Alex Pearce has revealed that he got all his Irish team-mates to sign the jersey he wore when scoring on his senior debut in the 4-1 win against Oman in London on Tuesday.

Reading captain Jobi McAnuff has urged the club to follow the Barclays Premier League survival blueprint set out by Stoke.

Reading chairman Sir John Madejski believes the recent investment in the club by new Russian owner Anton Zingarevich is more important than ever if the Royals are to survive and flourish on their return to the Barclays Premier League.

WOLVES boss Mick McCarthy has made it clear he will be firmly turning down any bids for Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle, suggesting it would “rip the heart out” of the club to lose such a player at this stage of the season.

MARCO TARDELLI has tipped Shane Long for Premiership stardom after Reading chairman John Madejski yesterday slapped a £20m price tag on the Republic of Ireland striker.

JOHNE MURPHY draws the line at rocks but as far as anything else Ospreys can throw at Munster, bring it on.

Steve Coppell has resigned as manager of Reading in the wake of the club’s 2-0 defeat at home to Burnley in the second leg of the Championship play-offs last night.

Relegated Reading have begun their preparations for life in the Coca-Cola Championship by offering new deals to four players and releasing six others.

Reading owner John Madejski has reiterated his intention to sell the club if he can find a buyer with suitably “deep pockets”.

ENGLAND scrum-half Paul Hodgson believes London Irish have developed a taste for centre stage that is fuelling their surprise Heineken Cup assault.

IRELAND’S new management team have only just got their feet under the desk in Abbotstown, but already they must be wondering why their presence was demanded in the first place.

Reading’s director of football Nick Hammond is confident they can hold on to winger Stephen Hunt despite reported interested from Sunderland.

ROY Keane does not believe he is immune from the sacking virus that has swept through the Premier League but has not yet reached the north-east. After all, it happened to Brian Clough, the first great manager to give him a platform.

Publishing company Guardian Media Group said today it was in talks with a trio of private equity bidders looking to buy a minority stake in its Trader Media Group business, which publishes Auto Trader.

LES REED thought he was set to follow Iain Dowie out of Charlton when the phone rang on Monday but is determined to prove he is the right man to take the club forward.

READING were making preparations for an assault on the Premiership even before their promotion was confirmed, according to chairman John Madejski.

WEST HAM yesterday categorically denied encouraging Alan Pardew to walk out on Reading after the League Managers Association (LMA) called for an inquiry into his resignation as Royals manager.

West Ham today categorically denied encouraging Alan Pardew to walk out on Reading after the League Managers Association called for an inquiry into his resignation as Royals manager.

The League Managers Association have called for a Football League investigation into the circumstances which led to Alan Pardew’s resignation as manager of Reading.

Reading today rejected manager Alan Pardew’s resignation after the Royals boss revealed he wanted to leave the club because he has been prevented from speaking to West Ham.

Defences were on top in a Third Division goalless stalemate between Doncaster and Hull in which both sides cancelled each other out.

Alan Pardew is “flattered” by West Ham’s interest in him and would have spoken to them about the vacant Upton Park manager’s job had Reading not rebuffed an approach, according to his agent.

West Ham have had an approach for Reading manager Alan Pardew rejected by Royals chairman John Madejski.