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He makes the sort of cute statement that implies, almost without the words coming out of his mouth, that he would be interested in the role, or he wouldn't, depending on which way you look at it. A half full / half empty scenario if you like.
His mind-boggling statement, for the record, which came after the 0-0 draw at home to Rotherham, went as follows: "As far as I'm concerned I''m Reading manager. We're all doing a good job here and we’re looking to continue it."
In the past Fulham, Stoke, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace have all reportedly been interested in taking Pardew away from Reading yet no move for the Royals boss has ever materialised.
Whether these links, or the current mooted Hammers move, have any substance in them is almost beside the point. The suggestion of a possible move 'up the managerial ladder' for Pardew is almost a recognition of his fantastic achievements at the Madejski Stadium.
This is exactly how the Royals boss himself sees it. He added: "It's just a reflection on the success we've had here, so it's obvious that I'm going to get linked with jobs, and my players will get linked with Premiership clubs".
Nowadays who believes Alan Pardew is the wrong man to manage Reading Football Club? As the move up the leagues has gathered pace the anti-Pards brigade have vanished - so if we don't moan about our boss we might as well dress him up as a sly scheming geezer so that we have something to complain about. We wouldn't be football supporters otherwise.
One last thing, hands up who had heard that Pardew was in the frame for the West Ham job before today's somewhat coy statement? We didn't think his name was even in the frame either!