Reading FC silent over McDermott link to Wolves

Anthony Smith • Published 21 Feb 2012 16:55 14 Comments

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READING FC are remaining tight-lipped after manager Brian McDermott was strongly linked with the vacant hotseat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 50-year-old Royals boss has emerged as a leading contender to replace Mick McCarthy who was sacked by the Premier League club last week.

Bookies have now slashed the odds of McDermott taking over at Molineux from 14/1 to 3/1.

Reading are yet to deny the rumours or issue a statement regarding their manager's future.

The Chronicle broke the news that McDermott was on Wolves' wanted list last week.

Royals director of football Nick Hammond denied any approach from the Premier League club, but he was not surprised by the rumours.

Hammond told the Chronicle last week: "Look at Brian's record since he became our manager, it is exceptional.

"We've got a great environment here at Reading that works very well. We're very tight as a group of staff, it's a method that has been successful for many years now.

"What that does is allow a manager to work how he wants to work and in a way that suits him. I think we have seen the benefit of that."

And he added: "Brian's record is right up there with the best managers in the country, so why wouldn't he be mentioned in those terms?"

Reports suggest McDermott has already met with Wolves representatives, though others say a meeting is yet to take place.

He was spotted at Reading's Hogwood Park training ground this morning, wearing a suit.

The Royals boss is on a one-year rolling contract and would not cost a huge amount in compensation.

The Brighton manager, Gus Poyet, has also been linked to the vacancy at Molineux along with Steve Bruce and Alan Curbishley.

It is though McDermott has already held talks with Reading's new Russian owner Anton Zingarevich, who watched Royals beat Burnley 1-0 last Friday alongside chairman Sir John Madejski.

SHOULD BRIAN MCDERMOTT LEAVE READING FC?

** ROYALS winger Michail Antonio has joined League One Sheffield Wednesday on loan for the rest of the season.

Antonio, 21, could make his Owls debut in Saturday's Steel City derby against Sheffield United **

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Spacey
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Feb 21, 17:12
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Should he leave? What a stupid question, of course he shouldn't!

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Dave west
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Feb 21, 17:20
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He played in an era when players were not paid mega wages, so he has a mortgage to pay and it is likely that he is not one of the top earners in The championship. Like Pardew he is always going to be tempted with a larger and probably life-changing salary.

Whatever happens we should be grateful for what he has done since Brendan Bodgers left us in such a mess.

Recommend? Yes 7 No 1
Loughborough Royal
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Feb 21, 17:22
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Why should he leave...hmmm, the clubs are going in opposite directions Brian! Also just red loads of comments from Wolves fans on the internet and they do not want him (see express & start link). So please stay and continue to build a team capable of staying in the premiership! We appreciate you....

Recommend? Yes 8 No 3
Redwolf12
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Feb 21, 17:51
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I am a wolves fan and think McDermott is a very good manager, I think it would be a bad mistake for him to come to wolves not because I don't want him but because our CEO and Owner would make his life hell. They interfere with everything and don't keep promises.I feel Reading are a well run club going places stay there my friend you will be coming up as we pass on the way down

Recommend? Yes 12 No 4
acarr89
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Feb 21, 18:17
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McDermott is a fantastic manager, but is he really any better than Mick McCarthy?

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WolfieWill
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Feb 21, 18:42
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RedWolf Wolves fan my arse. Wolves are one of the best run clubs in the BPL

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Rfc89
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Feb 21, 21:13
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He'll go if offered. It's unlikely he will get a chance like this again, especially if Royals stay lingering in the Championship. It doesn't matter where Wolves are in the league - this is about McDermott fast tracking his career. He is a relatively unexperienced manager if you think about it, who came from Slough Town and then spent years as a reserve coach before taking up what I would say was his first 'proper' managerial job. I only hope that Wolves pick Bruce because of this and are not blinded by what's happening in the Championship right now. McDermott has recently stated he wants more. He is doing a terrific job at Reading and has really moulded the side together - I'm gutted; I almost feel like he has left now. I hope it doesn't happen, but he'll be leaving on a massive high.

Recommend? Yes 6 No 1
Urrzzz
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Feb 21, 21:44
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Been reading wolves fans comments and they seem pretty keen on signing McDermott and are very smug on Reading being their feeder club!

I for one really hope he stays with Reading as he has done a great job on such a tight budget. Let's hope he gets offered a good deal and stays with Reading.

Recommend? Yes 2 No 0
terry
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Feb 21, 22:00
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As a fan since 1970 I have seen quite a few managers here. there have been some quite good ones. Then there was Steve coppell that took this club into the premiership for two years first time for over a hundred years of the clubs history an outstanding achievement. Brian Mcdermott followed to somewhat mute approval by the fans but has proved to be a brilliant manager . Working away quietly with his team , never looking at negatives always looking for a positive . I would be suprised if he left. I know he would love to take this team up and that is so do'able right now. If he went would understand it but It would be a character change in the man of priciples that I believe him to be.

Reading could go up with Brian watching Wolves go down.

Recommend? Yes 3 No 0
dave the wolf
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Feb 22, 00:03
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Sorry reading fans but he will come to us if offered the job.We are a club going places with a 50,000 stadium being built,a £50million new accademy training complex being built,also a massive fanbase.He also knows kevin doyle,and steven hunt.Despite peoples perseption of wolverhampton we have lovely countryside areas to live and past players and managers still live in the area.Not sure if he could keep us up this season,but all wolves fans i,ve spoken to would welcome brian.Who knows he may turn us down and you keep him,but surely no reading fan would begrudge him his chance at a bigger club.If he does come you could do worse than go for our old gaffer mick mccarthy.I guarantee he would get you up within 2 seasons.Most wolves fans did,nt blame mccarthy but terry connar our first team coach,so hopefully if mcdermott does come he,ll bring his own coaching staff.Good luck for the rest of the season,and hopefully play you in prem next year. Wolves4eva

Recommend? Yes 4 No 2
Golden wolf
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Feb 22, 00:19
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Agree with red wolf; we're a shambles.

Mick has been useless all season, playing the ball back to keeper for the hoof is bad enough at this level, doing it from kick off is inexplicable. Obvs grateful to the bloke for getting us up, takenothing away from that but Mick should've been sacked either in the summer or at least before Christmas.

The fact that the other 2 Ms have come out and peddled that stability nonsense and then hurriedly sacked him with a fraction of the season left, no plan b regarding which manager to go for (surely they must have realised before the a****n game we were in trouble) and no time for the new chap to buy any players. The whole thing stinks of amateurishness.

Another element to the farce is Morgan and Moxey saying the new guy must have top flight experience and then approaching McDermott. Thankfully, by luck or judgement, they seem to have stumbled upon a decent manager. Let's hope we can get him and we can stay up, before that new stand gives the locals another chance to laugh at us (we've already list at home to vile, a****n and the blouse this season).

Btw that stand is another example of Jez making it up as he goes along. Remember how we weren't going to do less than 2 stands as it would look weird? Now we're told they're gonna stop after 1 and take stock.

Well spun maybe, well run probably not wolfy will.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 1
LoyalRoyal
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Feb 22, 08:38
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I'm a Reading fan and although a move to wolves would be great for Brian's managerial career I would be gutted if he left.

Wolves would be more than lucky to have him

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Bushes Bernal
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Feb 22, 18:57
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Why is Hammond stifling a burpage? And if not why not? Can it also be noted I'm rather fond of the pies?

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dave the wolf
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Feb 22, 22:53
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Well i did write on your site yesterday he may stay with you,and he has.No surprise really when you have a russian billionaire new owner,but we know and you know he would have come to us if it was,nt for a big hike in his wage.Still this may turnout to be a blessing in disguise for us as we understand our end my first choice would like to be considered for the job ray wilkins.Also a good up and coming manager could be lee clarke.Congratulations on keeping mcdermott,but he was 5th choice on a wolves fans pole.Wolves4eva.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 1

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