London Standard - He's going.............

[Wilts]

Reading Evening Post sums up a lot of it...

From today's issue:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=7934


STEVE COPPELL looks set to be named Reading’s new boss in the next couple of days.

It is understood the Brighton manager initially turned down the chance to succeed Alan Pardew because he was unhappy with the personal terms.

But talks have continued successfully, and unless Coppell has a dramatic change of heart, he should be unveiled by Royals tomorrow or on Wednesday.

Nothing will happen today as Coppell, whose Brighton side went top of the Second Division on Saturday after a 3-0 win over Blackpool, is in Manchester for a series of routine stress tests organised by the League Managers’ Association.

He will return south later today and will meet with Reading chief executive Nigel Howe to finalise details.

Coppell is said to be very happy on the south coast, but the deciding factor could be Seagulls’ problems over a new stadium.

The club are waiting on permission from the local council to build a new 22,000 all-seater stadium in Falmer at a cost of £45m.

Although the club is likely to be given the go-ahead, the stadium will take at least two or three years to complete.

In the meantime Brighton have to play at the Withdean Stadium, which holds less than 7,000 people, most of whom are accommodated in temporary stands.

Coppell said: “Like any manager and footballer I’m ambitious. I want to test my skills at the highest level.

“But I am torn as I’ve got something great going here at Brighton.

“If we had the ground then, to be honest, leaving wouldn’t be an issue.”

Reading don’t have a game until a week tomorrow now that Saturday’s trip to Burnley has been postponed.

Reading director of football Nicky Hammond said this morning: “Things have moved forward over the weekend and I think we would be in a position to announce something tomorrow or Wednesday.

“Having Saturday’s game against Burnley being called off is useful as it gives the new man a little bit of time to get his feet under the table, work with the players and staff and watch videos of our last few games.”

Kevin Dillon has been informed he has not been given the job, but he will return to Reading today following a death in his family.

He is likely to be kept on as assistant boss.

He and the rest of the coaching staff, are due to have talks with the new manager this week.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I still think the Albion should piss on their parade by making the expected announcement today.

"We are delighted to announce the departure of Steve Coppell who decided that it is better to desert the club that resurrected his career rather than stay and honour his contract. We would like to wish Steve all the best at reddung-we'd like to but he can f*** off"

LOL

"We would like to announce that Steve Coppell is going nowhere. He has decided to take the Reading job"

 

[Bwian]

OK-he's yours, take him and await the inevitable running away which is now his trademark. His record is worse than Steve Bruce's FFS!

His morals are well matched to your chairman's. They should get on famously-for maybe one season. May Reddung fail under his management.

Now, come on DK. Announce our new manager while Coppout is away.

 

[REDLAND]

Although the club is likely to be given the go-ahead, the stadium will take at least two or three years to complete.


wheres this come from

bloody shite spreading Jurnos

 

[Mustela Furo]

Although the club is likely to be given the go-ahead, the stadium will take at least two or three years to complete.


wheres this come from

bloody shite spreading Jurnos

To be fair, August 2005 is the earliest possible date for playing in the new stadium, with August 2006 the worst-case scenario.

So, between 2 and 3 years is not too far wide of the mark

 

[Storer68]

"We wouild like to announce that as a result of stress tests undertaken earlier today by Steve Coppell, the board of Brighton and Hobe Albion have decided to allow Mr Coppell to take a position at a smaller, less stressful set up in a duller town.

The results of these test proved conclusively that Mr Coppell does not have the capability to cope with the stresses of managing a big club. So we wish his all the best during his time at the Madejski Rest Home, where hopefully nothing very exciting wil happen to make him feel at all stressed.

Like promotion to the Premiership!"

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Now wouldn't it be funny if the medical revealed some serious but non-life threatening condition which meant he could no longer take the strain of football management and had to retire and take it easy.

Just after Reading sign his lucrative 3 year contract.

I'm not wishing ill on him, just thinking how funny it would be if Reading had to pay him for 3 years to sit in his garden and read Anglers Weekly. After all, Mr Madejski, you believe so strongly in contracts, don't you?

 

[Lady Bracknell]

Don't these medicals involve all sorts of testing?

"Sorry, Mr Coppell, you've failed. Wanting to go to Reading is clear evidence that you've recently taken mind-altering substances"