Brian McDermott leaves position as Reading manager

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Reading celebrate promotion

Premier League strugglers Reading have confirmed the departure of manager Brian McDermott.

McDermott, 51, led the club to promotion last season, but four successive Premier League defeats have left them four points adrift of safety.

A Reading statement said: "The search for a successor starts immediately. It is hoped a new manager will be in place as soon as possible."

McDermott's last interview as Reading manager

Academy head Eamonn Dolan is in charge of the first team in the interim.

The Royals also confirmed first-team coach Nigel Gibbs had also left the club he joined in 2006.

McDermott joined Reading in 2000 as a scout/coach working under Alan Pardew and Steve Coppell.

He was named caretaker manager in 2009 following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, before being appointed permanent manager.

McDermott just missed out on promotion to the Premier League in his first season in charge of Reading, reaching the play-off final but losing 4-2 to Swansea City.

However, a run of 15 wins from 19 games towards the end of last season secured the Championship title and the Royals' promotion to the top flight for only the second time in the club's history.

In May 2012, Reading were taken over by Russian tycoon Anton Zingarevich, who acquired 51% of the club, and also announced a reshuffle in the boardroom.

Reading struggled for the first half of this season, winning only two Premier League games, but they showed signs of improvement in 2013 with four successive victories in all competitions, including two in the top flight, and McDermott was named the January manager of the month.

However, defeats by Stoke, Wigan and Everton, followed before a 2-1 loss at home to relegation rivals Aston Villa at the weekend, left Reading 19th in the table, level on 23 points with bottom club QPR.

Dropping out of the Premier League would mean the club would miss out on a share of a new TV deal worth about £5bn across three years from August.

The Reading statement added: "[Reading] owner Anton Zingarevich wishes to place on record his thanks to Brian who had achieved great success with the club since taking over as Manager in December 2009.

"Brian gained promotion to the Premier League last year for only the second time in the club's history thanks to a remarkable run at the end of last season.

"However, in our current situation, owner Anton Zingarevich felt that a change was necessary."

Reacting to the news, Reading striker Noel Hunt wrote on Twitter:external-link "Want to say thanks to Brian for everything he did for me especially. He's been a great manager, man and friend to me and will be missed!"

Former Reading captain Aidy Williams added: "I'm very surprised, more by the timing than the actual events.

"I'm disappointed. I've known Brian for well over 10 years. His pride will be dented, he's a very passionate football man and has done his apprenticeship. But he can hold his head up high.

"He won the Championship against all odds, but in all honesty he was fighting a losing battle with budgets."

Current Reading player and BBC Radio 5 live pundit Jason Roberts said: "I'm in shock and I'm sad because he brought me in. I'm disappointed for him, the players and the club.

"I'd like to put on record our thanks to the manager for what he achieved. He achieved so much.

"Our budget was nowhere near the top ten so for us to win the league was a massive achievement. With nine games to go we still have an opportunity and it's now time to take stock.

"As a player we have to just get behind the new manager, we all want the same thing - to stay in the Premier League."

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600 comments

  • Comment posted by U15487823, at 17:49 11 Mar 2013

    Brian McDermott got them into the premier league, therefore he's the man to take the club forward. If Reading haven't got a squad good enough to stay in the premier league, he doesn't deserved to be sacked if they get relegated. Absolutely disgusting.

    I'm starting to get sick of football now.

  • Comment posted by Cabluigi, at 17:47 11 Mar 2013

    Bad decision. The club has the weakest squad in the Premier League and the manager was doing fine tactically and mentally keeping them in contention. If they were relegated in the summer they would be ok financially and could strengthen for a promotion push. I can see them 'doing a Wolves' now.

  • Comment posted by Terrier_fan, at 19:01 11 Mar 2013

    @192 'Roy Keane is the answer'

    What's the question - who is the last person they should appoint?

  • Comment posted by Gillian, at 17:47 11 Mar 2013

    As a die-hard Royals fan, I take my hat off to the guy, and thank him for what was a truly wonderful journey up to the Premier League last year (as Champions!). Shame about recent results, but I wish him all the very best for the future!

  • Comment posted by U15506862, at 18:31 11 Mar 2013

    Speaking from the perspective of a Reading supporter, I am both disgusted and appalled at such a decision. What the man has achieved in his time at Reading has been incredible, initially saving us from destined relegation to League One before leading us to the PL. I even remember him putting £50 behind the bar for some supporters as a personal treat. All the best, Brian. You don't deserve this.

  • Comment posted by justice96ynwa, at 17:47 11 Mar 2013

    What a silly time to do this

  • Comment posted by Coolica1, at 18:40 11 Mar 2013

    And to think that 33 days ago he won manager of the month...

    Awful decision

  • Comment posted by U14596225, at 17:50 11 Mar 2013

    Learn from others mistakes. Look at Wolves now, this isn't too dissimilar situation to Wolves when Mick McCarthy was sacked, I hope for the sake of Reading FC that they have someone lined up and that they don't make a mess of appointing somebody otherwise it could be a catastrophe.

    - a gutted Wolves fan.

  • Comment posted by City76, at 18:50 11 Mar 2013

    Tony Gubba R.I.P. with him & Motty they were the voices of football I grown up with, shame he gave 30 years service to BBC & he got a one line announcement of death on news, Thinking of his devastated family as died after short illness, come on BBC, show some respect

  • Comment posted by djh222, at 17:46 11 Mar 2013

    Stupid decision.

    Enough said.

  • Comment posted by RyanR, at 18:59 11 Mar 2013

    Another terrible management sacking. First Di Matteo, then Adkins, now McDermott. These short-sighted owners are killing the game in this country. Absolutely sick of it. No respect, loyalty and wider success are being punished, its a joke.

  • Comment posted by TheGreatMc, at 21:22 11 Mar 2013

    @344, U r an embarrasment, & shouldn't be allowed to make comments

    Brian McDermott is a genuine guy, did his best with the squad he had. Can anyone name me 3 teams in PL who has a weaker squad than Reading? I don't think you could.

    Truth is chairman didn't spend his dollar$ to buy players who could make the difference. Manager can only do so much, but he get the sack at the end, what a shame

  • Comment posted by U13960441, at 17:49 11 Mar 2013

    Think Reading just shot themselves in the collective foot and sacked their chances of staying up. Can't think on anyone out there who I'd rate more likely to keep Reading in the PL than BM. They're going down, and I know which way the accusing finger points

  • Comment posted by AstonVillan, at 19:23 11 Mar 2013

    Not only is it disgraceful to sack him, it's utterly stupid!

    The transfer window has been and gone and the new manager will inherit a demoralised squad & a team almost bottom of the table, and he'll have very little time to turn things round.

    I sincerely hope Adkins, McDermott and Di Matteo all get good jobs next season.

  • Comment posted by U9038064, at 19:10 11 Mar 2013

    Firstly, I'm a Newcastle fan. However, that doesn't stop me from recognising that McDermott is a very talented manager, and that this is a bad mistake on the part of the owner. When will these people learn that it requires time and patience to build a top flight club, unless you have an endless pot of money. I genuinely hope Reading stay up but frankly think this now makes it highly unlikely.

  • Comment posted by U14424577, at 17:53 11 Mar 2013

    Another owner failing to understand that you have to think longer than one year.

  • Comment posted by U2012815, at 17:52 11 Mar 2013

    Another deluded Chairman who thinks his club have a divine right to stay a Premiership club. Mr McDermott did an excellent job just to get Reading promoted and he did an even better job just keeping Reading anywhere near contention to stay in the league.
    It seems a poisoned chalice for any manager of a Championship club to gain promotion to the Premier League.

  • Comment posted by U4079758, at 20:32 11 Mar 2013

    "I just hope you get a manager that has championship experience that can bring you straight back."

    I hear Brian McDermott is available.

  • Comment posted by KingLaursen - Houllier Out Capello Out, at 17:48 11 Mar 2013

    Only 4 English managers left in the English top flight.

    Shocking statistic.

    I blame the FA.

    £50m wasted on foreign managers for the national team instead of developing young English managerial talent.

  • Comment posted by RobNox, at 19:15 11 Mar 2013

    Why do owners of small clubs think they can come up and stay up in one season. Look back at Charlton, the Board kept faith with Curbishley after they went down first time of asking, and came straight back up again a stronger side, who eventually achieved several top 10 finishes under Curbishley.

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