Drop fight consumes Coppell
21 Mar 2008 - 08:55:20
-
- Drop fight consumes Coppell
Reading manager Steve Coppell has admitted the battle for Premier League survival is consuming his every waking moment.
The Royals have boosted the survival chances with successive victories over Middlesbrough and Manchester City in recent weeks to move up to 15th place in the table.
But speaking ahead of Saturday's crunch relegation showdown with Birmingham City, Coppell has revealed the impact the relegation scrap is having on his life.
"It dominates your every thought and that applies to managers, coaches and players," he revealed.
"You can be watching TV or a film or playing golf and in the back of your mind you will be thinking we have eight games to go. It is hugely significant in a club's history. It is meaningful."
Meanwhile, Coppell has called for a clampdown on players disrespecting referees in the wake of Chelsea defender Ashley Cole's dissent towards match official Mike Riley.
He said: "The rules are there and can be amended to really guarantee respect.
"We had an initiative a couple of years ago where, if you disrespected the referee, a free-kick against you would be moved 10 yards further forward.
"After one year it was taken off as being ineffective. I thought that was the one positive, significant step the rule makers have made in recent years.
"To see the way officials are abused by players on a game-by-game basis it's no wonder we have problems in society.
"I genuinely believe if we refereed football games the way rugby games are refereed there would be a compound interest effect throughout society."