Brian McDermott, who recently departed from his role at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian, spent over 15 years with Reading FC across two spells. He is best known for leading the club to the Championship title and into the Premier League in 2012.
It’s so frustrating for everyone, I would imagine,” the former Arsenal midfielder said. “I met the manager recently when the Under-21s played Sunderland. I introduced myself and mentioned that I had managed the club, but he said, ‘Yeah, I know who you are.’ He is a charming guy and has done a brilliant job this year. I told him I had never been to the new training ground, and he insisted that I visit, so maybe this year I will go and see him there. He’s a really nice guy, I really liked him.”
“It’s not helpful to wait for ownership news. As long as you have a clear path forward, you can take action—right now, they don’t,” McDermott commented. “I often speak with Brian Carey, who is a really good man and Head of Recruitment. He knows what targets are available, but the club may miss out on signings due to the uncertainty. Players hesitate to join a club where the ownership situation is unclear.”
McDermott empathizes with Selles, having experienced a prolonged takeover during his tenure over a decade ago. “Sir John Madejski initially sold the club to Russian billionaire Anton Zingarevich in 2012, with negotiations ongoing throughout the club’s title-winning 2011/12 campaign,” he recalled. Zingarevich, seen as the club’s path to stability in the top-flight, eventually relinquished control back to Madejski within two years amidst financial challenges.
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