Features

tom
best manager ever very sad to see him go dont think any other person can do a better job. Best 6 years of my life as a reading fan. good luck steve.STEVEY COPPELS BARMY ARMY

Pat Lester
I have supported Reading FC for over 60 years. Steve you gave us the most to cheer in all that time, thanks and Good Luck

clare
thank you steve for everything you have done for the club, the fan and Reading.

Steve Ward
I have been to a few home games this season and I must say the fans are the quietest & dullest in the Championship. You should be ashamed. - Steve

Ben
Steve Coppell is an absolute legend. Thankyou so much for some wonderful times.I'm ashamed to be a reading fan right now. Some of the things that supporters have said on this and other threads is disgraceful. absolutely disgraceful. Those supporters criticising the players and coppell should just go find another team.

Colin White
How on earth can a team such as Reading with the good players (we had) only score 2 goals since January at home and that was against Charlton. Where we were in January we should have walked second place at least. If it was not for the bad form of the other top teams we would have been dead long ago. Steve put his faith in the players --- It was NEVER returned the only two players I would keep are Federichi excuse spelling and Doyle.Steve you were great but put too much faith in our so called star players ! you will be missed and thanks for all you did

Jah Ryan
Coppell you are a legend, thanks for all you have done for our club!I disagreed with some of your decisions this season but ultimately I feel the players are to blame for us not returning to the top flight at the first attempt.It is amazing how you get the best out of players, everyone can see just how good you are at this by looking at what happened to the players who left thinking they were bigger and better than Reading FC.I think Coppell has taken this club as high as he can with the current chairman and I feel that we wont be able to push on to the next level until he is replaced. That is no disrespect to John, He has also done an amazing job and has put the foundations in place but its now time for someone who is willing to invest a serious amount of money.Once again thanks Steve and good luck for the future!

Mary
If anyone ever had any doubt about the sheer class of Steve Coppell as a manager and as a human being read the posts on the Yahoo.co.uk Sport website. It speaks volumes. Any chance of a rethink???????????Your tenure at Reading can only be regarded as hugely successful.

caroline
I've been watching Reading for 40yrs and steves given us the best years ever.His a ledgend. Good luck steve and a very big thank you.

Jason
Steve leaves the club with an enhanced history, its profile raised and an infastructure including the academy thats the envy of many championship clubs. Sure this season didn't live upto alot of fans expectations but at the same time theres worst places we could have finished than 4th in the Championship and 1 win away from the so called promised land "The Premiership". I don't think we will fade away into the footballing archives, the future gives us plenty of room for optimism around the clubs long term success. Lets all get together and congratulate Steve for how far he has taken us and look forward with confidence that were going to enjoy much more success in future witnessed by us all from the Madstad terrists!!

david venner
Although i live 12,000 miles away i can go back when joe Edlestone was manager,Steve Coppel has been the only manager to have put Reading in the big league good on ya Steve. Dave venner Adelaide S Aust

Nige
I am actually a Reading-based Crystal Palace fan. The common bond we share is that the most successful period in our respective histories was orchestrated by Steve Coppell. Unfortunately, for the Palace; we never recovered from his departure. I hope Reading fare better.

Steve
Steve Coppell brought dignity and considerable success to the club. He will be remembered for giving us one of the best periods in the club's history, and also for his deadpan face even when we were winning. But in the end he appeared not to know what to do to turn this year's poor home performances around, so it is probably right that he should step down now.

Rich
All the very best in the future Steve. Reading will never find another manager to match you.I bet we end up with some scruff in a track suit a ear piece and microphone strapped to his head. God help us.

Chris
The Players let the club Down .They have the best Chairman and they had the best Manager in the clubs history.Also I beleive Reading fans are so fickle No real noise or support that MEANS No success .Steve Coppell was the best Manager READING HAS EVER HAD thank you Steve.

Tony McDonald
I live in Canada but my home town was Reading i followed the Season and i do think its easy to blame a Manager for the Players shortfall.Its to bad the players did not put in the same effort as the fans who supported them week after week .Thinking there would be a payoff one day,Until the players start playing like a Team they will always play second fiddle.Just my opinion.

George
Steve you did an awesome job but i dont see Reading bein able to get anywhere but mid table unless they get someone gd they a long hard thought as to who to bring Steve is an impossible act to follow gd luk steve ad thnx

PR
Thank you Steve Coppell for giving Reading Football Club two great seasons in the Premiur League. You did us proud and I will never forget that.And for those pessimists out there who are reading this. If you think you can do better than SC @ RFC, then why don't you apply for the vacancy......soccer is a business not a game."Wake up smell and the coffee! Not the infamous 'Whitley Whiff' and Berkshire brewery".

Dave
I can't disagree that Steve Coppell was and is the best and successfull manager in Reading's history, "however", what I do fail to fadem is some of the discion making. It felt to me that after we went 1-0 down last night, there was a mad moment of panic resulting in a tripple substitution. The 3 more "expereinced" players did little to represent both their profiles and reputations. This was also very apparent in the Birmingham game. Lets hope whoever is brought in to relace Coppell has a slight shake up and pushes Reading forward next season. Steve, all the very best for the future.

MB
Many thanks for giving your time and commitment to Reading Football Club delivering the premiership dream for the Reading fans that put us on the global football map. Your level headed approach to the game of football will be missed by all; whatever or wherever you end up you will always be in the hearts of the Reading Fans.

Mark
I feel sorry for the likes of Tom (probably a Swindon fan anyway) who is obviously not old enough to have witnessed the lows we've had over the past 30 years. Otherwise they'd appreciate exactly what Steve Coppell has acheived. Well, I did witness those 30 years and to Steve I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Adam
Good Luck Steve! Great manager, ledgend, However i beleive you took us as far as you could.For me the passion shown yesterday was poor so was the turnout not the Manager Steve Thanks

Tony
10 million received in transfers plus millions in parachute payments and yet we spent barely one million. Now tell me where the ambition is. The loyal fans have stuck with the club but the fair weather 'glory' fans' have shown their true colours by staying away. Thanks Steve, you did us proud but but and you went as far as you could with all things considered

Andrew -Tilehurst
It's just got be Neil Warnock next! The football could be as dodgy as you like but the entertainment would be in the dugout- go for it Wally!

Andy
Steve did all he could, what cost Reading was lack of investment in new talent instead of calling back the old timers, and asking the up and comings to shoulder the responsibilities. Perhaps JM should move on now - RFC on e-bay for 99p including negative overpaid so called stars?Good luck Steve you will be missed!

Royal Lady
Goodbye and thank you for everything you have done for RFC, Steve. I echo the comments that some of the players should be taking a long hard look at themselves this morning. I believe Steve Coppell gave his all for this club and did everything possible within the constraints afforded to him to try and get us promoted - thanks for getting us to the Premiership - something that a lot of people never thought they'd see in their lifetime. You're a gentleman and a legend.

Dave
Coppell was too good for our club! Good luck Stevie (leave your magic hat)

Philip
This is a chance for the Football Club to announce a clear strategy on how they want to develop over the next 5 years.

Pete
Limerick Tom - hang your head in shame. That was pathetic. And factually ridiculous. You're a moron.

Phil from Woodley
Thanks Steve for a period in Reading's history that we will never forget. Your intelligence and conduct reflected what the club is all about and was a credit to yourself and Reading as a town. Thanks for all those amazing memories.

Marc
Must say i'm absolutely gutted Coppell has stepped down, i must admit after his interview last night i had some hope he would stick with us. But i have huge respect for him making it clear so quickly what he will be doing, giving the club time to rebuild over the summer. Best of luck Coppell, thanks for a great 5 years.

Michael A Jones
Was going to happen sooner or later, Steve has done a fantastic job and I wish him well in all he does, the team have let him down badly though. Cut out the bad wood of the team and bring in some fresh people, Murty should go now......!!

Sue
Am disappointed with the team - they def should've come back out onto the pitch to applaud the fans who were still at the Mad Stad. And those who left can't really call themselves fans. The boys never gave up trying - it just wasn't our night. You end up where you deserve to be and we did not deserve promotion this season. Too many chances squandered. Am sad to see Steve go but understand why he's going. It is the right decision for him.

Jerry
Phil, the players did walk round the pitch after the match and we applauded them. Many "fans" had gone by then; says it all doesn't it?I'm hugely disappointed but not surprised that Reading's greatest ever Manager has decided to call it a day. Thank you Steve for getting us to the poison chalice called The Premiership. I didn't think plucky little Reading would do that in my life time.And now BBCRB is playing "Ashes" and I feel the tears welling up. Thanks again Steve.

Colm
Lets just hope that the core of the team that we missed through injury will stay with us and build again next year - we didnt go down, we came close and with our spirit and performances over the last three months we couldnt really wish for more - next year is ahead, lets give a nod to Steve and look forward

David Boyd
Message in response to Phil Baker's post. The players, including injured players and management staff came back on the pitch to do a lap thanking all the fans that loyally stayed a few minutes after the end of the game. Admittedly they could have stayed on the pitch and done it after the full time whistle and had more fans applaud them.I think your disappointment should be focused on the many many "loyal" fans who left the ground 10-15 minutes before the full time whistle. Surely these people knew this would probably be the last time they had a chance to show appreciation to a manager who has been on the whole excellent for RFC.All the very best to Steve Coppell and thanks for a thrilling ride. On to the next chapter to re-build with new young enthusiastic players, and I for one am looking forward to it.

north
not a reading fan but its a shame to see a good bloke go, blame your team, yesterday was a half hearted attempt.

Tina
Peachy - if you had waited long enough you WOULD have seen all the team, academy boys, injured players come out onto the pitch and walk round the whole of the pitch applauding the fans!

Fraser
First, Thanks and good luck to Steve Coppell your a star and Reading legend, and will live on in our history. Second it wasn't about last nights game, we should of done the job during the season. The owner has said many times how much it costs to run the club so maybe he will go too, then we can get the money to buy new blood to replace the back on loan prima donnas who didn't do what we thought they might do for us.

Niki
I'm very sad Steve Coppell is leaving the club, he's been a terrific manager & an inspiration.He built on very firm foundations & led us to victories we'll never forget.I wish him welfor now & the future & hope he has a good long holiday, forgets footy for a while & comes back refreshed.Te Town of Reading should honour this great servant of the club.Thank you Steve for your terrific leadership.

Asaba
Cheers for everything Mr C. Without doubt one of the most important people in the clubs history. Sadly his heart wasn't really in it this season and he started making major tactical errors. We still have the bones of a promotion side for next season. A new manager, a good ship out and some fresh ideas and players and we'll be back in contention next season. The attendance last night was poor but it just shows the frustration of the fans and the expectation we all now have. Stay positive. Next season could be ours. And hopefully we'll cross Wolves on the stairs!

Keith
Thanks for the memories Steve. Lets not reflect on the failures of the last few months but on the real successes over the past few years - remember the promotion season !!! Putting 6 past West Ham !! Harps scoring that third goal against Liverpool !!! _ _ and many more - thanks Steve

Tina
Fourth in The Championship is still a fantastic achievement. The lads played their heart out last night. The saddest news is Steve Coppell resigning this morning - we need a chance to thank him properly. Graeme Murty for manager!

Peter
We should name a stand after him. He will also be welcome in Reading he will become a legend!