Reading Football Club News

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

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Coppell issues Hunt warning

21 Jun 2007 - 14:04:16

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Reading boss Steve Coppell has told Stephen Hunt to forget about being offered a new contract.

The 25-year-old midfielder has reportedly asked the Royals for a new deal after an impressive debut season in the Premier League led to interest from top-flight rivals Bolton and Wigan.

But Coppell has told the former Crystal Palace and Brentford midfielder he will have to wait for a new deal as he only signed a two-and-a-half year contract back in January.

"We can't continually give players new contracts. We'd be doing 20 of them every year," Coppell told the Reading Chronicle.

"If someone's contract is not in line it's not often they come to us, we usually go to them first.

"We do things by rotation which unfortunately means some people are happier than others.

"But Stephen Hunt still has two years left, the same as most players here.

"It doesn't matter what the rumours are about other clubs looking at him. We don't control the situation but there are contractual agreements in place."

Meanwhile, Coppell will sit down with director of football Nicky Hammond on his return from holiday to discuss his future at the club.

Hammond, a former Gunners goalkeeper, reportedly rejected the opportunity to move to the Emirates Stadium to become the north London club's new director of football last week.