SC

Firstly, thanks to everyone for coming out on such a beast of a night and thanks for the welcome I have received. Alan had done a good job here and I took the job with some trepidation as he would be a hard act to follow. I am well aware of the weight of responsibility I have taken on.

Danny Wilson has enquired and Scott has taken a while to settle. However, he has now moved locally which means he will not be spending four hours a day on the motorway and I am sure that the best is yet to come.

SC

As you say I retired from playing with a bad knee at the age of 28. However, I still hold the record for Manchester United for making the most consecutive appearances for an outfield player. I played in every match for about 4 years!!

After I stopped playing I went to Amsterdam for three months ---- for treatment and also to sort out my life and my future. I had wanted to be a teacher and I considered this. I still have friends from University who did become teachers and I ring one in particular regularly. When I ask him what it is like he says 'Beirut'.

After three months I wanted to get involved with football again, if only to get it out of my system.

However, I have now survived 20 years, probably because I have taken regular breaks -- both voluntary and involuntary.

Christmas can be the most depressing time of year (this one in particular) and the job becomes all-consuming.

However, I am grateful for every game as it may be the last one. It is important that I can leave with a clear conscience.

SC
Puberty can be a cruel time. At 17 I was still only five feet tall and weighed nothing and I was playing against giants. I went to Tranmere after my A levels, and spent 12 months as an 'amateur'. These were the days of 'boot money' when you would look in your footwear for the brown envelope with your expenses.

I was doing well and, as Tranmere played their home games on Friday evenings, the Liverpool directors were regular visitors. They were obviously impressed as they never tried to sign me!!

I went part-time on £10 a week and continued my studies. During my second year at university Tommy Docherty contacted Tranmere about me and Dave Russell, the general manager at Tranmere, took me to one side. He said he had told Docherty that I was on £30 a week so I should remember this when asked.

As expected he asked me what I was earning, I said £30 and he said he would double it!! With hindsight I could have said any amount and I'm sure he would have doubled it -- just for effect.

This led to nine wonderful years at Old Trafford, and I was allowed to stop at University to complete my degree.

SC

From day 1 I knew I had taken over a ship that was going in the right direction. Alan had done a good job.

I spoke to Alan many times and he kept saying I was the right man for the job.

Last year was a tremendous achievement. There was an innovative style which made the team good to look at and good to see.

I signed Alan Pardew from Yeovil and he was a late arrival in the league. He was not a great player but was always a great contributor.

At Crystal Palace in my promotion team I built the midfield around Andy Gray and Geoff Thomas. However, both were injured and I replaced them with Alan Pardew and Dave Madden!! We refocused and won promotion.

The first 11 games this season after AP left yielded 15 points. The next 11 after AP produced 22. Then ------we have fallen over the cliff!!

I can't give you one reason but there are lots of little ones.

Alan told me that 4-5-1 guarantees that you don't lose 3-0! I have phoned him several times since the Stoke game to discuss it.

I can't explain the Crystal Palace or the Wimbledon games. I can only tell you that we were all massively disappointed.

SC

It certainly helped.

I was at Brighton and enjoying it. We were top of the table and I told the Chairman that I would be happy to stay if he wanted. (I think he was thinking about the compensation).

Of course I spoke to Alan as he is a good footballing friend. I have a small circle of about eight such friends [who are football managers?].

I respected what he has done, but we are totally different personalities. The Reading public have become used to Alan Pardew and his ways.

I am analytical in my methods. I tend to allow mistakes and have faith in the starting eleven. I don't make changes for changes sake.

Alan was energy driven.

My only concern when I was offered the job was the precedent set by Alan Pardew. However, I hope to build on this in my own style.

SC

I tend to manage within my own bubble. When I first started, I had Ian Evans at Crystal Palace I felt like I had lost my left arm when he moved on.

I have probably had 10 or 11 assistants over the years. It stops you getting stale and they all bring new ideas, etc. Otherwise this job could become a real grind.

When you have been in management for 20 years there can be staleness, it's a bit like a marriage!!

Since I arrived here the core team has been magnificent. Everything here is totally different. The coaches' input is excellent and Niall Clarke's is stimulating. It is good for me.

Does if feel good finally being able to concentrate on the Footballing side 100% and not stadium issues etc like at your previous club?

SC

In fact it was the same at both my previous clubs although the situation at Brentford was slightly different.

However, a new stadium is not a magical elixir and certainly does not guarantee success. In the long term it is the way to go and should give you an advantage but you must produce a team to fill it.

Here the onus is now on me and the staff to produce that team.

It was not really an issue at Brighton - everyone was united and it created a bond between the Club and the supporters. Sometimes the journey is better than arriving……

SC

Any manager is judged by results.

I spent nine years at Crystal Palace with Ron Noades and seven of those were without a contract.

It is always a sensitive issue.

I chose 20 months as this season would be self-perpetuating. The goal is a play-off place at least.

If this is not successful I have the summer to prepare my way and three to four months of the next season to prove I am right. It is down to me. I don't want the millstone of a long term contract which is unfair to both parties. I don't want to be tied in where there is no future together.

However, I hope that in October or November next year I will be sitting down to discuss a new one.

Now some questions for Nick

NH

We have come a long way but we would like to give our younger teams different experience. We would like to take them abroad to compete in tournaments. As well as part of their development it gives the coaching team time to observe the character of the boys and this can be used in their future plans.

We already compare favourably with the top clubs and this will be another step in the right direction.

The funding from STAR will help with entry fees, etc for these tournaments and for this we thank you.

NH

The role is different in every club. Here at Reading it arose from Alan Pardew's departure. I had worked closely with him and many of the developments over the last four years have been a partnership. Thus we were looking for continuity as we have created a culture at the Club which shapes the type of Club we are and the type of players we sign.

It needed someone who knew what had gone before and also the long term development plans for the club. I had to talk to the candidates for the manager's position about what Reading FC represented and what the job was about. I had to ensure that the new man would not come into the Club and rip it to pieces.

Steve recognised what is here and he showed great enthusiasm to take it on.

I am also responsible for the contribution of the Academy alongside Brendan Rodgers, who has now taken on the day to day running.

I am responsible for the development of the new training ground. It is important to have a settled base for all areas of the Club. The Academy at the moment uses council facilities at Cantley. It is also important to remember that it is about football as well as pounds, shillings and pence.

I am also the only Director of Football who is a goalkeeper coach. I still work with Marcus, who needs it!!

I also deal with issues which may hinder Steve in his preparation of the team. I deal with contracts and the ins and outs of players.

NH

Every club is looking to bring in new players and we are no different. We have an excellent chief scout in Brian McDermott. However, we have to work to the budget agreed with the Chairman. These budgets were set in the summer with Alan Pardew and his ideas for fees and wages for the season.

We have brought in Dave Kitson and Ivar Ingimarsson and Martin Butler has moved out all within our budgets.

We will need top quality players to take us on to the next level and I need to support Steve in presenting his case.

Top players may mean breaking the budget so the task is to identify the players we need and then convince the Chairman.

NH

I can see Steve is smiling at this.

We have enormous problems in getting reserve games at the stadium. The wear and tear on the pitch from First Division football and First Class rugby is immense. However, we have to recognise that the rugby generates income for the Club.

This season we have moved to Didcot with the majority of games being played on Wednesdays.

Afternoons are better for the coaching staff as the majority of midweek fixtures in the League and Premiership are played on Wednesdays. Thus they are in a position to scout at these matches.

We hope to become part of the Premier Reserve League soon and these fixtures will have to be played at the Stadium.

Some questions were now taken from the floor:

SC

We scored too early!

Honestly, it was the end of a long hard season. Brentford had been written off but we had battled into a position where with the right result we could be promoted automatically. And there we were with our noses in front….

When Reading equalised we were surprised as no-one had scored that style of goal against us.

But really Reading should have walked it. They were so far in front with six weeks to go and then started to drop points. However, at the end of the day they clinched.

SC

You will only know better when you get there.

Players have to develop and if they are good enough they will develop. Remember that that you can get 'overnight sensations' like Peter Wythe, who was 28.

However, we have to earn the right to test these players at the top level.

What we need is the belief factor, coupled with the loan factor. Last season Alan made the best loan signing of the season in Matthew Upson.

This year is different to last year and any loan player that we bring in must add an extra ingredient.

SC

After 20 years in management you can look at players and get a gut feeling about how the players are feeling. You can tell from the banter, the sparkle if players are struggling.

At this time of year there are demands from family, friends, matches etc., and there are no rests at all.

What Niall Clark brings is the science to back it up. He can show which players are tired, who needs a rest, who needs to work harder and he can offer opinions about how to deal with these individuals.

Players train hard here, harder than elsewhere, and quite rightly take a pride in their fitness.

This superiority is often reflected in the number of goals which we score in the last ten minutes. It shows that they are willing to squeeze out every last ounce of physical effort.

SC

It is going to be a big game. I don't think Alan is looking forward to it!!

Back to the written questions:

SC

Well he could be a late developer. What I am anxious to do is keep the pressure off him. You must remember that teams are made up of individuals, not machines. When you bring in a new player he is desperate for success and you in turn are desperate for him to succeed. I want David Kitson to come in and set the world on fire.

I don't mind if players make mistakes, but they must then work to put them right, in the match context and in their own development. They need to grow into the Club.

This is where Niall Clark eases them in. It is very much a culture shock joining Reading and we have to give them time to adjust.

SC

All of these things!!

He is what I call a mid range player. He is still learning his trade but he has tremendous enthusiasm. Today in these foul conditions he was out there half an hour before the others with a ball wanting to play!!

I see him as a 'work in progress' but he has the desire to be better. He always wants to play, to improve. His deficiencies have him playing in the first division but his enthusiasm is premiership.

I would always want him in my squad.

SC

Jamie is not at Rushden with a view to a permanent move.

Reserve team football can be a waste time -- there are not enough games, there is a long break around Christmas, it doesn't test you or make the demands of the first team. This can be detrimental, particularly for a goalkeeper. You slip into the comfort zone. You know that you are unlikely to get on the pitch.

We sent Jamie to Rushden to improve his confidence and his self belief.

If we had a short term problem then I have confidence in Jamie Young to step in for one or two games, but if it was a longer term injury we would have to consider other options.

SC

I have always thought that from any defensive position Marcus could turn defence into attack.

I encourage the quick break, 'look early - look long'. This season it is noticeable that Marcus is not as accurate; his kicking is more 'floaty'.

We try to look for variation either play it out or kick it long and I look to Marcus to make that decision. Our strength is going forward. When Marcus has the ball he looks for the best way to get the ball forward quickly. If there is no option for the quick break, throw or kick then he holds on to the ball and sets himself.

SC

There are 10 players whose contracts are up at the end of this season.

Players thrive on security, so I have all these players looking now to discuss their future. I cannot start cherry-picking.

No decisions can be made until later on as the future depends on the success of the team this season.

It is a question of knowing the character of the player. With some, if you give them a contract they relax and performance can drop. With others, if they think they are not going to be offered a contract then they won't bust a gut for you. It's a very difficult time.

With regard to Fozzie, and the reported offer from Wigan, about a month ago I had a phone call from Paul Jewell. He had been approached by someone passing themselves as Fozzie's agent. He said that Fozzie's contract was due for renewal in 18 months but that Reading would be amenable to an approach. He offered me £750k, which was the figure he had been led to believe would secure the deal. I declined the offer and Paul Jewell is aware that the information he received was wrong.

Any dealings about a new contract will not take place until the summer at the earliest.

First I have to sort out the 10 whose contracts expire and then re-assess the situation.

(This drew an exchange of smiles between Steve and Nicky)

SC

Yes, he did come back but he was injured in the match against Rushden earlier this week.

He will be going back for more international duties if he is fit.

In two months since I arrived he has had two reserve matches. The first was against Brentford, which was the reserves' worst performance this season. There was then a month without a game before the second match.

However, I have made him aware of what I am looking for and what I expect and I will reserve judgement until the end of the season.

SC

What is the best combination? I am always exploring, using mind games to try and settle on the best.

It is clear that our 'goals for' needs improvement but what is the best way to achieve this? I have always played with a combination up front.

This season the players showed some unrest about playing 4-5-1 and, with hindsight, I realise that I didn't react early enough to this. However, this squad is malleable and can mould itself. For example, at Preston last Saturday at half time we recognised we were outnumbered in midfield so we switched to 3-5-2, which we have never even tried in training but we were successful.

Now it is a case of finding the right combination. Tys has never managed to put a decent run together and he needs to play regularly. He has gone to Wycombe for that reason but unfortunately is back with us, injured.

NH

Although that is true the situation at both Derby and Wimbledon is that they have been forced to play these young players, good though they are, through financial problems. As I tried to explain to the Evening Post I believe we have been doing things the right way. It is well documented that the 'golden years' for development are from 7 - 10 and we are conscious of this and doing it now.

In the 16 - 18 age groups we are still suffering from what we did before, where we have picked up boys who have been released by other academies. Darius, for example, came to us at 16 and lost out on some stages of development. Nathan Tyson is another who came in at 16 and missed out on development.

I am still convinced we will develop our own players, although it will probably be one a year. We are not likely to bring three or four through in one year.

We suffer from our geography. People in this area are comfortable; there are other interests for the boys whereas elsewhere football is the major social outlet. The Academy has given us credibility and we have three young Irish first year scholars who chose us over several premier clubs because of our reputation.

We also now certainly have boys at the younger level who could progress through to the first team.

SC

It's just a case of familiarity.

If you look at all the divisions they are a reflection of footballing budgets. You have the big boys at the top and the little boys at the bottom.

Success is easy ---- you can buy it!!

As I said before, we have a budget to which we work. However, if the Chairman is excited then perhaps the budget can be bent. It is also a case of supply and demand.

At £100k, Ivar Ingimarsson represented good value.

Lloyd Owusu has come in for a month, maybe two, to give us something new. He peps the place up.

We are aiming for the next level and the easy thing to do is buy it. In that case you go where you know.

SC

A left winger - Yes

A Phil Parkinson type - Yes

Everyone is looking for a quality left winger.

Everyone is looking for the same people. We took a gamble on Dave Kitson. I had been aware of him for several seasons and now we have signed him I have loads of scouts coming up to me and saying 'we looked at him and we were just going to…' but we have.

I have to look carefully at who we need to ensure we don't become unbalanced. At the moment I have two centre backs on four bookings. If they both get a fifth in the same match ….

We had three centre backs who underwent surgery at the same time. We got away with it, but that was thanks to players like Ricky Newman. (NH - He is also on 4 bookings!).

It's an old truism but you are always looking for two players and looking to lose two.

SC

No

I haven't really tinkered with the defence. It's still the same shape, but they are not playing with the same confidence.

Last year we were the only team playing 4-5-1. Now they are all doing it, or variations of it.

What seems to be lacking is the 'out ball', the pass to help the full back get the ball forward. I have told the forwards I need more from them to help the full backs, and this in turn will help them to get forward more quickly.

Questions from the floor again:

SC

It is a question of timing. A month ago Nicky Forster was our only striker. Now we have the Goat, Kitson and Lloyd makes four.

I have always told loan players that they come to play, not to be squad players. Lloyd Owusu is a very committed player even if he is not the most gifted and he brings something different to the team.

NH

It is early days for Steve to have formed any opinions so I will take this question.

Peter Castle made his debut for the first team at Watford at the end of last season when he was just 16. He is still only 16 and sill developing.

It is very difficult to blood young players whilst we are still in contention.

Andre Boucaud has been very close and benefited from his spell at Peterborough, but we have lots of central midfielders and to take the next step he has to be able to dislodge the likes of Watson, Harper, etc.

Rifat is a player that Alan Pardew was very keen on but he has had a difficult time this year and seems to have dropped back.

We have a young Irish scholar called Hayes, who is just 16 and we have high hopes of this left sided midfielder.

Darren Campbell is a good winger but his physical development is not yet complete.

I could reel off several other names but I will say that we are hopeful that the future of the Club lies with the Academy.

NH

He is a division one chairman!!

NH

You're quite right. It's not a big squad but it is a fantastic group of boys and we have had three years of success.

As players, as a team and as a club we have grown enormously but we still want to go forward.

It is very difficult to criticise the Chairman when you look at the journey from Elm Park to the current situation, but I will continue to fight him if Steve needs my support to push the club forward.

NH

As a goalkeeper last season his level was exceptional and difficult to follow.

The good thing is that his errors came from positive mistakes. That is, he was trying to be pro-active. He has not been helped by the changes across the back four.

However, he is a great character and I cannot think of any keeper that I would swap him with.

All we can do is keep working with him and get him back to his original level.

SC

We practice more here than any club that I have been at!!!

There is a grave danger of 'paralysis by analysis'

If we work on set corners then we know what is coming ---but so do you.

I hate robotic set pieces. Football is about intuition. I want the players to think for themselves and react to the situations around them. This also introduces doubt in the opposition.

We play 46 games per season with an average of 6 corners per game so it is very difficult to think of new ways of delivering.

We are not a big team. I like to 'match up' when we defend set pieces and we are often 4/5 inches shorter. So when we attack we do not have a lighthouse to work round and we are more dependent on quick movement in and around the box.

SC

What Lloyd gives us is different options. Also we were coming off the back of the Wimbledon game and there was a 'rebound' reaction.

SC

I always spend the first half in the stands …. But I sit in the posh seats.

By preference I would like to spend the first half and the first 15/20 minutes of the second there. I think I can see things better.

So much is made of the technical area and its use. I see no benefit in standing and shouting at the players. I have to have confidence in them making decisions and making mistakes. It is what you do after you have made a mistake which shows how good a player you are.

Look around. The best managers don't shout too much, what they do is deal with the problems.

I can see what is happening and if I need to make adjustments I will use my mobile phone.

SC

After I was appointed, one of the first people to come into my office was Kevin, telling me that he was not part of my plans. He was very frustrated by the lack of games he was getting. Interestingly, he has played more games under me this season than he did for Alan Pardew.

I believe he is the best passing midfielder that we have got, but what happens will be determined by what we do in the rest of the season.

He asked to go on the list but to date we have not had any enquiries about him.

SC

Bas has done a good job when he has played. Scott Murray has not been the Bristol City player we saw last year.

Bas has got to learn in the first team and there have been occasions when I have left him on out of sheer bloody-mindedness, to help him. I don't want to take him off every time. If he was looking across at the bench every match expecting to be taken off it would undermine his confidence.

NH

Last Summer Alan Pardew knew how much he would have to spend and built the budget round this to include wages and fees.

It is up to me to negotiate with the Chairman on Steve's behalf if we need to go outside the budget.

Is the current squad capable? - If we are lucky, have little or no injury problems then we can certainly make the playoffs. Unlike last year, when Portsmouth and Leicester had pulled away by this time, it is a very even league and we have every chance.

Do we need to add to the squad - Yes. We are looking. The budget is in place but we have 11 who could go and we could bring in 3,4,5 better players.

Do we want to bring in top players …Yes.

Finally written questions:

SC

The dressing room was like a morgue!!!

After the Palace game we wanted to put things right. Yet at the end of it 3-0 was flattering.

I can't explain. The difference between the teams for Wigan and Palace and Wimbledon was minimal.

The players can't explain it either. I can assure words were said in the dressing room, and I asked them:

'Am I asking you to do something with which you are not comfortable?'

At the end of the day it had nothing to do with the shape, formation etc. - we were just crap!

Since then we have shown an improvement at Walsall, particularly in the second half, and then at Preston, where we were disappointed not to come away with a win. They are a good side and in Ricardo Fuller have one of the hottest properties in this division.

After Wimbledon we all felt lower than a snake's belly but you can only look at the next game.

SC

The quality is closer this season.

We have had more problems against teams when they have been lower in the division than us.

After last season there are different expectations. The emphasis is on us to win and this puts different demands on the players and the management.

We always do well when we are the underdogs but we have got to learn to do it better all of the time. I hope we do it Saturday against Ipswich and that the challenge inspires us to raise our game.

SC

Yes …. In comparison to West Ham. They are regularly getting crowds over 30,000 when they are not getting results. They still regard themselves as a Premiership club. Of course, what will happen between now and the end of the season……………….

SC

Around £20 million.

You have to invest in the team, in quality. Those that do get promoted but the problem then is that most clubs estimate that their wage bill increases SEVEN fold.

You have to admire West Brom for giving it a go last season whilst not bankrupting the club, but in the end they came back down.

We all want the Chairman to dig in and keep us up. I spoke to Dave Jones at Wolves and he laments the fact that Sir Jack will not spend and the consequences of this are there to see.