Clement ready to clean up

PAUL CLEMENT admits his three-month break from management has seen him clean up his act.

Former Swansea boss Clement is back in the dugout at Reading after replacing the sacked Jaap Stam.

The Royals are three points above the relegation zone before today’s home clash with QPR.

“It was time to get back into coaching,” said the 46-year-old.

“My house could not be any tidier, my car could not be any cleaner and the grass is looking wonderful, but that three months was too long for me.

Test

“The club want to be in the Premier League and that’s my ambition – to coach at that level again.

“We’re not sure how long that is going to take.

“It’s a big test. There are a lot of other really good clubs that want to go to the Premier League.

“But we believe we have the infrastructure in place to do that.

“We want to build on the squad and improve them – but the focus has to be on the next eight games.”

Meanwhile, captain Chris Gunter has blasted his team-mates for costing Stam his job.

The Dutchman was axed less than a year after leading the club to the play-off final.

Defender Gunter said: “Jaap Stam is the best club manager I’ve worked for. There’s no doubt in my mind we let him down as a squad badly.”