We Royals fans thought that manager Steve Clarke had done a 'runner'. To Fulham FC if you haven't read the news this week. BBC had even announced it so we thought it was a done deal. But it all fell through. Let's take a look at the situation for a second - we fans are told: * We have wealthy new owners. * They have great ambitions for Reading, both on and off the pitch. * They have allowed Clarke to bring in the players he wants. * Now if all that is true, why would a manager want to leave us for a club that is lower in the league and who, possibly, can't match what Reading has? * Either Clarke knows things we don't, that it's not as rosy as the club would have us believe, or Fulham simply offered him a much better financial package. and so to today - Just seen London 24, here are a couple of quotes from them from Clarke's lips ... “When I sat down and weighed it up - Reading was by far the best option. All I wanted was the chance to speak to another club and weigh up what is best for me. In my mind I was always closer to Reading than Fulham. But you have to go and find out what their plans are and what they are thinking. Could they offer something better? And the answer was no." “The supporters are the most loyal people at the football club. I can understand the ones that were really angry. I’ve had a chat with the board. I’m not going to say everything is fine - it isn’t, they are a bit disappointed. But I believe I still have support 100% and now I want to get back to success on the pitch.” So what do we make of this? Here are my questions, I'm asking for your gut feelings on the following: Why did he feel he needed to have to talk to another club? Couldn't he trust his own feelings, so needed to see what others say? Is he really convinced at helping Reading? Because if you are why would you bother seeing what another championship club [below RFC in the table] offers or if it is something supposedly better? I'm not sure how many % of fans remain convinced by his commitment to the club but it does seem a small minority as far as I can see ... OK, try to make some sense for us please!!!
We are a Premier League club now and the trifling matters of Championship strugglers is none of our concern anymore. Thanks.
I don't really know but I miss Aldershot in the league and would like to know what you thought of their predicaments.
Daib0, I'd say he's a dead man walking at Reading now. Time after time I'm surprised how little some people seem to understand the fans mentality, (which is absolute loyalty to their club) and a manger of that club isn't just another job, it's THE most important job to the fans, (though us here at Watford are slowly changing that view). If the manager shows the slightest disloyalty then he's finished. A couple of bad results and the fans will be baying for blood. He may as well walk now, I'll be shocked if he's there by Christmas.
I admit that a fair number of Royals fans laughed, but actually now a real lot would like the Shots back in the league. We haven't really had a local derby game (Aldershot/Oxford/Swindon) in over a decade, and I'm sorry to say Brighton, Bournemouth ... and Watford, just ain't the same!!
A strange one. Can't really blame a manager for looking at what is on offer elsewhere if given the opportunity. After all a club will sack a manager at the drop of a hat so why shouldn't it work both ways? Having said that I agree with Diamond that it is a unique job in that his "interview" is common knowledge to all the Reading fans so it wasn't the smartest thing to do.
* We have wealthy new owners. - AND YOU BELIEVE THIS? * They have great ambitions for Reading, both on and off the pitch. - AND YOU BELIEVE THIS? REPEAT TO FADE. Surely you realise by now that any two-bit chancer who turns up at old Cilla****er's door and claims to be a multi-gazillionaire, who has always dreamt of an apartment overlooking the IDR, can convince him to flog them the club? And have done - twice.
I believe all managers should show loyalty and integrity to their bosses...........just like Brendan Rodgers. Karma at last
Always worth keeping an eye out for other opportunities but would have been a strange move. I suspect they won't pay him as much as he currently gets and that was the end of it. Rich owners? Bit like the Russian bloke
Hilarious - Sounds like a guy that has a girlfriend, texts another girl to get nudes, finds them disappointing, decides to stay with the girlfriend and then she dumps you after she finds your texts to the other girl.
Hardly a surprise really - cannot think the players had much faith in him - let alone the board or fans.
I explained it in detail in an interview here - http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footba...s/41239/clarke-skating-on-thin-ice--interview - but don't hold me responsible, it was pretty unanimous ...
