Reading sack Clarke after run of poor form
>> LONDON: Former West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has been sacked by Reading, the Championship club announced yesterday.
The decision follows a 1-0 home defeat by Queens Park Rangers that left them in ninth place.
Although only one point outside the play-off places, they have dropped from third position in the past few weeks.
Last month he was interviewed for the vacant manager’s job at Fulham but decided to stay with Reading.
“Following Thursday night’s defeat at home to QPR, added to a recent run of poor form which has seen the team pick up just one win in the last eight Championship fixtures, the board feel that a change in manager is now necessary,” said a statement on the club’s website (www.rteadingfc.co.uk).
Clarke, a former assistant at Newcastle United, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool, managed Premier League side West Brom from 2012-14, joining Reading 12 months ago.
Nedum Onuoha gave QPR the win as former Netherlands international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was appointed t he club’s new boss yesterday.
With interim manager Neil Warnock in the dug-out, QPR secured their second successive victory to climb to 11th place, just two points off the play-offs as they look to win promotion to the Premier League.
Reading had chances to win the game but failed to test QPR goalkeeper Rob Green and they were made to pay when Onuoha headed Alejandro Faurlin’s corner past Royals goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.
Hasselbaink, who had a spell with Chelsea and also played for Leeds and Middlesbrough, left his role at Burton, currently top of League One.
He replaced Chris Ramsey, who was sacked a month ago following Rangers’ unconvincing start to the season.