NIGEL Adkins has revealed he has no immediate plans to launch a clear out of Reading FC's backroom staff.

Adkins was unveiled as Royals' new boss on Tuesday following the sacking of ex-manager Brian McDermott plus first-team coaches Nigel Gibbs and Yannis Anastasiou.

The 48-year-old brought Andy Crosby with him as his assistant after the pair won back-to-back promotions with Southampton and two earlier promotions with Scunthorpe United.

But Adkins has not indicated whether he intends to launch a root and branch review of Reading's backroom staff including physio Luke Anthony, sports scientist Karl Halabi plus coaches David Dodds and Martin Kuhl.

Adkins explained: "Andy Crosby has been with me for a long time now. We were very successful at Scunthorpe and then Southampton so he comes in as my right-hand man.

"After that we will have a look at the set up behind the scenes. We've got good staff and we will have to see whether we need more bodies in.

"But we've got time to assess that. The important thing is there are good people here already and you have to give them every opportunity to work together."

It is not unusual for a new manager to recruit his own support staff, and Adkins added: "Over a period of time there may be things we want to change. However, let's not take away what this club is good at and that is to keep working hard and improving."

Reading's search for a replacement for McDermott hit the buffers when Adkins is believed to have spurned their initial advances last week.

Second-choice Gus Poyet also rejected a move to the Madejski Stadium, forcing Royals owner Anton Zingarevich to make another attempt to land Adkins which proved successful.

And Adkins revealed he sought McDermott's advice before accepting the job.

"Brian told me it's a great football club with great players to work with and a fantastic spirit and cammeraderie," explained Adkins, who signed a contract until 2016.

"Brian didn't have a bad word to say about the football club and that was instrumental. He will always be welcome here after what he achieved and he's a top man.

"I had to think long and hard about it but I'm happy with the decision I made to join Reading FC. I know I will have a good relationship with the owner, the chairman and Nick Hammond."

Reading's recruitment of Adkins was not helped by the fact he remained on Southampton's payroll having been controversially axed in January. However, the matter is now with the League Managers' Association, allowing Adkins to get on with his job.

"I can't talk about the situation at Southampton as it is in the hands of the League Managers' Association," he commented. "The important thing is we look to the future now. I have made no comments since my dismissal at Southampton but I need to take this opportunity to thank all the people at Southampton, the staff, players and supporters because we were on a fantastic journey.

"We've all got to move on and I'm pleased and privileged to be the Reading manager now.

"We've got to have belief and desire and take it one game at a time and make sure this football club remains in the Premier League. That's what I've come here to do."