Reading Football Club News

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell cool on threat talk

17 Nov 2006 - 08:43:51

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Reading manager Steve Coppell has played down reports of death threats made to Royals duo Steve Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko in the wake of last month's controversial game against Chelsea.

The two players received a series of letters at the club's Arborfield training ground after the Blues' Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini suffered injuries in the Madejski Stadium clash.

But Coppell insisted: "We passed the mail onto the police, but no extra security precautions were taken, the players weren't affected and it's not an issue.

"I'm disappointed that it's come out. We wanted to keep it quiet, and didn't make an issue of it. We went through the proper channels and hoped it would die a death. To regurgitate it now is of no benefit to anybody.

"I don't think it's for public consumption. It's something different for the media to report but it serves no purpose to anybody else."

Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that USA international striker Eddie Johnson will be visiting the club.

"He's just coming over for an educational visit. He'll see how we do things and have a look at how we prepare," Coppell added.

"I wouldn't even like to speculate on what might happen in the future, and we haven't even explored any possible transfer.

"It's the off season in the States so the opportunity is there, and he's just someone who has been on the radar for a lot of clubs."