Leeds lose Nigel Adkins to Reading

RUMOURED LeedS United managerial target Nigel Adkins is to be confirmed as the new Reading manager this morning.
Nigel AdkinsNigel Adkins
Nigel Adkins

The Premier League strugglers have called a news conference, with former Southampton chief Adkins expected to be handed the reins.

The news will disappoint many Leeds supporters, with Adkins their favoured choice to suceed current boss Neil Warnock, expected to leave at the end of the season.

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A move to Elland Road is understood to have appealed to Adkins, who has spent the last few months studying and observing various training methods at several clubs in Europe including Hamburg.

The club’s huge potential was an incentive factor for Adkins, but with the situation surrounding the club’s owners far from clear, Reading have lured the 48-year-old to Berkshire.

Adkinsd has been out of work since surprisingly losing his job with the Saints in January, with his sacking coming after back-to-back promotions.

Adkins started out in management with Scunthorpe in 2006, stepping up after serving the Iron as physiotherapist for 10 years and twice getting them promoted from League One to the Championship.

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A number of candidates have been linked with the Royals post - Brighton chief and ex-United number two Gus Poyet was heavily touted last week - while Eamonn Dolan has been looking after the team on a caretaker basis.

Reading travel to Arsenal on Saturday before a home game against Southampton, Adkins’ old side, on April 6.

Speaking for the first time today since he left Southampton, Adkins said: “I`ve not made any comments since I left Southampton and I want to take the opportunity to thank all the people there.

“I thank the fans, the players and supporters. We were on a fantastic journey but we have to move on now.

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“I am pleased to be the Reading manager. We will take it one game at a time and try and keep this club in the Premier League.

“It`s a good club, I`ve been impressed with them and I`ve always known what sort of club it is. We`re in the Premier League and we want to stay there. I am excited.”

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