Steve Coppell's agent has offered a timely reminder that the Royals boss has won manager of the year twice in the last three seasons, and is in no doubt that Coppell can help us bounce back very quickly.

After our record-breaking promotion in 2006 and eighth-placed top flight finish 12 months later, Steve was twice voted the country's top boss by his peers.

Following relegation at the end of the 2007/8 campaign, Coppell took time to ponder his future but has this week agreed to stay on, and his agent Athole Still says his talent can never be questioned.

Still told Reading World, "Everybody in football knows the quality of Steve Coppell. He is absolutely a top coach and absolutely a top manager.

"Football is a funny game, and there are many reasons why a club can have a season like Reading has. It's not always entirely fair to lay it all at the door of the coach.

"Everybody in football knows about Steve - twice manager of the year! Ahead of Mourinho, ahead of Ferguson, ahead of Wenger! You don't lose that.

"He is the best man for the job, and given decent luck he will take Reading back up next year."