Championship - Reading appoint Rodgers

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Jun 11:56:00 2009

Watford have confirmed that Brendan Rodgers has left to become the new manager of Reading.

2008-2009 Watford Brendan Rodgers - 0

The Royals have agreed to pay compensation to their Championship rivals starting at £500,000 which could rise to as much as £1 million.

The 36-year-old only took charge at Vicarage Road in November but has left to rejoin Reading as replacement for Steve Coppell.

Rodgers - who still lives in Reading - spent nine years with the club as academy manager before being headhunted by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in 2004 where he worked his way up to reserve team boss.

He left last year to take charge of the Hornets and successfully guided them away from the relegation zone as well as changing the style of play and developing several young players.

However, with budgets at Vicarage Road set to again be slashed for the forthcoming season Rodgers has jumped at the chance to work at the Madejski Stadium again.

Coppell looked set to lead the Royals to promotion from the Championship for much of last season but a spectacular loss of form after January confined them to the play-offs where they lost to eventual winners Burnley.

But with players such as Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle and Andre Bikey at his disposal Rodgers will be confident of a return to the Premier League next May.

Watford chairman Jimmy Russo admitted that he was powerless to prevent the Northern Irishman from moving on, saying: "Once he confirmed his desire to discuss the opportunity and Reading had met a contractual compensation figure, we were powerless to prevent him from doing so.

"The board remain strongly optimistic for the future and will meet to discuss the options available."

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. Turn coat hope it all goes pear shaped for him

    From RON T, on Sat 6 Jun 7:00PM

  2. So much for Rodgers' 100% committment statement to­ Watford ! Come on get someone of the calibre and­ personality of our Nigel Gibbs. Hows about offering a­ two year contract to Malky Mackay. I suppose we must­ wish Rodgers good luck with Reading. What about the­ luck they had at The Vic last season - when a goal was­ given when the ball was heading for the corner flag!­ Rodgers has got the luck & skill. BUT the Horns to­ do the double over them next season !

    From davef38, on Fri 5 Jun 6:00PM

  3. So much for Rodgers' 100% committment statement to­ Watford ! Come on get someone of the calibre and­ personality of our Nigel Gibbs. Hows about offering a­ two year contract to Malky Mackay. I suppose we must­ wish Rodgers good luck with Reading. What about the­ luck they had at The Vic last season - when a goal was­ given when the ball was heading for the corner flag!­ Rodgers has got the luck & skill. BUT the Horns to­ do the double over them next season !

    From davef38, on Fri 5 Jun 6:00PM

  4. Bobbie you are contradicting yourself in one sentence­ you state Brendan saved Watford and then in another say­ it's the players fault for Reading not getting­ promotion this season not the managers fault! Make your­ mind up mate. I pointed out my opinion that Reading­ deserve a more experienced manager as do Watford and­ that cheap teeth cutting options in the Championship­ should not happen, although you have not really got a­ cheap option with Rodgers just a gamble. Aidy was the­ same and did well but one hit wonders are not the­ answer with fans paying the price we deserve better!­ And your team was supposed to be promted this season­ and didn't was what I was refering to.

    From ANDREW SMITH, on Fri 5 Jun 10:31AM

  5. Can't see what Andrew Smith is moaning about­ Rodgers got Watford out of a mess, alright he might not­ have the experience of Coppell,but Reading has to give­ him a chance. And what do you mean it never happened­ with Coppell, Steve got Reading into the Premiership­ & even if it was only for two years at least we got­ there. It wasn't Coppells fault it was the players,­ managers always get the blame, but it is the team who­ plays every week of the season. I hope Rodgers shows­ you that he can make it with Reading.

    From Lizzy Ingram, on Fri 5 Jun 10:06AM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Big risk to Reading? It can't be. They are so­ cr-a-p that even my grand mother would not be a risk to­ them

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 5 Jun 2:38AM

  7. I agree with Colin big risk, and as a Watford fan I­ hope we replace him with someone a bit more experienced­ who is not in their cutting teeth stage thats for lower­ league clubs, we been there done it with Aidy why again­ with Quick Rodgers simple cheap option. Reading are­ taking a massive gamble and I can't see it working,­ it didn't work for Coppell who knows the club­ inside out so a rookie has little chance. Phil as per­ my previous comments we can all say the same before­ each season starts Premiership here we come, didn't­ happen this year though did it!

    From ANDREW SMITH, on Thu 4 Jun 10:47PM

  8. never mind there,'s allways graham tailor

    From IAIN, on Thu 4 Jun 10:39PM

  9. Lawrence Smith - so you're gay. So what, so am I.­ We're talking about football here, if you want to­ pick up I'm sure there's a more appropriate­ website or chat line. Find one and stop wasting other­ people's time!

    From MALCOLM W, on Thu 4 Jun 10:39PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Look Lawrence Smith I've told you I AM NOT GAY. So­ I don't care if you have got long legs, blond­ hairs(?) and blue eyes, I am not interested!

    From KEVIN P, on Thu 4 Jun 6:02PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I hope I can be a well-educated man's someone­ special. I have long legs, blond hairs and blue eyes.­ Im kind, well-educated, humurous and cute. Reach me at­ _________________ R i ch B eau ty Me et C o m­ ______________

    From lawrencesmith51, on Thu 4 Jun 4:57PM

  12. Good Luck Brendan Rodgers. Welcome to The Royals.

    From Lizzy Ingram, on Thu 4 Jun 4:06PM

  13. glad he has joined reading you cant blame him.reading­ are a class above watford looking forward to thrashing­ them next season! i hope he is given some money!!!­ premiership here we come

    From phil.hayward1, on Thu 4 Jun 2:49PM

  14. Colin, give the man a break, he hasn't started yet­ and you're writing him off! If he was good enough­ for Mourinho ......

    From MALCOLM W, on Thu 4 Jun 1:50PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well, theres a surprise. Madjeski has yet again gone­ for the cheap option and appointed a no hoper, I­ thought he wanted to take Reading forward, this is a­ backward step to around 8 years ago, and just goes to­ show how much interest he has in Reading Football­ Club,.
    Yet another example of "The Old Boys­ Network" working again, led by Hammond.
    Sorry­ Reading you have no hope.
    Colin Tilehurst

    From Colin, on Thu 4 Jun 1:38PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    first

    From tapiwa, on Thu 4 Jun 1:37PM

  17. Bold appointment, glad to see we haven't ended up­ with some tired old has-been who's just dropped off­ the manager's merry-go-round once again after­ achieving nothing at his fifth or sixth club! Would­ have thought Sunderland would have been a bit more­ progressive; if Wigan end up with Martinez, they'll­ be glad to be rid of Bruce.

    From MALCOLM W, on Thu 4 Jun 1:35PM
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