New manager Brendan Rodgers *confirmed*

[TBM]

curbs is not in the odds frame which hints at him being lined up at a prem job

Celtic want him, thats why!

[loyalroyal4life]

curbs is not in the odds frame which hints at him being lined up at a prem job

Celtic want him, thats why!

there you are then, it is clearly going to be rodgers

[Stranded]

If anyone thinks he's not under severe pressure to deliver this season they are deluded. I can guarantee you that as DoF, his primary objectives have been:-

1) Stay in the Premiership. FAILED
2) Get promoted. FAILED.
3) Get promoted....

Third strike and out I reckon.

Well he's been doing the job for over 5 years so you've conveniently missed out:

4) Get promoted to the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
5) Stay in the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

Very true Mags, I also thing thats a far too simplistic approach to how Hammond's success on failure is decided. He has overall responsibility for all transfers and we are showing a healthy plus there financially which will be a plus in his bracket. He has overall responsibility for the hiring of the manager and employed Coppell (plus there), he hired Dolan for the Academy to take over from himself (plus there) - was he responsible for giving Rogers roles that were a boost to the club.

Hammond is way in credit in his role, regardless of what some may like to think.

We took our time getting Coppell in and we got the right man, taking the same process again now is the correct thing to do.

[Still Hate Futcher!]

I must admit I don't understand the constant Hammond bashing on here (although I suppose the fact he used to play for Swindon could be reason enough).

None of us know whether our lack of inspired signings over the last couple of years has been down to Coppell, Madjeski, Hammond or a combination of the 3, but Hammond seems to be the most popular scapegoat amongst fans.

Maybe he is a totally ineffective D of F but I don't think any of us are in a position to judge. The praise from Coppell, the interest from Arsenal and our success over the last 5 years suggest he must be doing something right.

[Vision]

Equally this season's transfers (Armstrong, Hunt & Tabb) can hardly be described as "appalling" can they?

[BobKnows]

I must admit I don't understand the constant Hammond bashing on here (although I suppose the fact he used to play for Swindon could be reason enough).

None of us know whether our lack of inspired signings over the last couple of years has been down to Coppell, Madjeski, Hammond or a combination of the 3, but Hammond seems to be the most popular scapegoat amongst fans.

Maybe he is a totally ineffective D of F but I don't think any of us are in a position to judge. The praise from Coppell, the interest from Arsenal and our success over the last 5 years suggest he must be doing something right.

It's a fact universally acknowledged that Reading fans can't cope without constant whinging. Preferably from an airchair. And even better when coming from a place of total ignorance of the facts

[Harry Carry]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

[BobKnows]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

I hope so

[Maguire]

If anyone thinks he's not under severe pressure to deliver this season they are deluded. I can guarantee you that as DoF, his primary objectives have been:-

1) Stay in the Premiership. FAILED
2) Get promoted. FAILED.
3) Get promoted....

Third strike and out I reckon.

Well he's been doing the job for over 5 years so you've conveniently missed out:

4) Get promoted to the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
5) Stay in the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

Very true Mags, I also thing thats a far too simplistic approach to how Hammond's success on failure is decided. He has overall responsibility for all transfers and we are showing a healthy plus there financially which will be a plus in his bracket. He has overall responsibility for the hiring of the manager and employed Coppell (plus there), he hired Dolan for the Academy to take over from himself (plus there) - was he responsible for giving Rogers roles that were a boost to the club.

Hammond is way in credit in his role, regardless of what some may like to think.

We took our time getting Coppell in and we got the right man, taking the same process again now is the correct thing to do.

Good post Stranded.

[Dirk Gently]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Just been speaking to Nigel Howe and Dolan is making the step up. All done and dusted, just got to wait for the press conference to be sorted.

Re: Darren Ferguson
... seriously. Who was the first with the news about Reading wanting Coppell? I thank you! Although I'll have to get an update from Nigel Howe this week. I assume it's done and dusted though as some players have been shipped out.

Getting a bit tiresome now, m8 - the best wind-up-merchants use a bit of wit and style, not just a knee-jerk scatter-gun approach.

[Hogmeister Royal]

If anyone thinks he's not under severe pressure to deliver this season they are deluded. I can guarantee you that as DoF, his primary objectives have been:-

1) Stay in the Premiership. FAILED
2) Get promoted. FAILED.
3) Get promoted....

Third strike and out I reckon.

Well he's been doing the job for over 5 years so you've conveniently missed out:

4) Get promoted to the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS
5) Stay in the Premiership - UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS

Very true Mags, I also thing thats a far too simplistic approach to how Hammond's success on failure is decided. He has overall responsibility for all transfers and we are showing a healthy plus there financially which will be a plus in his bracket. He has overall responsibility for the hiring of the manager and employed Coppell (plus there), he hired Dolan for the Academy to take over from himself (plus there) - was he responsible for giving Rogers roles that were a boost to the club.

Hammond is way in credit in his role, regardless of what some may like to think.

We took our time getting Coppell in and we got the right man, taking the same process again now is the correct thing to do.

Yep, spot on. One of the key things for a DoF to do is make sure the manager has the freedom to manage - and then people complain "he doesn't do anything" - and now without a manager he is temporarily running the show - and people complain about "fingers in too many pies". The guy can't win with some folk, clearly, even after the best spell in the club's history by a street mile.

And I'd rather they take as long as it takes to find/choose the right guy, than make a rushed appointment that is the wrong one. There's certain things about this club that make me very proud - the whole Madejski ethos of building slowly and steadily for sucess, foundations first, making sure the finances are in order, etc. And another one is the way we go about our business in these sort of situations.

[loyalroyal4life]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

based on what, and its curbishley

[rhroyal]

It's still May and people are impatient with the new manager issue. Right now, we're still one of the most attractive clubs in the Championship, held in high esteem by outsiders and considered well placed to go up to the Premiership. Believe me, this is still the case. The 3 sides coming down (including Newcastle) and possibly Sheff Utd are better set up right now in terms of finances and playing staff to be in the Premiership. Forget history, size and fan base, that doesn't win you promotion. 1 or 2 bad seasons, and what we have in terms of this reputation evaporates and we're back to the position we were in before Coppell took over. (4th in 02/03 was a massive over achievement, we weren't in a position to challenge regularly and compete up in the Premiership if we went up.)

The point I'm trying to make is that the wrong manager now really has the ability to undo the majority of Coppell's good work, and we're back to square 1 (well, maybe square 5 or 6 when you consider JM's era, but you know what I mean.) I'd rather see a manager come in mid-June and miss out on 1 or 2 signings than see the wrong man come in on Monday and make us look utterly mediocre on the pitch.

I've said on other threads that a good team takes time to build. I'm not expecting us to necessarily go up next season, but I expect to see us start building a team and putting the pieces in place for the next great squad. What I definitely don't want is the feeling in 12 months time that the team have grown together in any way, or the feeling we've moved backwards. With the wrong manager this can easily happen. I hope JM and NH take time looking into and assessing all the track records of short listed candidates, and analysing their strengths and weaknesses before speaking to them and trying to grasp how they will fit into the club.

If we "miss out" on players in the mean time, like we "missed out" on the likes of Hulse and Bertrand last summer I won't be complaining.

[Harry Carry]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Just been speaking to Nigel Howe and Dolan is making the step up. All done and dusted, just got to wait for the press conference to be sorted.

Re: Darren Ferguson
... seriously. Who was the first with the news about Reading wanting Coppell? I thank you! Although I'll have to get an update from Nigel Howe this week. I assume it's done and dusted though as some players have been shipped out.

Getting a bit tiresome now, m8 - the best wind-up-merchants use a bit of wit and style, not just a knee-jerk scatter-gun approach.

I know who it is m8. Don't you worry. I've stated it seriously somewhere!

[Kitson12]

Text service is being advertised again...

[Rawlie19]

Curbishly to be announced in the next couple of weeks.

Just been speaking to Nigel Howe and Dolan is making the step up. All done and dusted, just got to wait for the press conference to be sorted.

Re: Darren Ferguson
... seriously. Who was the first with the news about Reading wanting Coppell? I thank you! Although I'll have to get an update from Nigel Howe this week. I assume it's done and dusted though as some players have been shipped out.

Getting a bit tiresome now, m8 - the best wind-up-merchants use a bit of wit and style, not just a knee-jerk scatter-gun approach.

I know who it is m8. Don't you worry. I've stated it seriously somewhere!

It's the old "quote every name somewhere" and then when the bloke's announced you drag up that quote and say "that was the serious one folks, and look! I was right!"
You, madam, are a plumb.

[Royal Rother]

I think you can forget Curbishley. Current Skybet odds:

7/4 Pardew
7/4 Rodgers
9/4 Ferguson
12/1 Irvine
14/1 Dolan
16/1 Curbishley

[Wycombe Royal]

Apparently, according to BBC Berks, Hammond has said that we shouldn't expect an appointment this week.

[Royal Rother]

It's still May and people are impatient with the new manager issue. Right now, we're still one of the most attractive clubs in the Championship, held in high esteem by outsiders and considered well placed to go up to the Premiership. Believe me, this is still the case. The 3 sides coming down (including Newcastle) and possibly Sheff Utd are better set up right now in terms of finances and playing staff to be in the Premiership. Forget history, size and fan base, that doesn't win you promotion. 1 or 2 bad seasons, and what we have in terms of this reputation evaporates and we're back to the position we were in before Coppell took over. (4th in 02/03 was a massive over achievement, we weren't in a position to challenge regularly and compete up in the Premiership if we went up.)

The point I'm trying to make is that the wrong manager now really has the ability to undo the majority of Coppell's good work, and we're back to square 1 (well, maybe square 5 or 6 when you consider JM's era, but you know what I mean.) I'd rather see a manager come in mid-June and miss out on 1 or 2 signings than see the wrong man come in on Monday and make us look utterly mediocre on the pitch.

I've said on other threads that a good team takes time to build. I'm not expecting us to necessarily go up next season, but I expect to see us start building a team and putting the pieces in place for the next great squad. What I definitely don't want is the feeling in 12 months time that the team have grown together in any way, or the feeling we've moved backwards. With the wrong manager this can easily happen. I hope JM and NH take time looking into and assessing all the track records of short listed candidates, and analysing their strengths and weaknesses before speaking to them and trying to grasp how they will fit into the club.

If we "miss out" on players in the mean time, like we "missed out" on the likes of Hulse and Bertrand last summer I won't be complaining.

Good post.

Many supporters have absolutely no idea what is involved in making a top-level management appointment. It is not something that should be left to gut-feel and past records.

Until all realistic candidates have been interviewed and assessed the employer cannot know whether they are fully suitable for the role. They might well have a strong idea that (say) Rodgers, based on his approach when previously employed by RFC, is likely to be the best of the bunch and that (say) Paul Ince would be too high profile, too arrogant to fit this club, but when you are paying someone upwards of £500k pa, it would be utterly wrong to go at the job of recruitment with anything other than a totally open mind.

Past records and perceived wisdom are no criteria for assessment of current job applicants. As usual RFC is going about its behind-the-scenes buisness in a totally professional way and I suspect that, had a number of other clubs done the same thing they would not have gone through pathetic manager merry-go-rounds that ultimately, generally, lead to failure.

PS Pardew is also 7/4 favourite to be next QPR boss.

[Tilehurst Mike]

Apparently, according to BBC Berks, Hammond has said that we shouldn't expect an appointment this week.

Thats right. According to the 'Oracle', Tim Dellor, an announcement will be made a week this Friday.
The suspense and speculation is me!!