Fae (left) and Sonko reportedly refused to play a reserve match

Reading midfielder Emerse Fae has hit back at the club for suspending him and Ibrahima Sonko after they refused to play in a reserve game on Monday.

The pair were told they would not feature again this season and Fae has said he plans to leave the club.

"That is not clever at all to suspend your own players," Fae told Setanta. "That is stupid, the sanction is heavy.

"There is no need to fight or to persevere for me. For sure my future is not with Reading."

Fae has started just eight league games for the Royals since his club-record �2.5m arrival from Nantes last summer.

He is under contract for a further two seasons, but he has suggested he will look for a move away from Reading in the summer.

"I cannot understand their attitude. Those people do not speak and do things behind your back," he added.

"I refused to play with the reserves on Sunday, they said OK let's meet on Thursday and in the meantime I received a letter saying I am axed.

"They are not courageous enough to tell me things in the eyes, man to man, in five minutes.

"I will see in May what the opportunities are."

606: DEBATE Sonko and Fae on way out?

Sonko was a key figure in Reading's successful first season in the Premier League, but injury and African Nations Cup commitments have limited his impact this season.

But the popular defender told the Reading Evening Post: "I am contracted to Reading for the next two years and I will not be asking for a move. This is not the time for those discussions.

"I am sure we will look at the situation after this season."

Royals manager Steve Coppell was keen to concentrate on their battle against the drop.

He told the club website: "As far as I'm concerned it is an internal measure and it has been dealt with.

"I don't want to take anything away from what is important, that's our game against Tottenham on Saturday."

Fourth-from-bottom Reading, who are just one point ahead of 18th-placed Birmingham, face Spurs at home before a trip to Derby for a match which could decide their Premier League future.

Coppell was reported to be furious when Sonko and Fae said they would not play against Tottenham reserves at Aldershot.

Club captain Graeme Murty and John Oster were among the first-team squad members who did turn up for the 2-2 draw.