Reading hope the signs are good as they appoint Nigel Adkins

 
Giuseppe Muro26 March 2013

Nigel Adkins was today appointed Reading manager as owner Anton Zingarevich criticised Brian McDermott for a lack of spending in the January transfer window.

Adkins signed a three-year contract at the Madejski Stadium with Reading seven points from safety and having just eight League games remaining.

Former boss McDermott was left frustrated by what he perceived to be a lack of financial support in the transfer market but Zingarevich insisted today funds were available.

Reading signed four players in January — Stephen Kelly, Daniel Carrico, Nick Blackman and Hope Akpan — but failed with a £10million bid for Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and a move for Blackpool’s Thomas Ince.

Director of football Nick Hammond claims McDermott, who was sacked this month after four successive defeats, was tasked with signing players.

Reading have taken three points from a possible 18 since January and Zingarevich believes a lack of transfer activity may have cost the club their Premier League status.

“We should have done more in January, spent more,” said the Russian owner. “We tried to sign players but we should have been more active.

“There was always a budget. We tried to sign big players in January but that is in the past, Nigel is the man for the job and we are happy.

“It was a really difficult decision because I have a great relationship with Brian and he is a great person.

“But it was the right time to move forward and Nigel can take our club forward. He has many attributes as a manager, he is progressive, develops players, his teams play attacking, passing football but most of all he knows how to win games at all levels.”

Adkins’s first game is against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The former Southampton manager said: “We have got to believe we can stay up. We have got make sure this club is in the Premier League and that is what I have come here to do.

“It is a good club, I was impressed when I met the owner and I am excited about the prospect of being here.”

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