News and Views
Jaap Stam Sacked
21 March 2018
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Jaap Stam has been sacked as Reading manager after a terrible run of form, which has seen the Royals drop to 20th place in the Championship and just three points away from the relegation positions.
Under Stam's guidance the Royals have failed to win in their last nine league games, collecting just four points from a possible 27. Reading are currently on a run of just a single victory - at Burton Albion - from their least 19 league games. That run has seen the Royals sink into a relegation battle with no sign of improvement. Stam had been given plenty of time to turn things around, but with only eight games left to try and avoid relegation he has finally been shown the door.
His dismissal does not come as a huge shock, although many expected him to be given the rest of the season and depart in the summer. The new Reading manager will have a huge job ahead of them as they attempt to avoid the drop with a team struggling with confidence and form.
It has been a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Jaap Stam who guided Reading to an unexpected third place finish in his first season in charge. The Royals were just a few penalty kicks away from the Premier League in the play-off final at Wembley last May, but now are looking at a possible exit to League One football. Stam was given plenty of cash to spend in the transfer windows, but his new signings failed to make the expected impact as Reading struggled to get the results they were able to grind out last season.
Statement from Reading Football Club:
Reading Football Club announce that Jaap Stam has left his position as manager of the club with immediate effect.
Majority shareholders, Mr Yongge Dai and Ms Xiu Li Dai, had wanted to give Jaap every opportunity to turn around what has been a difficult and challenging Championship campaign.
Jaap has not wavered in the time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try to steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in. However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary.
We would like to thank Jaap for his hard work and commitment to the club, in particular noting what he achieved in a memorable first season in club management, and we wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours.
We will now focus on identifying and recruiting the right person to take Reading Football Club forward.
Stam Sacked - Who's Next?
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Norfolk Royal
Majority shareholders, Mr Yongge Dai and Ms Xiu Li Dai, had wanted to give Jaap every opportunity to turn around what has been a difficult and challenging Championship campaign.
Jaap has not wavered in the time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try to steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in. However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary.
We would like to thank Jaap for his hard work and commitment to the club, in particular noting what he achieved in a memorable first season in club management, and we wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours.
We will now focus on identifying and recruiting the right person to take Reading Football Club forward.
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