Championship - Coppell to take break from football

Eurosport - Thu, 14 May 15:12:00 2009

Steve Coppell is ready for a break from football after leaving Reading in the wake of their Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Burnley.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Championship Reading Coppell - 0

The 53-year-old ended his five-and-a-half year tenure at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday following the 2-0 defeat to the Clarets which meant his side missed out on an immediate return to the Premier League.

Coppell led Reading to promotion to the Premier League in 2006 and they enjoyed a fine debut season in the top flight before being relegated the following year.

Having missed out on promotion this season, Coppell believes it is time for a change in direction for Reading and himself.

"Given the result it seemed the right thing to do and the right timing," said Coppell. "Last season I made a decision to continue and wanted to erase relegation from our minds by getting us back into the Premiership.

"My sole intention was to get promotion, that was my reason for continuing. I thought we were good enough but it just wasn't meant to be and it's time for someone else to have a fresh appraisal of the squad. It's right for the club and right for me. I think it's time for a break. I've done eight years on the bounce as a manager and you never get chance to draw breath."

PA Sport / Eurosport

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  1. Mr Steve Coppell,

    Thank you for five of the best years­ in Readings football history.

    Wow, what a ride­ we've all had.

    God bless

    Alan

    From ALAN, on Fri 15 May 11:41AM

  2. $danny$ - Lets hope as well we get someone else to buy­ the club! we need another Jordan of a couple of years­ ago,somone with the passion to take the club forward at­ all costs!

    From ryanboyband, on Fri 15 May 7:51AM

  3. It's been great having Steve as our manager. Hope­ he has a great break and returns to football refreshed.

    From ivan.shergold2, on Thu 14 May 10:00PM

  4. ryanboyband - couldnt agreee more!! hopefully the­ "break" coppell is on about is the year that­ Warnock has left on his contract so we can get coppell­ back in and actually try and do something instead of­ filling jordans pockets with the money from our decent­ players.

    From $danny$, on Thu 14 May 7:40PM

  5. Thanks Steve. You done Reading proud.

    From darren c, on Thu 14 May 5:54PM

  6. Sad to see you go Steve, even in a season when we­­ looked to be on course for promotion again before we­­ fell away - it was still the 6th most successful­ season­ in the history of the club. All of us Royals­ fans­ wish you well for the future, you're a true­­ gentleman & a great manager. The respect you­­ deserve, is completely reflected in the comments that­­ people are making throughout the knowledgeable­ football­ world.

    From david.moss31, on Thu 14 May 2:53PM

  7. I'd have Coppell back at CPFC in a Flash !!!! Great­ Great manager just a pity Jordan couldn't see it­ when he took over,hopefully we can get rid of Mr­ (Excuses) Warnock and get Coppell back to Selhurst Park­ where he belongs !!!!!

    From ryanboyband, on Thu 14 May 1:35PM

  8. Steve Coppell has put a great deal into football, he­ should be respected for his integrity and honesty­ within the game. After his break I hope he does come­ back into management and if the situation is right I­ would love to see back at Selhurst Park as manager of­ CPFC.

    From joyce2clever, on Thu 14 May 1:20PM

  9. Good luck for the future Steve! You've been a­ credit to Reading in particular, and football in­ general!

    From thelampshade2000, on Thu 14 May 1:08PM

  10. Good "on yer" Steve, all the good you done at­ Reading will never be forgotten, you have been a great­ manager.
    Go and have a good break, take a rest but come­ back to the game mate, because you will be missed.

    From peterwalduck, on Thu 14 May 12:35PM
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