Roberts turns down global offers to sign for Reading

James Walker-Roberts • Published 26 Jan 2012 17:45 0 Comments

And Derby County's Tomasz Cywka follows him to the Madejski Stadium

JASON Roberts rejected offers from all over the world to join Reading's Russian revolution.

Royals boss Brian McDermott pulled off a major coup by landing Roberts from Blackburn Rovers where contract issue prevented him from playing.

Roberts, who turned 34 yesterday, penned an 18-month deal at Madejski Stadium this afternoon and will go straight into the squad for Saturday's home fixture against Bristol City (3pm ko).

And while the former Bristol Rovers, West Brom and Wigan Athletic striker thought long and hard about dropping down from the Premier League to the Championship, he says he knows he has made the right choice.

"It was a tough decision to drop down a division as everyone of course wants to play in the Premier League," he said.

"There were some good offers on the table from home and abroad but for me, Reading is a really exciting project that everyone is looking at the moment and wondering where it's going to go. To be part of that is another chapter in my career that I'm really excited about."

Roberts was just half of a double-swoop by Reading today after signing alongside his former Wigan team-mate Tomasz Cywka.

Cywka, 23, joins on a free transfer from Derby County until the end of the season, with the option of extending.

"It's exciting, Reading have had a really good base to build off for the last seven years," added Roberts. "They've got a really good team, you see how well they are doing and the fact there are new players getting involved like myself and Tomasz will add hopefully to that.

"The one thing that impressed me most was how much Brian McDermott knew about me and how positive he was about what I could bring to the club.

"That meant a lot to me and I want to be able to repay him, the club and the fans as soon as possible."

McDermott has now made three signings in January with Roberts and Cywka following Shamrock Rovers striker Karl Sheppard to the Mad Stad.

Today's signings were fuelled by funds provided by new owners Thames Sports Investment and their Russian head Anton Zingarevich.

Reading also hope to tie up the signing of 23-year-old centre-back Karleigh Osborne from Brentford before the January transfer window closes.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 26 Jan 12

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