Royals’ Russian revolution taking shape

AN unfashionable club tipped to head straight back out of the Premier League exit door at the first attempt.

Sound familiar?

Well that’s the task facing Brian McDermott, and his Reading team, ahead of their top-flight return after a four-year absence.

McDermott watched Swansea and Norwich, following promotions, defy the odds on their way to last season’s mid-table finish.

Few would have foreseen such an outcome. Even fewer would have predicted Reading romping to the league title, especially after losing Ireland international Shane Long among others, barely a year ago in the wake of their play-off heartache at Wembley.

But while Norwich and Swansea drew admirers after punching above their weight, there are expectations Reading can emulate them given the financial clout on offer from Russian owner Anton Zingarevich.

Reading manager McDermott, relived to grab a late opening day point at home to Stoke on Saturday, insists the Royals are not flush with cash, but with an influx of new signings including breaking the bank to sign Pavel Pogrebnyak, there is evidence that suggests otherwise.

Pogrebnyak, who scored six goals in 12 appearances on loan at Fulham last season, raised eyebrows when he turned down a permanent move to Craven Cottage in favour of a free transfer move to Reading this summer.

The 28-year-old revealed the personal touch of Zingarevich, following the benefactor’s £25m takeover at the end of last season, played a key role in his surprise move to Berkshire.

Zingarevich is no Roman Abramovich, in terms of his countryman’s spending power, but the Russian revolution at the Madejski Stadium is no doubt beginning to taking shape.

“The owner and the club wanted me which was important,” said Pogrebnyak, who is believed to have become the club’s highest earner in their history.

“Anton came to my hotel to speak to me during the European Championships and visited my home in Moscow. He was persuasive but I liked that. He promised Reading will be more progressive and that there would be building, he talked about new stadium buildings, about a new training ground.

“Fulham didn’t do as much to suggest that I should still be there.”

Pogrebnyak’s words speak volumes of Reading’s ambition. And McDermott, promoted into the manager’s hot-seat following a spell as chief scout, deserves to be part of that.

There are no airs of graces with McDermott, who came close to accepting a job offer from Wolves last season.

Wolves and Reading swapped places barely a few months later and how he will be relieved he stayed put as he embarks on the biggest challenge of his managerial career.

“It’s the best league in the world,” said McDermott. “But for my players, some of them I have worked with when they were 14 or 15, have worked hard for this opportunity to test themselves against the best players in the game.

“You must remember it’s a game of football at whatever place we go to it is 11-11. Is it a fair playing ground? No, as we can’t afford to sign the players the top five have but we have to do the best we can and we will do that and relish it.”

Reading have spent wisely this summer. Six players, including Adrian Mariappa from Watford, Chris Gunter from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle’s Danny Guthrie, have arrived. This has been achieved without spending beyond their means, suggesting Zingarevich will open the chequebook once again if required before the season is out.