I’ll pick players to take down United, vows Dolan

Caretaker boss Eamonn Dolan has denied Reading owner Anton Zingarevich will select the team for tomorrow’s trip to Premier League leaders Manchester United.

Dolan was handed the reins temporarily on Monday after Zingarevich sacked Brian McDermott with the club four points from safety.

After McDermott’s assistant Nigel Gibbs followed him out the exit door, Zingarevich turned to Dolan – the club’s academy director for the past eight years – to lead the team.

The 45-year-old has denied, however, that he is merely a figurehead after fronting the media for the first time yesterday.

Dolan, twin brother of TV pundit and former Cork City boss Pat, was immediately quizzed about whether he would have full control of selecting the team and, while that prompted some uncomfortable silences, he attempted to allay suggestions his Russian owner had now taken a more hands-on role.

“I would never be disrespectful to our owner,” he said.

“He’s trying to take the club forward. I’ve not been at a club ever where the board try and pick the team. You hear about that abroad but I genuinely don’t think you hear about that in England.”

Asked directly whether Zingarevich would pick the team to play at Old Trafford, a long pause followed, before Dolan said: “Obviously not. He’s asked me to pick the team.

“He’s spoken about trying to get a result and that’s genuinely all he said.

“Anton has spoken to me every day. It’s his football club.

“But I will also speak to Nicky Hammond who is the director of football.”

Dolan revealed that while McDermott may now be gone, he would still seek his advice before the weekend.

The pair have become close friends since Dolan moved to Reading, after leaving his post as Exeter boss almost a decade ago, and have spoken every day since McDermott’s axing.

“Brian is a great friend of mine,” Dolan said. “I’ve spoken to him each day and I will speak to him as a friend again before the weekend.

“All he has said to me so far is, ‘Good luck, get a result’.

“All he wants is for Reading to get a result. That’s our aim on Saturday.”

McDermott had been a popular figure in the Reading dressing-room following a three-year tenure in which the highlight was last season’s stunning late run to the npower Championship title.

Dolan admitted the players had been left deflated by McDermott’s departure but denied it was a setback to knock the stuffing out of their relegation fight.

“The lads were on the floor,” Dolan said.

“Normally when a manager goes, by the nature of the job, some players may not be disappointed. In this situation every player was disappointed. That tells you about Reading Football Club.

“They respected Brian. That’s a natural human emotion and the next is for them to be professional and get a result on Saturday.”

Dolan will be joined by David Dodds and Martin Kuhl on the Old Trafford touchline but any permanent replacement appears unlikely to be decided until next week.

With nine games remaining, time is of the essence, although Zingarevich, who met with Hammond at the club’s Hogwood Park training ground yesterday to work on the recruitment process, does have the grace of the international break next week to try to finalise any talks with the man to help him beat the drop.

Former Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio and Nigel Adkins are among early favourites to take charge, according to bookmakers.

Di Canio has expressed his desire to manage at the highest level since his acrimonious departure from Swindon last month, while Adkins was unlucky to lose his job at Southampton earlier this season after leading them back to the top flight.

Chelsea’s Champions League-winning manager Roberto Di Matteo has also been mentioned as a possible target.

The Italian has been out of work since his unexpected axing at Stamford Bridge in November.

Dolan’s only first-team managerial experience was during his brief stint at Exeter, when they were outside the Football League.

The former West Ham striker is set to make his return to the touchline against Alex Ferguson – a far cry from his last match as a manager against a Paul Fairclough-led Stevenage – but warned he would not be overawed.

“They are the best football club in the world and he’s the greatest manager of all time, but I won’t be thinking that,” Dolan said.

“It’s business on Saturday and we aim to get a result.”