McDermott rules out Reading FC loan moves after missing out on Bridge
Sportsdesk • Published 3 Feb 2012 15:00
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READING FC manager Brian McDermott has revealed that Royals came close to signing England international Wayne Bridge during the January transfer window.
Bridge, who has been capped 36 times by England, ended an unsuccessful spell with Manchester City by joining Sunderland on deadline day.
But he came close to making the move to the Madejski, as did Keith Andrews, who eventually ended up at West Brom.
"We missed out on a couple who went to the Premier League, so we're talking about good players," said McDermott.
"We spoke about Wayne Bridge and he went to Sunderland. I spoke to his agent and to Man City, I think we could have done it. We'd have paid a small percentage of his wages, but that's gone now, he made his decision and good luck to him.
"I know Keith Andrews and his agent, we had a conversation but he had the opportunity to go to West Brom on a six-month deal in the Premiership."
Despite missing out on Andrews and Bridge, though, Reading made four signings in the window and McDermott said they do not plan to sign anyone else on loan.
"Look at the squad, in the last 22 games we're top of the league," he commented. "We took four points from the first 18 available, we're top of the league since then so we're going in the right direction. The boys are doing really well.
"I also look at the players we've already got, which is really important. Alfie [Adam Le Fondre], Churchy [Simon Church], [Noel] Hunt, Robbo [Jason Roberts], Karl Sheppard, who is starting with us, we've got players here, strikers who can do it.
"If we'd always brought in players in the past instead of using the ones we've got, you wouldn't have seen Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Dave Kitson. So if our guys do what they can, they become the stars."
One new star who joined Reading in the transfer window was Jason Roberts from Blackburn Rovers and McDermott was delighted with the striker's arrival.
"Jason Roberts is a big name, he's got stature on and off the pitch. You could see what he gave to the team last week, we were really pleased - myself, the staff and the players - to have him here," he said.
"[Before new owner Anton Zingarevich] it would have been absolutely impossible to get Jason, there's absolutely no chance that would have happened.
"It was tough to get him, it really was. Jason is so important, as a man around the place, we've been looking for that figure, that personality. He's high profile in the game, a real decent guy and exactly what Reading is all about."
Matthew Connolly also joined Reading on loan from Queens Park Rangers and Royals manager admitted he would have liked it to have been a permanent deal.
"Matthew Connolly played in a team that won the league last season, he knows what is required, he can play full back, centre back and midfield if I like. He's good on the ball, a good person, low maintenance," he commented.
"That's got to be good business. I would have liked it to be a loan with a view to a permanent, QPR wouldn't do it so that's that.
"He's played a lot of games. Bongani has gone back to Spurs so we needed to make sure the squad was adequate and every eventuality is covered, we think we've done that, Matthew can play in a lot of positions and we are in good nick."
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 03 Feb 12
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