Clement targets survival after landing Royal position
Sunderland’s relegation rivals Reading have appointed Paul Clement as manager.
The former Swansea City and Derby County boss replaced Jaap Stam and wants to take the club back to the Premier League but knows his immediate priority is to make sure they stay up this season.
Clement has signed an unspecified long-term contract at the Royals, who sit just three points above the Championship relegation zone with eight games to go.
Clement said: “The immediate aim is to secure the club in the Championship eight games to go.
“ButthenbeyondthatIthink there is a lot of ambition to take the club further forward.
“They were very close obviously last season, just penalty kicks away from the Premier League and that is where the club want to be and that is the ambition I have to coach at that level again.”
Stam left after overseeing a difficult campaign in the Championship, having lost last season’s play-off final to Huddersfield on penalties.
They are three points above 22nd-placed Birmingham City having won just one league game since December 2 and have promotion-chasing Fulham, Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Preston to play in their final eight games.
Clement’s first match will be at home to QPR on Good Friday and the 46-year-old is backing himself to deliver safety.
There are no Championship games this weekend due to the international break.