Steve Coppell admits he could face an anxious wait to discover if he will remain at Reading.
Royals boss to decide long-term future once promotion battle over
Reading manager Steve Coppell admits he could face an anxious wait to discover where his long-term future lies.
Coppell is out of contract this summer and is sure to extend his five-and-a-half year spell with the Royals if he steers them to a Premier League return.
Should they fall short, however, then Coppell accepts there is no guarantee he will remain at the Madejski Stadium, even if he wishes to stay.
With seven games remaining Reading lie third in the Championship, four points off automatic promotion with a game in hand on second-placed Birmingham.
Asked about his future plans, Coppell told the
Evening Post: "I have thought about it, but I have not reached a conclusion of any type.
Undecided
"A lot will depend on how we do between now and the end of the season, but it isn't just me who can decide. There are other people who make decisions too.
"But at the moment all everyone is doing is concentrating 100%. All our concentration has to be on the importance of the next seven games.
"I am excited by this patch of games and I think there is a sense of excitement from the players," he added.
"It has been difficult to read anything this week with so many people away, but I get the feeling there is excitement and people want to get the job done.
"I still feel we are more than capable of going unbeaten in our last seven games.
Challenge
"It is going to be a real test of the squad's character, drive and determination and as a manager it is a big challenge for me.
"I have just done 1,000 games as a manager, but ultimately that is in the past now. It all comes down to the next seven."
The promotion push continues with a trip to face Coventry City on Saturday, when Julian Kelly is set to replace the suspended Liam Rosenior at right-back while Coppell will assess the condition of Kalifa Cisse, who pulled out of Mali's World Cup qualifier against Sudan at the weekend due to illness.
"Knowing the man he is, it would have to have been some illness for him to miss a game, but he is back now and we will see how he is," said Coppell.
