Tuesday 4 July 2017 17:50, UK
Reading manager Jaap Stam has signed a new two-year deal with the club.
The deal keeps Stam, who had one year left on his previous deal, at the Madejski Stadium until 2019.
Stam took over the club last season and guided the Royals to the play-off final, where they were defeated by Huddersfield.
The 44-year-old former Manchester United defender was reportedly linked with a move back to his native Holland to succeed Borussia Dortmund-bound Peter Bosz at Ajax, before Marcel Keizer was appointed to the position.
But Stam insisted prior to the play-off final that he saw his future at Reading and has now committed his future to the club - much to the delight of majority shareholders Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li.
Mr Dai told the club's official website: "My sister and I are absolutely delighted that Jaap Stam has agreed to sign a new contract at Reading Football Club.
"We will support Jaap in helping him to build a squad capable of challenging at the top end of the Championship again in 2017-18 and that support will continue throughout the season as we look forward to the challenge of a brand new season!"
Assistant manager Andries Ulderink and first-team coach Said Bakkati, who followed Stam to Reading last summer, have also signed new deals at the club.
