Rumour - Church off on free

[St. Brynjar]

The Sun reports this morning that Church is set to leave on a free with Huddersfield and Millwall interested.

We really should have taken the millions when he was, errrr, playing well.

Adkins OUT

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Managerless Millwall interested in Church .....great reporting by The Sun.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

no real shock here is there.

writing was on the wall when he refused to sign a new deal in August 2012 - this stopped the Zaha deal going through.

was left out of the 25 man squad in January, but was quite happy to pick up his premier league wages before moving on, hence why he priced himself out a move to Millwall. no big loss

[YateleyRoyal]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that he won't be going just yet.

Obviously he was out of favour under Heston but he hasnt had a chance to prove himself for Adkins due to not being in the 25. With Pog on big wages, Hunt out of contact, Alfie rumoured to be of interest to PL teams and Roberts crocked, it would make sense not to sell him just yet and to see what happens with the rest before sorting him out.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that he won't be going just yet.

Obviously he was out of favour under Heston but he hasnt had a chance to prove himself for Adkins due to not being in the 25. With Pog on big wages, Hunt out of contact, Alfie rumoured to be of interest to PL teams and Roberts crocked, it would make sense not to sell him just yet and to see what happens with the rest before sorting him out.

I'd rather play Ron Grant up front with Selby Armstrong

[Cobi]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that he won't be going just yet.

Obviously he was out of favour under Heston but he hasnt had a chance to prove himself for Adkins due to not being in the 25. With Pog on big wages, Hunt out of contact, Alfie rumoured to be of interest to PL teams and Roberts crocked, it would make sense not to sell him just yet and to see what happens with the rest before sorting him out.

He's OUT OF CONTRACT, so we can't sell him... No chance of him staying, thankfully.

[YateleyRoyal]

My mistake - didnt get my facts straight.

A bit like you on the Alan Judge thread, but we'll let that go, eh?

[andrew1957]

Church leaving on a free - I am so shocked. Next you will be telling me the Pope is a Catholic.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Misread the post at the top of the page as Huddersfield and Milan interested

[loyalroyal4life]

first bit of good news all season, so long simon

[melonhead]

personally id like to see him playing under adkins.
if karacan can develop into a passing footballer in a month, then chruchy may be an actual striker with nigels help

[RoyalX]

no real shock here is there.

writing was on the wall when he refused to sign a new deal in August 2012 - this stopped the Zaha deal going through.

was left out of the 25 man squad in January, but was quite happy to pick up his premier league wages before moving on, hence why he priced himself out a move to Millwall. no big loss

How did Church not signing a new deal affect the Zaha deal?

[SPARTA]

no real shock here is there.

writing was on the wall when he refused to sign a new deal in August 2012 - this stopped the Zaha deal going through.

was left out of the 25 man squad in January, but was quite happy to pick up his premier league wages before moving on, hence why he priced himself out a move to Millwall. no big loss

How did Church not signing a new deal affect the Zaha deal?

Season loan deal to Palace as part of the deal? Reading only wanted him to sign a new deal so they could cash in with a sale and not lose him on a free. Best all round that he leaves. Maybe Wolves in L1 wouldn't be such a bad move (for him, not them). He will vanish down the leagues quicker than Pompey!

[West Stand Man]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that he won't be going just yet.

Obviously he was out of favour under Heston but he hasnt had a chance to prove himself for Adkins due to not being in the 25. With Pog on big wages, Hunt out of contact, Alfie rumoured to be of interest to PL teams and Roberts crocked, it would make sense not to sell him just yet and to see what happens with the rest before sorting him out.

I'd rather play Ron Grant up front with Selby Armstrong

Which goes a long way to explain why you are not a manager.

[SPARTA]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that he won't be going just yet.

Obviously he was out of favour under Heston but he hasnt had a chance to prove himself for Adkins due to not being in the 25. With Pog on big wages, Hunt out of contact, Alfie rumoured to be of interest to PL teams and Roberts crocked, it would make sense not to sell him just yet and to see what happens with the rest before sorting him out.

I'd rather play Ron Grant up front with Selby Armstrong

Which goes a long way to explain why you are not a manager.

It was pretty clear from the start that Church was never going to cut it as a striker. Look at all his lower league loans before he broke into the team. He couldn't hit a barn door in League 2 or League 1. He was disappointing for us in the Championship barring one decent half a season, but he could never replicate it. He is terrible as a striker, but perhaps could be developed into an advanced midfielder. He reads the game well, but his first touch must improve if he has any chance of making it at Championship level. For me the guy is destined for League 1 and 2.

[West Stand Man]

It was pretty clear from the start that Church was never going to cut it as a striker. Look at all his lower league loans before he broke into the team. He couldn't hit a barn door in League 2 or League 1. He was disappointing for us in the Championship barring one decent half a season, but he could never replicate it. He is terrible as a striker, but perhaps could be developed into an advanced midfielder. He reads the game well, but his first touch must improve if he has any chance of making it at Championship level. For me the guy is destined for League 1 and 2.

Fair enough. I disagree, but that is a reasonable argument. It is certainly better than the suggestion above that Ron Grant and Selby would be better.

[St. Brynjar]

If he stays, fine, no vendetta against him. I met him & McCarthy in the pitch invasion last year genuinely going mental. If he leaves he'll leave as the worst striker I've ever seen, but that's through lack of ability rather than lack of drive. Best of luck to him elsewhere.

[SPARTA]

If he stays, fine, no vendetta against him. I met him & McCarthy in the pitch invasion last year genuinely going mental. If he leaves he'll leave as the worst striker I've ever seen, but that's through lack of ability rather than lack of drive. Best of luck to him elsewhere.

You would have loved Keith Scott, Robert Fleck, Paul Brayson..

[SydenhamRoyal]

He'll end up at Leeds.

He scored a quality goal against Leeds last season, they may think he is the bomb

Excepting McD knows better

[howser]

Unfortuate that some are giving Church abuse on here, for me like all the players that leave Reading for other clubs, thanks for the effort you have put in for us and I wish him the very best for the future, maybe a change of scenary will be good for him. Good luck Simon.