Jaap Stam leaves Reading as club battle Championship relegation
Wednesday 21 March 2018 12:24, UK
Jaap Stam has left Reading by mutual consent with the club just three points above the relegation zone in the Sky Bet Championship.
Stam's Reading were denied promotion to the Premier League after losing on penalties to Huddersfield in the play-off final at Wembley last season.
Reading said majority shareholders Yongge Dai and Xiu Li Dai had wanted to give Stam "every opportunity" to turn their current form around but were forced to act after the club failed to win any of their last nine matches.
The club insist he has not been sacked but Stam has yet to comment.
"Jaap has not wavered in the time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try to steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in," a club statement said.
"However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary."
Reading will now focus on recruiting a replacement for Stam, with the club not returning to action until Friday, 30 March, following the international break.
They play Queens Park Rangers in the first of their final eight games of the campaign.
