but they failed to agree on wages.
And McDermott, pictured below, insisted: "I think we at Reading have done everything we can to keep Jimmy.
"I never normally get involved in contract situations as Nick Hammond does all that. But I know we have made him a very good offer.
"If Jimmy disagrees and would be happier signing a contract somewhere else that's up to him."
Director of football Hammond has been orchestrating the contract talks with Kebe's representatives.
"We began talking to Jimmy in the summer when he had one year remaining on his contract," explained Hammond. "The offer we made to him was a significant increase for that remaining year and then a further 12 months.
"But we were told that our offer fell considerably short of his expectations. We responded that Reading Football Club could not and would not pay Premier League wages whilst we remain a Championship club."
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