Steve Coppell backs Brian McDermott as next Royals boss

Coppell left Reading in May after losing in the Championship play-offs

Former Reading manager Steve Coppell has given caretaker boss Brian McDermott his backing to do the job in the long-term.

McDermott has been in charge of the Championship side since Brendan Rodgers left the club in December.

"He's done a brilliant job in my time at the club and before that with Alan Pardew," Coppell told BBC Berkshire.

"A long-term decision has to be made, but you can't go too far wrong by giving it to Brian."

Coppell was back at the Madejski Stadium for the first time since resigning in May, to watch Reading's FA Cup tie with Liverpool.

McDermott had been the Reading reserve team coach before Rodger's departure and Coppell thinks this has put him in good stead for the first-team role.

"People say he hasn't managed, but he has managed the reserves here. I always say the reserve team manager at any club is the hardest job of all," Coppell said.

"You have to deal with the young players coming through and develop them, you have to deal with the angry players who aren't playing first team football."

I'd like to be working in some capacity somewhere. I know that patience is something you have to have when you're a football manager, but it doesn't come easily.

Former Reading boss Steve Coppell

Coppell admitted that after being out of football since May, he is keen to be involved once more.

"I was ready for a break. All along I said I just wanted three months where the phone wasn't going. I'd had nine years of it," he said.

"My boy has finished university and has turned pro as a golfer, so I wanted to watch him play in a few tournaments, which I couldn't have done otherwise.

"I've been wanting to get back into management since my three months were up. As soon as it started to get cold and dark then I started to get bored."

He added: "I'd like to be working in some capacity somewhere. I know that patience is something you have to have when you're a football manager, but it doesn't come easily."

But Coppell said he was not expecting a quick return to Reading.

"Brendan's been gone a long time and I haven't heard from [the chairman, Sir John Madejski] so I don't anticipate hearing from him in the next few days, that's for sure."