Truth and lies

Due to the admin being swamped - no doubt by Hammers - I can't get on Reading website Hob Nob Anyone? at the moment.

So I've spent a bit of time this afternoon doing a bit of research into what actually happened some six months ago now, when Alan Pardew left the Royals in order to take the vacant managerial position at West Ham.

The following are FACTS - not half-baked made-up myths to support chips on certain blue and white shoulders...

The Myth:

Reading chairman John Madejski accused West Ham of making an illegal approach to Pardew.

The Fact:

At no stage has Madejski made any accusation of the sort. At least not one I can find in public. The only accusation made was that West Ham had leaked the fact that an official approach had been made to the press.

This accusation was easily dealt with by pointing out that it was Madejski himself who had revealed the approach. West Ham's official statement on the matter also added words to the effect that anyone suggesting that an illegal approach had been made had better have decent legal representation.

The Myth:

The signing of current Reading manager Steve Coppell from Brighton was squeaky clean.

The Fact:

On Wednesday, 24th September - according to the Brighton Argus - "Sources inside and close to the Royals claim Coppell is the man chairman John Madejski wants most to replace West Ham-bound Alan Pardew"...

Reading's official approach to Brighton was revealed by chairman Dick Knight on 2nd October 2003 as having been made the previous day. In other words, "sources inside and close to Reading "had leaked to the press the club's interest in Coppell". Which is exactly what Madejski had accused West Ham of doing a few weeks previously!

So that's the fact and fiction sorted out. Now for something fishy.

In researching this matter I came across some archive stuff relating to Brighton. On 29th September 2003 it was anounced that Brighton would not be proceeding with a deal to sign Lloyd Owusu from Sheffield Wednesday. The reason given was that the club couldn't afford Owusu's wages.

Two days later Coppell was interviewed by Madejski for the Reading job. By Christmas Owusu was a Reading player - originally on loan with the deal being made permanent last week.

Now if Madejski's approach to Coppell came completely out of the blue on 1st October, then all well and good. However, if Coppell was aware that he might be off to Reading prior to that date - and bear in mind that Reading had already leaked their interest to Coppell's local paper - doesn't Coppell's failure to sign Owusu look a little bit odd?

Of course Reading are squeaky clean - Madejski said so!

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