Coppell didn't want police issue

Steve Coppell wanted a police probe into death threats to remain under wraps.

Steve Coppell has expressed his disappointment that an investigation into death threats to Reading duo Ibrahima Sonko and Stephen Hunt has been made public.

Hunt and Sonko have been sent letters following their involvement in incidents during Reading's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea last month.

Blues keeper Petr Cech suffered a fractured skull after being caught by Hunt's knee, while his replacement Carlo Cudicini was knocked unconscious after a collision with Sonko.

Thames Valley Police confirmed on Thursday that an investigation is ongoing, but Coppell felt the matter should have been kept quiet.

"I'm sorry it's come out, I really am," Coppell told Sky Sports News. "It serves no purpose at the moment.

"We made the decision when the letters came through that we didn't want to make an issue of it.

"We did the right thing and gave them to the police and reported it to them.

"What was the point of making a public issue of it?

"It was a number of weeks ago now. We hoped it was dead and buried. It was a very hot potato at the time, but we thought we had put it to bed.

"To have it regurgitated now is pointless."