RUMOUR: Clarke to Fulham

[andrew1957]

Wow. What a lot of knickers in a twist!

Weirdly, in the eyes of fans, players and coaches have to be "loyal" to their club regardless of what other opportunities might be around.

Last time you lot popped in the job agency was there a baying mob waiting outside demanding that you continue to flip burgers at McD's even though BK have offered to put you in charge of the drive thru?

I was a bit pissed off last night that having made wholesale changes around the club it looked like he was off without seeing the project through. Bar the last few games it looked like he was on to something. I mellowed this morning and really wouldn't have been that bothered if he went - assuming we made a decent stab of appointing a successor.

But if he stays - fair enough. Get back to winning ways, play entertaining football and I'm right back behind him. I quite like him and the ways he conducts himself. His honesty in interviews is refreshing - let's give him a chance to tell the story.

If he tells us he was offered more money, better budget, whatever but he decided against it then so what? These are the kind of decisions people in employment make every day.

I am not one to begrudge someone an upward move. If he took us up and kept us there for a season and then went to a bigger PL club then good luck to him. But he has been given freedom to mould the club his way and to walk out on that for nay job would be completely disrespectful to the owners and the fans who have given him their trust IMO. He owes it to the club to stay for a season or two and see the project through or he should now just leave so that we can find a manager who will do so.

[The Cap]

Dave-Royal wrote:
Clarke now to stay in reading fc !!

Blimey Dave, that emoji looks like you've just shat yourself mate.

[Elm Park Kid]

Wow. What a lot of knickers in a twist!

Weirdly, in the eyes of fans, players and coaches have to be "loyal" to their club regardless of what other opportunities might be around.

Last time you lot popped in the job agency was there a baying mob waiting outside demanding that you continue to flip burgers at McD's even though BK have offered to put you in charge of the drive thru?

I was a bit pissed off last night that having made wholesale changes around the club it looked like he was off without seeing the project through. Bar the last few games it looked like he was on to something. I mellowed this morning and really wouldn't have been that bothered if he went - assuming we made a decent stab of appointing a successor.

But if he stays - fair enough. Get back to winning ways, play entertaining football and I'm right back behind him. I quite like him and the ways he conducts himself. His honesty in interviews is refreshing - let's give him a chance to tell the story.

If he tells us he was offered more money, better budget, whatever but he decided against it then so what? These are the kind of decisions people in employment make every day.

I am not one to begrudge someone an upward move. If he took us up and kept us there for a season and then went to a bigger PL club then good luck to him. But he has been given freedom to mould the club his way and to walk out on that for nay job would be completely disrespectful to the owners and the fans who have given him their trust IMO. He owes it to the club to stay for a season or two and see the project through or he should now just leave so that we can find a manager who will do so.

Completely agree. The fact that he was even thinking about going to another Champ club is disgraceful.

[RoyalBlue]

Has the barsteward had a glass of champagne and shaken hands with Madejski? If so, expect a U-turn shortly!

Unless the team administer three + comprehensive thrashings in quick succession the guy has single-handedly made his position untenable both with supporters and probably some of the players too.

People who work in recruitment/HR will tell you that when someone changes their mind like this, the majority end up leaving within the next twelve months anyway.

[TFF]

the majority end up leaving within the next twelve months anyway.

This is football so your statement's not exactly bold.

Managers don't last two years. At 11 months he's already matched the average service of a championship manager. Who can blame a guy for looking at his options in that kind of environment?

[Jagermesiter1871]

Why is everyone jumping to the conclusion that Clarke wanted out?

Typical modern fickle fans. Absolute joke the lot of you. How about we wait and see who made the moves before we hang up one of our own as judas?

+1

Rubbish - if he was not interested he would have come out and said that rather than going ahead and speaking to Fulham.

He needs to eat some massive humble pie now for me to want him to stay. Frankly Pearson's record (assuming we could get him) is much better.

How do we even know he spoke to Fulham?

The only hard facts we have is Clarke took training as per usual. He cancelled his press meeting, which will need to be explained but everything else is conjecture at this point.

From an objective point of view the move doesn't make a lot of sense for all parties, especially Clarke, so I'm willing to wait and see what events actually took place before nailing my views to the mast and calling our current manager a judas money grabbing oxf*rd.

[wiggso]

McGee did the same didn't he? Say he was staying then leave the following day.

If he did indeed talk to Fulham etc etc then the message he has sent is that he will stay here until another team (one of our rivals even) agrees to pay the compensation.
Yes people need to look to further their career and in other walks of life people do move for the best deal to themselves.
But he has been given all sorts of backing from our board. He had a job to see through and seemingly got wet over the first approach that was made for him.
He needed to show some loyalty for at least a couple of years. What is a couple of years to a manager in his early fifties that needs to make a good impression as a manager?

[Royal Rother]

I blame social media.

Exaggerated story in all probability suckering in muppets like the BBC Berks sports crew.

Logic always said it was pretty bloody far fetched that he would actually leave but he's entitled to speak with them. And the club, if they've got faith in him and the deal he is on, are quite likely to say, oh go on then, see what's on offer because we can fire you at any second as you know.

Managers can't have such tenuous hold on current employment, realising they may very well be fired after a short poor run, and not be allowed to talk to other potential employers.

[leon]

the majority end up leaving within the next twelve months anyway.

This is football so your statement's not exactly bold.

Managers don't last two years. At 11 months he's already matched the average service of a championship manager. Who can blame a guy for looking at his options in that kind of environment?

Which is why dropping his trousers for Fulham when he's been given the backing of the owners with money whilst his team hasn't set the world on fire is a bit rich.

[TFF]

I blame social media.

Exaggerated story in all probability suckering in muppets like the BBC Berks sports crew.

Logic always said it was pretty bloody far fetched that he would actually leave but he's entitled to speak with them. And the club, if they've got faith in him and the deal he is on, are quite likely to say, oh go on then, see what's on offer because we can fire you at any second as you know.

Managers can't have such tenuous hold on current employment, realising they may very well be fired after a short poor run, and not be allowed to talk to other potential employers.

Well said.

I know clubs, agents and players leak stuff to the press/gossip sites in order to engineer transfers but I'm baffled as to the motivations of whoever let the cat out of the bag on this one.

This could have all been done quietly with none of us any the wiser. Clarke's reputation intact and Fulham not looking like some sort of joke club, turned down by two managers in two days.

[Elm Park Kid]

I blame social media.

Exaggerated story in all probability suckering in muppets like the BBC Berks sports crew.

Logic always said it was pretty bloody far fetched that he would actually leave but he's entitled to speak with them. And the club, if they've got faith in him and the deal he is on, are quite likely to say, oh go on then, see what's on offer because we can fire you at any second as you know.

Managers can't have such tenuous hold on current employment, realising they may very well be fired after a short poor run, and not be allowed to talk to other potential employers.

Well said.

I know clubs, agents and players leak stuff to the press/gossip sites in order to engineer transfers but I'm baffled as to the motivations of whoever let the cat out of the bag on this one.

This could have all been done quietly with none of us any the wiser. Clarke's reputation intact and Fulham not looking like some sort of joke club, turned down by two managers in two days.

Doesn't Fulham have to make an official approach to the club before they can even speak to him? Doesn't that have to be somewhat public?

I just don't understand why people are defending him. On what reasonable basis could he decide to leave Reading after 11 months to join Fulham? This isn't like when McDermott was approached by Wolves, in that case I completely understand why he would have been interested. This would have been a sideways move into a club that has little more to spend than Reading.

[melonhead]

not bothered by Clarke chatting to Fulham.
always knew he has eyes firmly on his career rather than the clubs well being.hopefully success with us would get him the upwards move he craves
I wouldn't begrudge anyone I work with the chance to talk to other companies if th eoffer is good. why would I expect otherwise from a football manager?

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Clarke is on a nice wedge here & has been able to do what he wants with the squad & staff.

He should have come out last night, nipped it in the bud & said he was staying. The fact he hasn't is damning. He has undoubtedly lost a large proportion of the fan base.

Sorry but no fans of any club want to feel like they are a stop gap. He could have avoided that scenario but chose not to.

[genome]

not bothered by Clarke chatting to Fulham.
always knew he has eyes firmly on his career rather than the clubs well being.hopefully success with us would get him the upwards move he craves
I wouldn't begrudge anyone I work with the chance to talk to other companies if th eoffer is good. why would I expect otherwise from a football manager?

What irks most it how sideways the move was. If it was a Prem club or perhaps even someone like Hull near the top of the Championship then I think people would be more understanding.

[leon]

Clarke is on a nice wedge here & has been able to do what he wants with the squad & staff.

He should have come out last night, nipped it in the bud & said he was staying. The fact he hasn't is damning. He has undoubtedly lost a large proportion of the fan base.

Sorry but no fans of any club want to feel like they are a stop gap. He could have avoided that scenario but chose not to.

basically, he's dead to me and MmmMonsterMunch

[sandman]

Clarke is on a nice wedge here & has been able to do what he wants with the squad & staff.

He should have come out last night, nipped it in the bud & said he was staying. The fact he hasn't is damning. He has undoubtedly lost a large proportion of the fan base.

Sorry but no fans of any club want to feel like they are a stop gap. He could have avoided that scenario but chose not to.

basically, he's dead to me and MmmMonsterMunch

MonsterMoobs is really fickle so will probably be singing Clarke's name within a minute on Saturday.

[madreadingfan]

Utter Prick

[MmmMonsterMunch]

I'm more annoyed that we can't speculate about a new manager...........well not for the next 3 months at least.

Oh dear. May as well kiss goodbye to any promotion aspirations this season.

Are we supposed to be thankful he's staying now? What a load of crap. Performances will nosedive & then we'll end up paying compo to sack the tosser.

[MmmMonsterMunch]

Clarke is on a nice wedge here & has been able to do what he wants with the squad & staff.

He should have come out last night, nipped it in the bud & said he was staying. The fact he hasn't is damning. He has undoubtedly lost a large proportion of the fan base.

Sorry but no fans of any club want to feel like they are a stop gap. He could have avoided that scenario but chose not to.

basically, he's dead to me and MmmMonsterMunch

MonsterMoobs is really fickle so will probably be singing Clarke's name within a minute on Saturday.

Bet you have bigger moobs. No I'm not fickle at all. I like / liked Clarke but this situation is bollox for us. Ultimately he doesn't want to be here does he??

[leon]

Utter Prick

who sandman, me, MMM or Clarke?