Royals delay home improvements

Plans to expand the Madejski Stadium are put on hold

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 19th February 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Royals delay home improvements

Madejski Stadium: Plans on hold

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Reading have put plans to expand the Madejski Stadium on hold for at least one year due to their uncertain Premier League status.

The Royals were set to expand the Madejski's capacity - which is currently 24,200 - to around 30,000 this spring after being granted planning permission by Reading Borough Council.

However, the Royals have dropped into the top flight relegation zone after failing to win in their last eight league games.

And Reading chief executive Nigel Howe admits the improvements to the Madejski will have to wait until their Premier League status is assured.

Confident

"We're not going to make any decision until we know where we are," Howe told the Reading Evening Post.

"We have always said there is no point expanding if we don't maintain our Premier League status.

"But I am confident we will stay up. We have looked at our fixtures and I think we are good enough."

However, Howe says that - even if Reading avoid the drop this season - building work will not now begin until 2009.

Revisit

"Whatever division we're in, though, work won't start on the stadium until at least next year," Howe added.

"It needs to be in the off-season and we won't now be able to revisit the idea until the end of the year.

"If then we look like having Premier League stability then we can review the situation."

Reading welcome Aston Villa to the Madejski on Sunday in a match which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 from 12pm.