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The 48-year-old former Brentford boss is reportedly on the verge of becoming Reading's new manager. He is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday to sign a three-year deal at the Madejski Stadium worth £200,000 per annum.
John Madejski is expected to pay the Seagulls £100,000 for pinching their manager, a fraction of the £380,000 the chairman received for permitting Pards to join West Ham.
Meanwhile, interim boss Kevin Dillon, who missed Saturday's game against Bradford, has reportedly been informed that he is not going to be the new manager. The Geordie, who for two years served as Alan Pardew's assistant, is expected to assume a similar role under Steve Coppell.
Coppell is in Manchester today, under-going standard LMA health checks, but should pen his move to Reading upon his return.
Director of Football Nicky Hammond, who took joint charge of the team on Saturday, has confirmed that he expects the club will be in a position to unveil their new manager within the next forty-eight hours.
Speaking to the Reading Evening Post he revealed: "Things have moved forward over the weekend and I think we would be in a position to announce something tomorrow or Wednesday".
Walking out on Brighton is understood to have been a major wrench for Coppell who in leaving the Division Two pace-setters runs the risk of being barracked by the Brighton faithful for years to come.
The Seagulls are without a stadium of their own and are temporarily housed at the somewhat shabby Withdean Stadium. The South Coast side lack the resources to really challenge First Division sides of the stature of Reading, hence Coppell's decision to do what many will describe as 'the dirty' on Brighton.
Other candidates for the Reading job had included Ronnie Moore, Tony Adams, Steve Cotterill, Peter Taylor, Reading MAD Editor Rob Cooper, Glenn Hoddle and Bryan Robson.