Madejski keen to keep Coppell

Royals want boss to stay

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 12th May 2008

Football Premier League Reading Aston Villa John Madejski

Madejski: Accepts portion of blame

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Reading owner John Madejski hopes that Steve Coppell will remain at the club regardless of their relegation.

The Royals dropped into the Championship despite an impressive 4-0 hammering of rock-bottom Derby on the final day of the Premier League season.

Their demise comes just two years after they made their bow in the English top flight and represents a crushing blow for all of those involved at the club.

Coppell has been in charge of the club for almost five years, and despite taking them back into the second tier, he remains the popular choice for the owner and the supporters.

No change

"Obviously I'd like Steve Coppell to stay," Madejski told Sky Sports News.

"He has a year left on his contract, there's a ground swell of fans who would also like him to stay, but at the end of the day if Steve decides he needs a break then that's up to Steve.

"But I haven't heard anything, and as far as I'm concerned it's business as usual and he's my manager.

"I don't think anyone wants him to leave."

Powerless

Despite holding out hope that the manager will stay, Madejski did admit that he would be powerless to stop Coppell walking away should the former Palace and Brighton coach decide he needs a break.

"I can't, can I?" he said.

"If Steve Coppell decides he's going to go, and he's his own man, then he'll go but I will obviously try and persuade him to stay, but it's his decision."

Philosophical

Madejski admitted that the club had been in trouble for some time and that relegation had not come as much of a surprise, and also feels that everyone at the club must now take their share of the responsibility for the current predicament.

"Obviously it was on the cards, you can't put everything on yesterday's game (with Derby)," he said.

"Things haven't been looking rosy for a while so, it's not a very nice thing to happen, but you have to be philosophical about it - there's no point crying over spilt milk, nothing is going to change.

Culpable

"So as far as I'm concerned for the sake of the fans we have to get things right and move on.

"I think that everyone's culpable, including myself, certainly the players are.

"It's interesting that they go and win 4-0 away, scoring goals left, right and centre and yet we had this goal famine for nine hours - but that's football.

"Anyway, the point is we have to move forward. We can't dwell on what's happened, we just have to kick on and try and get things right this upcoming season."