Coppell calls for commitment

Reading boss to study players at Madejski

Last updated: 26th June 2008

Steve Coppell Reading

Coppell: Demands focus

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Reading manager Steve Coppell is to examine his players' pre-season attitude before determining who will be staying at the Madejski Stadium.

Having suffered Premier League relegation last term, Coppell is keen for Reading to bounce straight back to the top-flight.

The Royals have already lost Glen Little to Portsmouth, while speculation suggests that the likes of Nicky Shorey, James Harper, Dave Kitson and Stephen Hunt will all move on.

And Coppell insists he is well aware of the rumours and has indicated that he will not tolerate any individuals who are not committed to the Reading cause.

Attitude

"A big factor from my point of view is the attitude of people when they come back," Coppell told the Reading Evening Post.

"June is the talking month where a lot of players say what they want to do and talk the speculation up.

"When they get back I will look for the attitude of the squad and the attitude of the individual within the squad then I will make a decision with what we will do.

"First and foremost, every player that stays here must want to stay. They have got to be hungry to get back and prove they can regain their previous status."

Divine right

The Royals boss has also made it clear he will not sympathise with any of his players who are not content to warm the bench in the Championship.

"We are in a very different league and being a substitute or being dropped in the Championship takes on a very different connotation for players to being substitute or being dropped in the Premier League," added Coppell.

"Some might feel they have a divine right to be playing and don't want to be in a competitive situation in the Championship.

"I am not actively looking to turn people around but it could well be that if people don't have the right attitude then we will have to be more pro-active in turning people around then we normally would be."

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