Reading Football Club News

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

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Royals snub Shorey offer

30 Aug 2007 - 13:27:24

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Reading have rejected a £4million bid from West Ham United for Nicky Shorey which manager Steve Coppell claims was "derisory".

The England left-back has been linked with a move to the Hammers since making his international debut against Brazil at Wembley in June.

The 26-year-old former Leyton Orient defender has also been mentioned as a possible target for Newcastle, but Coppell is hoping the player remains at the Madejski Stadium beyond the end of the transfer window.

"I can't deny West Ham have made an offer, but I look at the price of players and I consider the offer they made as being derisory, not serious," he told the club's official website.

"It's an offer made to put the whole issue in the public domain, an invitation to cause unrest in a way.

"I long for the days when we used to do business by phone, you talk about it, a deal's not accepted and nobody knows.

"Now there's a way of doing things, you make an offer in writing, it comes out and everybody knows about it. You have to respond to it.

"I think the player is happy at Reading, but speculation about your future is bound to be unsettling. I hope he's playing for us on Saturday, let's see."

Meanwhile, Coppell has confirmed that defender Sam Sodje is on his way out of the club on loan with Charlton Athletic believed to be his destination.

"There's creeping movement on that one I would say," he added.

"Something will happen I think, but it might be a loan, not permanent."