Are to unhappy Steve Clark is staying?

[CountryRoyal]

I'm not a great fan of his either but if he needs to go it will be nothing to do with the chat he had with Fulham.

Predominantly it won't, but it will definitely be a contributing factor. If nothing else it demonstrates his commitment (or lack thereof) to the project he started.

[Soul Man]

Exactly! How can he expect anyone else to be enthusiastic about his so called project if he is off at the first chance he gets to see if he can get a better deal?

[Nameless]

I'm not a great fan of his either but if he needs to go it will be nothing to do with the chat he had with Fulham.

The man who would make that decision disagrees with you.
Your somewhat bizarre stance seems a lonely one....

[Ian Royal]

I'm not a great fan of his either but if he needs to go it will be nothing to do with the chat he had with Fulham.

It's significantly shortened the poor run it'll take for him to go and meant he needs a long good run 5 - 10 games to reset the danger factor for him, rather than shorter 2 - 3 good results

[Caversham Royal]

His dreadfully conservative & negative approach to the game was shown once again today. Shame he's not plying that trade elsewhere........

[sandman]

Exactly! How can he expect anyone else to be enthusiastic about his so called project if he is off at the first chance he gets to see if he can get a better deal?

Probably because everyone else knows that they would do the exact same thing if someone offered them the opportunity in January.

Get Dave Kitson to lend you one of his books.

[Soul Man]

Exactly! How can he expect anyone else to be enthusiastic about his so called project if he is off at the first chance he gets to see if he can get a better deal?

Probably because everyone else knows that they would do the exact same thing if someone offered them the opportunity in January.

Get Dave Kitson to lend you one of his books.

Completely different - Clarke is in a total charge and in his own words "I'm building something here." He didn't even have the decency to allow his contract to run before looking elsewhere. I doubt very much if he will get his own way in January when it comes to freeing up funds. Personally I hope he's not here next week.

[sandman]

Exactly! How can he expect anyone else to be enthusiastic about his so called project if he is off at the first chance he gets to see if he can get a better deal?

Probably because everyone else knows that they would do the exact same thing if someone offered them the opportunity in January.

Get Dave Kitson to lend you one of his books.

Completely different - Clarke is in a total charge and in his own words "I'm building something here." He didn't even have the decency to allow his contract to run before looking elsewhere. I doubt very much if he will get his own way in January when it comes to freeing up funds. Personally I hope he's not here next week.

It's really not.

Club gets offered a transfer fee, player is informed and decides if he wants to talk to the other club or not, negotiations take place and player decides if he wants to join the other team or stay at his current club.

This ain't a tea party, Reading had plenty of phone calls from managers who were in other jobs, I doubt they dismissed hiring them because those managers weren't being loyal to their current employers.

The fact the club you support is called a project in the first place should tell you all you need to know.

[Ascotexgunner]

Kinda shocked by all of this. Bit of a bolt out of the blue. Not even sure why he would goto Fulham apart from the fact his beloved Chelsea and Jose are down the road. The pressure there would be greater than with us, plus we have better facilities and "potential". I hope the board have a plan b in case.
On a personal level I still want him as manager, but I want him focussed not having his mind toyed with. Hopefully this can be resolved either way and we can move on.
My big worry is he leaves and Steve McClaren get sacked at Newcastle and comes into the frame. My worst nightmare.

[Ian Royal]

I'm hoping he hangs on long enough for Dolan to a make a full (and permanent) recovery and decide he'd like a crack at the job.

[multisync1830]

Exactly! How can he expect anyone else to be enthusiastic about his so called project if he is off at the first chance he gets to see if he can get a better deal?

Probably because everyone else knows that they would do the exact same thing if someone offered them the opportunity in January.

Get Dave Kitson to lend you one of his books.

Completely different - Clarke is in a total charge and in his own words "I'm building something here." He didn't even have the decency to allow his contract to run before looking elsewhere. I doubt very much if he will get his own way in January when it comes to freeing up funds. Personally I hope he's not here next week.

He wasn't building something because it was Reading. He was building something to put on his CV.

[Millsy]

Before we judge the guy let's bear in mind what happened:

Steve Clarke spent a fair amount, was allowed to bring in a lot of players and whilst results started off well things went a bit pear shaped and the board started losing confidence in him, with some thinking he needs to be replaced. Clarke felt this loss of confidence, feeling his job could be on the line.

Fulham came in and made an enquiry, which the board were indifferent about, given how results had slipped. So they accepted the approach.

Steve Clarke, quite happy at Reading was surprised, and a little disappointed when the RFC board asked him to consider a move to Fulham. Steve didn't want to leave, but when things aren't going too well, the board is a little negative about you and now they're offering you the chance to talk to someone else, you kind of take the hint that your job isn't secure and they're shepherding you out, so he agreed to talk to Fulham rather than potentially be left jobless.

He wasn't overly impressed with Fulham and was, as always, quite happy to stay at Reading, which he ultimately decided to do.

Ok.. so this may not have been exactly what happened but it may have been. Clarke may be completely innocent.

Likewise maybe it was Clarke who was keen, but not to actually leave but to prove a point in order to just leech some more support from the board, in order to do an even better job at Reading.

The point is we have no idea of the ins and outs of it all so we can't judge the guy.

Until Clarke comes out and says "I have no loyalty to this club and was/still am itching to talk to anyone who'll give me a better offer," it is totally unfair to just assume that's the case and hate the guy or be unhappy that he's still here.

So despite initially being unimpressed with him, I'm behind the guy now, and yes of course I'm delighted he's staying as he's showing some real promise in bringing in the right players and getting us to play much better than Adkins.

Steve Clarke's barmy army!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[elrey]

It's funny.

Firstly the board allowed him to speak to Fulham. So.... is it his fault the board said yes and he went and met with Fulham? They offered him MORE MONEY and he turned it down to stay.

Reading FC as a loyalty based club.

Adkins - fired for having his best players sold from under his feet and given no support in the transfer market whatsoever. He did BETTER than Clarke with a bunch of rubbish.

McDermott - fired for being TOO SUCCESSFUL. Oh, what the hell was that all about?

Rodgers - fired for not being given enough support to change a team from a bunch of hoofers to a team that played his style of football.

Yeah, we're all about loyalty us, and Clarke, what a bustard for not leaving the club when he could have got more money.

[elrey]

It's funny.

Firstly the board allowed him to speak to Fulham. So.... is it his fault the board said yes and he went and met with Fulham? They offered him MORE MONEY and he turned it down to stay.

Reading FC as a loyalty based club.

Adkins - fired for having his best players sold from under his feet and given no support in the transfer market whatsoever. He did BETTER than Clarke with a bunch of rubbish.

McDermott - fired for being TOO SUCCESSFUL. Oh, what the hell was that all about?

Rodgers - fired for not being given enough support to change a team from a bunch of hoofers to a team that played his style of football.

Yeah, we're all about loyalty us, and Clarke, what a bustard for not leaving the club when he could have got more money.

[multisync1830]

Before we judge the guy let's bear in mind what happened:

Steve Clarke spent a fair amount, was allowed to bring in a lot of players and whilst results started off well things went a bit pear shaped and the board started losing confidence in him, with some thinking he needs to be replaced. Clarke felt this loss of confidence, feeling his job could be on the line.

Fulham came in and made an enquiry, which the board were indifferent about, given how results had slipped. So they accepted the approach.

Steve Clarke, quite happy at Reading was surprised, and a little disappointed when the RFC board asked him to consider a move to Fulham. Steve didn't want to leave, but when things aren't going too well, the board is a little negative about you and now they're offering you the chance to talk to someone else, you kind of take the hint that your job isn't secure and they're shepherding you out, so he agreed to talk to Fulham rather than potentially be left jobless.

He wasn't overly impressed with Fulham and was, as always, quite happy to stay at Reading, which he ultimately decided to do.

Ok.. so this may not have been exactly what happened but it may have been. Clarke may be completely innocent.

Likewise maybe it was Clarke who was keen, but not to actually leave but to prove a point in order to just leech some more support from the board, in order to do an even better job at Reading.

The point is we have no idea of the ins and outs of it all so we can't judge the guy.

Until Clarke comes out and says "I have no loyalty to this club and was/still am itching to talk to anyone who'll give me a better offer," it is totally unfair to just assume that's the case and hate the guy or be unhappy that he's still here.

So despite initially being unimpressed with him, I'm behind the guy now, and yes of course I'm delighted he's staying as he's showing some real promise in bringing in the right players and getting us to play much better than Adkins.

Steve Clarke's barmy army!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He said: “It has been a strange week but I have made the right decision. When a club is prepared to pay a substantial amount of money to speak to me, then it is something I have got to look at.

“I had a good conversation with Fulham and decided that what I had here was better for me.”

'All I wanted was the chance to speak to another club and weigh up what is best for me. In my mind I was always closer to Reading than Fulham.

'But you have to go and find out what their plans are and what they are thinking. Could they offer something better? And the answer was no.

'It wasn't about money - it was about ambition and professionalism. I didn't want to think "what if".
'What I have here is more mind-blowing. I'm happy with what I have here. This was the best option by a mile - to stay here.
'I'm here for the rest of my contract - I hope. It's been a strange week but I know I made the right decision.'

I cannot see any legs in any other version from that Fulham came in for SC and he went off as fast as he could to see what they offered. I believe the board was surprised by this move but they now know he's not to be trusted and other clubs know he's available if the price is right.

[Royal Rother]

Sense appearing today.

[Millsy]

Multisync, you may well be right mate. Of course. And that was my first impression. But those quotes don't prove your interpretation of events. They could easily work with my hypothetical situations where of course Clarke would still speak in those same terms to the media.

I notoriously still haven't "moved on" over McGhee's betrayal, and will never forgive or forget Parjudas, when many here would, so don't get me wrong I detest lack of loyalty more than anything. I'm not in the "oh you can't blame a guy for moving onto better money" camp. Yes you damned well can, when it's to a worse club, and when you're paying well to begin with, and you've spent millions to build something for that person, only for them to leave and you'll have to bring another man in to work with players he didn't choose. I detest that, and by God if I can be sure Clarke is a disloyal ****** I'll give him as much stick as I possibly can, including booing and chanting at every opportunity (sorry).

But we just can't be sure, that's all. If I wasn't doing too well in a job, felt a little insecure in it and then my boss came and said "Hey 2ww, so and so are interested in taking you off our hands. No pressure, just think about it eh? There's a good lad." I'd be thinking "Hang on a sec, what's all this?" And I'd be DEFINITELY talking to that other lot. In fact a similar thing did happen to me - twice - so I know exactly what it feels like and I left a job when I was younger with a very heavy heart indeed in similar circumstances.

Now if the RFC board were at his house till the early hours of the morning begging him not to even consider going, as with FSB, then that's a different story.

I'd love to know the exact ins and outs of a situation but the problem is we genuinely don't (or at least I don't) but until we do we can't be negative to Clarke. FOr now, he's our man and we need to get behind him 100%. I'm not afraid to swing pants again or even boo at a manager and call for them to leave (eg Taxi man) but I need to know the facts. Until we do, we give the benefit of the doubt and get behind him. He may be a poor victim in all this.

[linkenholtroyal]

In reality if anyone in the world was approached about another job 9 times out of 10 you would hear what they offer and weigh up your options. Anyone on this forum I bet would do that. And that's all Clarke has done unfortunately because he is a football manager it gets thrown in to the media. It's not a question of loyalty it's just life. He has chosen to stay at reading which I don't think is a bad thing, we are 7th in the table and not far off the play offs with a top championship squad. I think it is good for the stability of the club. At the moment we are in a Gd position so I'm going to back the manager and judge him come the end of the season. When he has had his chance. You will all look like idiots if we were promoted now.

[leon]

In reality if anyone in the world was approached about another job 9 times out of 10 you would hear what they offer and weigh up your options. Anyone on this forum I bet would do that. And that's all Clarke has done unfortunately because he is a football manager it gets thrown in to the media. It's not a question of loyalty it's just life. He has chosen to stay at reading which I don't think is a bad thing, we are 7th in the table and not far off the play offs with a top championship squad. I think it is good for the stability of the club. At the moment we are in a Gd position so I'm going to back the manager and judge him come the end of the season. When he has had his chance. You will all look like idiots if we were promoted now.

disagree - I get asked about jobs on a regular basis - I don't go for them if I'm settled in my job

[linkenholtroyal]

In reality if anyone in the world was approached about another job 9 times out of 10 you would hear what they offer and weigh up your options. Anyone on this forum I bet would do that. And that's all Clarke has done unfortunately because he is a football manager it gets thrown in to the media. It's not a question of loyalty it's just life. He has chosen to stay at reading which I don't think is a bad thing, we are 7th in the table and not far off the play offs with a top championship squad. I think it is good for the stability of the club. At the moment we are in a Gd position so I'm going to back the manager and judge him come the end of the season. When he has had his chance. You will all look like idiots if we were promoted now.

disagree - I get asked about jobs on a regular basis - I don't go for them if I'm settled in my job

I bet you at least hear what there offering out of interest though, as far as we know that is all Clarke did