STEVE Clarke says he is itching to get to work with Reading FC players after becoming the struggling club’s new manager.

Clarke, 51, signed a two-and-a-half year contract this afternoon – less than 24 hours since the sacking of Nigel Adkins.

And the former West Brom boss beamed: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Reading Football Club and I look forward to helping the club move in the right direction.

“A big part of the work ahead is on the training ground and I look forward to meeting the players and getting onto the grass with them.

“There is real potential here and hopefully exciting times ahead for the supporters.”

Adkins, assistant manager, Andy Crosby, and first-team coach, Dean Wilkins were relieved of their duties on Monday afternoon in the wake of Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at Birmingham City that left the club 16th place in the Championship table.

Clarke will now lead his first training session at Hogwood Park on Thursday ahead of a crunch home league fixture against Watford this Saturday (2pm ko).

Royals co-chairman Sir John Madejski is confident Clarke is the right man to turn the club’s fortunes around.

“I would like to wholeheartedly welcome Steve to Reading Football Club and wish him every success here,” said Madejski. “He comes with a CV of the very highest order and I look forward to moving back up the table with him in charge.

“It has been a difficult period for all concerned, but now we can look forwards. Nigel Adkins worked tirelessly to achieve success, sadly it did not work out for him but we wish him, his family and staff well for the future. Now we look forward to a new era under Steve’s stewardship and I for one am excited about this new beginning.”

However, it appears Clarke will have little cash to spend in the January transfer market as Reading have little room to manoeuvre within Financial Fair Play guidelines.

Royals Co-chairwoman, Lady Sasima Srivikorn, explained: “We have appointed Steve because of his proven history as a manager and coach.

“We have chosen a leader who can develop our players and help them perform to the best of their ability.

“We will monitor the transfer market in the next window, but within the limits of Financial Fair Play, so therefore Steve has the right attributes to help our squad and he was our first choice.

“We look forward to moving up the league and the board share the view that we have found the right man in Steve.”