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Brian Howard's performance was one of the few bright spots at Bramall Lane
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Howard wants a final decision on Reading FC boss

By Matthew Sadler
January 27, 2010

Brian Howard has called for the manager situation at Madejski Stadium to be resolved as soon as possible.

Brian McDermott has been in caretaker charge of Royals since the departure of Brendan Rodgers on December 16.

But with chairman Sir John Madejski yet to make a final decision on McDermott’s future, Howard insists Reading are lacking some stability.

He said: “Either come out and say Brian has got it until the end of the season or bring someone else in, at least then we can get a bit of stability at the club.

"If Brian knows the job is there then he is not always looking over his shoulder.

"He can then make the decisions and bring in the players he wants. There's a few days left of the transfer window and if he wants to bring in one or two or shift one or two he can do that.

"Everyone is in that dressing room together. We are a tight-knit group.

"We are obviously very disappointed (with the Sheffield United result), but we will stick together and there is a massive two months coming up.

"We play pretty much every Saturday, Tuesday, so there's load of points to play for and we will stick together.

"There is no-one having a go at each other in there, we are pretty upset, but no-one is pointing fingers.

"Everyone is to blame for the situation so if we can turn it around in the league and continue our cup run it could still be a good season."

Reading were guilty of a lack of composure in both penalty areas in Sheffield last night, with the strikers missing guilt-edge opportunities and the defence slack in their marking.

Howard added: “I think we had some of the better chances and play in the first half and then got the penalty, which obviously didn't quite happen.

"Our heads dropped and we stepped off the game for the last five minutes of the half and let in a goal, which was crucial.

"Maybe if we had kept it at 1-0 going into half-time we would have had a good chance of turning it around.

"Even then we came out for the first 20 minutes of the second half putting pressure on them and they didn't really get out of their half.

"We turned the crowd around and if we had taken one of our chances then we could have got something from the game.

" It's the story of our season so far. We have been naive in front of goal and naive defending.

"The smallest player on the park scored a header from a set-play and that is something we work on in training and shouldn't happen - it's really disappointing.

"The confidence is there. You can see from some of the play that we do keep battling and keep going.

"We are great believers and it is time for players with big hearts and characters to step up and turn the season around."

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Well I have to laugh that JM has appointed him as manager - because I said he would right from the start. I knew he would because it's the cheap option. I bet anyone anything that the wages he's paying him will be less than if an experienced manager was brought in! JM always chooses the cheap option where RFC is concerned - and he will (ironically) pay for it! Div 1 here we come, then he'll only be able to sell the club for a real knock-down price. If he had invested real money then he may of been able to sell while we were still in the Premiership, but he never bought any players and has tried to run the club like a corner shop. And we all know what happens to corner shops that don't invest...

Steve Berry
27/01/2010 at 18:18

jazzyt - are you saying the players are taking money under false pretences,as why should they need motivating - they are to blame, they are paid a massive wage to do a job anyone would love to do - grounds for dismissal then i presume. THEN SACK THE LAZY SO AND SO'S and that would free up all the wages to get in better players to see out the season. this team needs a massive input of discipline and i think a few trips to one star b&b's instead of mamby pamby 5* luxury.

ajr111, swindon
27/01/2010 at 17:58

BM confirmed. Bad move!

BR fan, Reading
27/01/2010 at 17:36

McDermot appointed Reading manager on a twelve month rolling contract

SPARKYMARKY
27/01/2010 at 17:29

Saw the game at Bramhall Lane last night - luckily I live near Sheffield so really felt for the fans who had to travel back .... Sir John really needs to sort this manager situation out - he's let it drag on when other clubs have acted quickly, appointed a 'proper' experienced manager, and have seen the fruits of their new appointments - eg Plymouth and Sheff Wed. Come Sir John, some ordinary fans spend a lot of money keeping this club alive so appoint someone with proven experience in the league - a few more losses like last night and it'll be league one next season - not an option as we'll be the scalp of that league like Newcastle are in the Championship ....

Blue_Royal
27/01/2010 at 16:52

After seeing Reading lose last night at Bramhall Lane they really need to get this sorted out - thank God I only live 11 miles away from there, and I really felt for all those who had spent good money for the long trip home ! - as mentioned above, it's happened at Plymouth, and to a degree at Sheffield Wednesday, where a new experienced manager is guiding them away from the quadmire the Royals are in at the moment. Come on Sir John, lets get this sorted with a new manager who has a track record - League 1 next season is not an option !!

Blue_Royal
27/01/2010 at 16:46

The players cannot use the excuse of the manager etc. The fact is Mcdonut is not the man for the job.

I expect Micky Mouse could have motivated the team to lift there game against Liverpool etc. However the league is where it counts and he is not delivering.

We need an experienced manager to get us out of this rut, and stop the sinking ship - look at Plymouth etc who have appointed a full time manager - the rott has stopped and they are picking up points - they will be safe and will will go down unless Sir John pulls his fingers out. If this was one of his other business's would he of put the post room clerk in charge of his call centre?

Stop hanging around Sir John and bring in an experienced manager in now before its too late!

Jazzyt, Lower Earley, Reading
27/01/2010 at 14:48

OK Mr Howard lets summarise what you have said

"Everyone is to blame..."

"Our heads dropped and we stepped off the game..."

"....if we had taken ONE (that's 1, singular, not a lot) of our chances..."

"It's the story of our season..."

"We have been naive in front of goal and naive defending"

"The smallest player on tha park scored a header from a set-play.... it's really disappointing...."

Anybody, anywhere taking any heart from any of that?!