Madejski planning Royal invasion

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

The Royals secured promotion to the top flight for the first time in their 135-year history as Kevin Doyle's late equaliser cancelled out Iain Hume's opener to earn a 1-1 Coca-Cola Championship draw at Leicester.

And the moment proved particularly sweet for Madejski, who has invested £40million of his personal fortune over 16 years at Reading.

"It doesn't get any better than this," he said. "And I'm delighted for the manager, his staff, the players, the supporters and everyone else who does an honest day's work behind the scenes because they're the real backbone of the club.

"But it would have been unbelievable for us not to have got promotion we're 14 points clear of the second-placed team, 20 clear of third team and we've done it with six games of the season remaining.

"We've been so far ahead of the chasing pack I couldn't believe we wouldn't do it.

"So it really was a question of when we went up, not if, and we've already been thinking and planning about next season.

"But there are still targets to achieve and accolades to collect before the end of the season because we want to go up with a record points total and, of course, we want to win the Championship.

"So there's still plenty to play for and although we'll celebrate promotion, the manager will keep the players focused for the rest of the season and then we'll have a big party at the end of the campaign.

"Then, next season, we want to follow the example which has been set by West Ham and Wigan.

"I don't think we'll be clear at the top of the table this time next year but we're ready to take our chances with everybody else in the Premiership. I hope we can do well."

And manager Steve Coppell said: "Just like at every other football club, you're always planning months in advance.

"We've been looking at next season for at least a month now and so the work will begin in earnest on Monday.

"Promotion is absolutely brilliant but the feeling is all too fleeting.

"I wish I could can the feeling and open it later.

"To be honest, we didn't play particularly well at Leicester but we knew other results were going for us.

"All the same, we still wanted to go up on the back of a decent result so when Kevin Doyle got the equaliser it gave me a warm feeling inside."

Meanwhile, Reading have confirmed a day of promotion celebrations will be held on May Day Bank Holiday Monday at the Madejski Stadium and in the town centre.