Are to unhappy Steve Clark is staying?

[Coppelled_Streets]

It doesn't matter what his reasons are for wanting to talk to Fulham, he still wanted what is at best a sideways move! He now has egg on his face; and what sort of message does Clarke think he's sent to the fans, players and board?!

He now needs to start winning games and fast, otherwise he'll have another sacking on his CV (which he may not be all that disappointed with). The reception he gets at the weekend will be interesting.

[paultheroyal]

It will be something like...

"I became aware of Fulham's interest and felt that I needed to talk to them. I had the respect and approval of our board to do this. Upon speaking to them I realised that this was not a move for me and I could quite clearly reach my premier league ambitions with Reading FC.

It's important to note to the fans that not at any time did I want to leave this great club. I want to manage in the premier league and I now know that with the vision of the chairman, commitment from the players and the majority of support from our fans that we can all achieve this together. I want to reassure you all that I am totally committed in getting Reading FC into the premier league and that starts with 3 points against Bolton on Saturday, next question please"

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

You should work for the club.

And as for Clarke, he didn't jump. But I would push him.
You need people who want to be there working in your organisation, he clearly doesn't.
Same as some of the players in the summer, therefore get rid now.

[Coppelled_Streets]

You should work for the club.

And as for Clarke, he didn't jump. But I would push him.
You need people who want to be there working in your organisation, he clearly doesn't.
Same as some of the players in the summer, therefore get rid now.

True, but that's costly.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Exactly. we're now stuck with a manager who doesn't want to be here, and a pretty hefty proportion of fans who done't want him here either. Not the sort of unified camp needed to make the play offs, let only the automatic promotion places.

Bit of a mess. Win lots of games and we should be back on track. Underachieve like we've done for the past months and it'll start to look like a very bad season indeed.

[Nameless]

You should work for the club.

And as for Clarke, he didn't jump. But I would push him.
You need people who want to be there working in your organisation, he clearly doesn't.
Same as some of the players in the summer, therefore get rid now.

It needs resolving for sure.
But people 'wanting to be here' is not that big a deal. All managers and players are short term contracted mercenaries. Almost all of them are somewhere until something better comes along or they get sacked. As long as Clark has the support of the players and produces results I'm not that fussed whether or not we are the club of his dreams.
But if the players have lost respect for him, and if he doesn't put a very good run of results together then he's probably a dead man walking and there is probably little to be gained by keeping him. Just wait until Fulham have a new boss so we don't sack him and he heads straight there with no compensation paid.

[Stranded]

Ok, so the only realy fact that we know is that Steve Clarke is Reading manager.

It sounds like he has spoken to Fulham but for whatever reason (allegedly not being able to employ his own staff) has decided to stay in his current job.

So what's the problem? How does this change the level of his commitment to the job and what makes anyone think that any other manager would be more or less committed? Same as any player really or even the same as you or I seeing or hearing of a job that may be better. Esp. when there is allegedly more money on offer.

You go for the conversation, you have the facts, you make the decision. You could argue by staying it reaffirms any commitment.

He will leave the club at some point either by his choice or the clubs, then the next manager will do the same. For the record, I couldn't care less. As long as he does his job then he can talk to other clubs when the correct channels have been followed. They have, he has and he is staying (at least for today) - so I don't see the point in any vitriol or any change of opinion on the guy based mainly on hearsay.

If you think he is doing a good job - then well, he still is as we haven't played another game yet. If you don't like him, they well you still won't. If your not fussed about him (like me) then well, I'm still not fussed. If the results don't improve then he'll go anyway, if they get better than other clubs will come calling and he may well leave. I'll celebrate success with him at the helm, and be pissed by failure with him at the helm. As with the next guy, and the guy after, and the guy after him.

[TBM]

Fulham were offering hm £80k a year more money

Why wouldn't he talk to them

[strap]

Well if The Snail is anythig to go by, Fulham want to speak to him again:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3326258/Fulham-keen-renegotiate-Reading-boss-Steve-Clarke-talks-break-down.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

[Extended-Phenotype]

Fans like effort and winning. If we get some good results over the few months we aren't going to be that bothered with the events of the last few days.

Lurking at the back of the mind though will be this feeling that, as he talked to a club who are hardly a step up the ladder or an opportunity too good to miss, he really isn't fussed about Reading, even with all the support and backing we have given him.

Which means he will always feel like a temp. And I'm not sure what kind of culture that sets for the players.

[Winston Smith]

he still wanted what is at best a sideways move!

because you know so much detail about the finances of both clubs, the support from the owners, the short and long term plans, the current budgets, the different level of decision making the manager would get at both clubs etc etc

[PieEater]

I can understand why he talked to them and see what they offered. It's quite a ego trip to be pursued for a job.

[DaddyKuhl]

I can understand why he talked to them and see what they offered. It's quite a ego trip to be pursued for a job.

This

[DaddyKuhl]

he still wanted what is at best a sideways move!

because you know so much detail about the finances of both clubs, the support from the owners, the short and long term plans, the current budgets, the different level of decision making the manager would get at both clubs etc etc

This

[Malmesbury Royal]

Glancing through this thread reminds me why I stopped posting on HNA? a few years ago. This is now Steve Clarke's team. For him to have left at this point would have been disastrous. I was shocked that he even contemplated going to Fulham, but the fact that he chose us over them is a vote of confidence (not in the dreaded sense), and I hope it can strengthen his position rather than weaken it, although that depends on how he takes things from here.

Those people on here saying they wanted him to leave wouldn't have been saying that during the previous international break, when we looked like world beaters. With one glorious exception, every team goes through peaks and troughs during a 46 game season. We just need to get out of this trough, and there is plenty of time to do that and get ourselves in to the top 2. This team has already shown they are good enough to do that. They need to show it again.

[RG7Fan]

What was on offer at Fulham wasnt as good as what he has at Reading apparently according to his press conference just now, but he spoke to them because they came knocking with apparently a big money offer (but nothing behind it).

Top marks for doing an interview so soon after.

[WoodleyRoyal]

What was on offer at Fulham wasnt as good as what he has at Reading apparently according to his press conference just now, but he spoke to them because they came knocking with apparently a big money offer (but nothing behind it).

Top marks for doing an interview so soon after.

i took from it that if fulham had offered more he would have gone. Personally i don't think he has done himself an favours with comments like that. Just makes you distrust the bloke and when the next club who come knocking, what happens then, clubs know his head can be turned

[Winston Smith]

he still wanted what is at best a sideways move!

because you know so much detail about the finances of both clubs, the support from the owners, the short and long term plans, the current budgets, the different level of decision making the manager would get at both clubs etc etc

This

Wasn't it Coppelled Streets that announced on here that 'at best' we would finish mid table, just before we broke the record for the most points in a season?

[Coppelled_Streets]

he still wanted what is at best a sideways move!

because you know so much detail about the finances of both clubs, the support from the owners, the short and long term plans, the current budgets, the different level of decision making the manager would get at both clubs etc etc

In terms of club size and league positioning it would be very much a sideways move.

What was on offer at Fulham wasnt as good as what he has at Reading apparently according to his press conference just now, but he spoke to them because they came knocking with apparently a big money offer.

...

[Sutekh]

Bloke hears of some business wanting his services and talking big bucks

Bloke want to talk to said business to find out more

Bloke finds out more and overall what is being offered by said business doesn't compare to current situation

Bloke stays in current situation

And we'd all do the above if an opportunity was offered, it's just in football everything is in the media spotlight. 30 years ago this sort of thing would have been more or less kept out of the public eye.

And professionally a club is no more than a stepping stone on a players/manager's path through life.

Over and done with, now let's get behind everyone at the club and get on with the season. Starting tomorrow.