Clarke: Reading Was The Best Option

By Hob Nob Anyone?

Steve Clarke has confirmed that he is staying put at Reading Football Club in a press conference this morning. Clarke held discussions with Fulham over the vacant managers position but was unable to work out a deal to join the London club. He will remain at Reading, in the short term at least, with the huge job of trying to rebuild trust and support from both the Reading FC directors and the fans. There is also the small matter of trying to fix performances on the pitch as the Royals go into their Championship match with Bolton Wanderers tomorrow on the back of five games without a win. Steve Clarke has it all do to at Reading - and his future is a long way from being secure after his recent behaviour.

Clarke admitted that Reading's Thai owners are disappointed with both his actions and the actions of Fulham in their approach to try and take him to Craven Cottage. It appears that the job was offered to Clarke but the offer of an increased salary wasn't quite enough to make him move. It is rumoured that Clarke attempted to negotiate a deal that involved taking his assistants with him from the Madejski Stadium - something that perhaps made Clarke's move unattractive to Fulham. The compensation would have course been extensive for Fulham and such huge changes, such as those Clarke put in place at Reading in the summer, were perhaps too much for them to agree to.

Of course Steve Clarke is keen to hammer home the point that it was his choice and he decided to stay at Reading. Speaking this morning he said he had to "weigh up" the options and that "Reading was by far the best option". We'll probably never know exactly what caused Clarke's transfer to fall through but Clarke would like us to think he believes Reading to be the "better" club. Clarke said that when approached he had to go and talk to Fulham to work out what their plans were and what would be best for him. It turns out Reading's plans are better and Reading is the best club for him. For now - and obviously only until a better offer does come in. Clarke could be in for a hostile reception tomorrow at the Madejski Stadium - he has never needed a comprehensive victory more.

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