Reading sack Stam in bid to avoid relegation danger
Relegation-threatened Reading have sacked manager Jaap Stam.
The former Manchester United and Holland defender spent just short of two years in the role and was a penalty shoot-out away from leading the Royals to the Premier League last May, but the 45-year-old has paid the price for poor results this season.
The Royals are 20th and have won only one of their last 18 Sky Bet Championship games and lie just three points above the relegation zone with eight games to play.
Sunderland are bottom of the table, five points adrift of Barnsley, who sit just above the drop zone.
“Reading Football Club announce that Jaap Stam has left his position as manager of the club with immediate effect,” confirmed Reading.
“Majority shareholders, Mr Yongge Dai and Ms Xiu Li Dai, had wanted to give Jaap every opportunity to turn around what has been a difficult and challenging Championship campaign.
“Jaap has not wavered in the time, effort and sheer determination he has put in to try to steer the team away from the position we find ourselves in. However, after careful consideration, the decision has been made that a change is now necessary.
“We would like to thank Jaap for his hard work and commitment to the club, in particular noting what he achieved in a memorable first season in club management, and we wish him the very best of luck in his future endeavours.” Reading added: “We will now focus on identifying and recruiting the right person to take Reading Football Club forward,”