Published: Friday, 29th January, 2010 3:00pm

McDermott relishing new role

by Anthony Smith

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BRIAN McDermott cannot wait to finally drop the `caretaker' tag following his appointment as Reading's permanent manager.

After six weeks looking after first-team affairs, the 48-year-old was yesterday handed the job on full-time basis.

The club's former chief scout and reserve team boss signed a rolling 12 month contract.

Despite previous spells in charge of Slough Town and Woking, this is McDermott's first taste of Football League management.

And he admitted: "I wasn't overly concerned about being a caretaker, apart from the name, but it's better than `acting' I suppose.

"It's a mentality thing. It's important that we have the clarification now.

"It's a great job. You come into work in a terrific environment at a fabulous club.

"We have really good supporters and I am working for good people."

And he stressed: "It's a great opportunity and it's a terrific club.

"I have known the chairman a long time now and he is a great chairman to work for. We have really good staff here - we can't wait to get going now.

"I thought that the timing was right for me. I'm comfortable and happy in the role and I think I am the right man for the job.

"I know the culture of the club, I know the players and I know the staff. I know what we are about and that is really important."

McDermott took over when Brendan Rodgers was axed in December and he is still searching for his first Championship win after five attempts ahead of a crucial home game against Barnsley this Saturday (3pm ko).

But Reading's heroics in the FA Cup when they knocked out Liverpool and Burnley did wonders for his chances of landing the job.

Chairman Sir John Madejski believes McDermott will bring stability at a difficult time for the relegation-threatened club.

"You don't just have to look at football, in every industry you'll find that someone who knows the culture is the least risky way of solving the situation," he said.

"If you appoint from outside there will be things the incoming manager doesn't like or he might not get the culture of the club then things will have to change.

"Do we need upheaval? The answer is no.

"We have a very good fit within the club, we are delighted with what Brian has done so far.

"We have had two major wins in the FA Cup and we have had some very tricky games away. I am very confident that over the next 20 games we will get our act together and start climbing up the charts.

"Brian has been at the club for 10 years and during that time he has done so many different roles at the club.

"He had a good pedigree before that at Arsenal and when Brian was looking after the reserve team during the time we were in the Premier League he won silverware.

"He knows the club intimately and he knows our ethos. It was just a question of time to see how Brian got on with being in charge of the team and as far as I am concerned he has settled in very nicely."

Royals have been forced to make massive cuts in spending and sell their star players in order to balance the books.

Madejski, who is still looking to sell the club, is desperate to avoid the sort of financial problems that pushed Crystal Palace into administration this week resulting in a 10 point deduction.

"There's an enormous warning there," argued the Autotrader founder. "I'm not talking about Palace as such but football is difficult.

"I know I keep banging on about cutting the coat according to the cloth, at Reading we're well run but it's very tough. You have to be very careful.

"Due to the economic downturn the receipts are as much as 60 per cent down on what they were. But we still have to make ends meet and we are determined to do so.

"We're determined to do that and we're best qualified to do that with Brian at the helm. He knows the squad, knows the Academy and we feel we're well placed to ride the storm."

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