Reading set to move for in demand Adkins
Published:Following an impressive 3-1 home win over Liverpool that saw their side move seven points clear of the relegation zone, it hasn’t taken Mauro Pochettino long to lay the ghost of Nigel Adkins to rest at St Mary’s.
But while Southampton fans may no longer be pining after the man who many felt was unfairly dismissed following two successive promotions in charge of the south coast club, Adkins has not been forgotten by everyone, with Reading and Leeds ready to pounce.
After becoming the latest Premier League club to have sacked a promotion-winning manager in Brian McDermott, Reading had seem poised to name Paulo Di Canio as his successor after he was spotted in the crowd at the Madejski Stadium for the home side’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa last weekend.
The former Swindon boss was installed as 4/7 favourite earlier in the week but the Italian – who has also been linked to a return to former club West Ham – has since distanced himself from the vacancy.
Di Canio remains joint favourite but has drifted out to 11/4 and is now joined by Adkins at the top of the list following reports that Reading are looking to interview the candidates on their shortlist next week, with the intention to secure a replacement ahead of Reading’s next match against on March 30th.
Caretaker boss Eamonn Dolan took charge during the 1-0 loss at Old Trafford on Saturday that sees Reading now seven points from safety following Aston Villa’s win over QPR. But Director of football Nick Hammond and owner Anton Zingarevich will be confident that an international break will give them enough time to recruit ahead of their trip to the Emirates.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet (9/1) and former Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo (6/1) are believed to be under consideration but with Adkins also strongly linked to Leeds – a post that Neil Warnock has recently revealed that he may soon be vacating – Reading may well move quickly to ensure they don’t miss out on their man.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
