PAUL Clement accepts his position as Reading FC manager is under threat following their 2-0 defeat at Swansea City.

The pressure on Clement intensified on Saturday when Royals crashed to a fourth defeat in five Championship games after a miserable return to South Wales or the former Swans boss.

The reverse leaves Reading in the relegation zone amid rumours the club are eyeing up Steve Bruce or Mick McCarthy as possible replacements for Clement.

And the under-fire Reading boss admits results must quickly improve.

“It’s another defeat and with each one the pressure grows on me and my position,” said the 46-year-old. “But I told the players that while I feel they are with me I will continue to try and get results.

“It’s been a really disappointing season. The players and people within the club are disappointed and the fans are angry.

“But nobody is more disappointed than me. I’m the coach and I pick the team. I have a lot of players to work with and a lot of options, so if anyone thinks they are suffering, they are not suffering as much as I am.”

Clement replaced Jaap Stam in March on a three-year contract and steered Reading to Championship safety over the last eight games.

However, Royals have suffered nine defeats in their 15 league fixtures this season with only three victories, leaving them 22nd in the table.

Clement, though, insists he is not ready to throw in the towel.

The former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea coach stated: “The Championship is a marathon and a slog, you need resilience.

“I haven’t coached for 20 years to get a fantastic job at a great club like Reading to simply walk away from it.

“I’m going to continue to work at it and show the players that you need to show character in difficult times and not to give up.

“I don’t think the players aren’t trying, as soon as you feel that’s happening it is time to go.

“I think they are trying but suffering from a lack of confidence, even from the back end of last season, and it is taking its toll.”

Nevertheless, Clement was quick to acknowledge Reading will only tolerate poor results for so long before making a change.

“As a manager I have to get results and I haven’t been doing that recently,” he said.

“I work closely with Gianluca Nani (sporting director) on the football side of the business. He’s been very supportive, as have the club.

“But it is something that is also out of my hands. I don’t go home and worry about that, I think about tactics and how to win games.

“It’s down to the club to make those decisions. They may reach a point where they have to change something, but we’re not there at the moment.”