Reading Football Club News

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

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24,200

Royals warn wantaway Sidwell

10 May 2007 - 12:56:02

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Reading have warned Steven Sidwell that he might not be guaranteed first-team football should he decide to leave the Madejski Stadium in the summer.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with a host of top-flight clubs including Newcastle United and Chelsea in recent weeks.

Sidwell looks set to leave on a free transfer in the summer, but Reading's director of football Nicky Hammond has warned the former Arsenal trainee that he might not have to be content with a place on the bench at another Premiership club.

"I spoke with his people a couple of weeks ago and told them if there was anything more we could do to keep him or encourage him to stay they should come back to us," Hammond told the Reading Chronicle.

"But that hasn't happened and I'm sure Steve will make his position known as soon as the season has finished.

"He has got a big decision to make. There is a lot of interest out there and it's a very important decision for him.

"He knows what he has got at Reading. We've been really competitive this year and he has been an integral part of that team.

"He has been a mainstay of the side and I imagine, for him, that is imperative wherever he goes.

"But he's not likely to find that situation easy to come by at another club.

"Steve is a player who needs to play week-in week-out to be at the top of his game, but there is never a guarantee of that happening somewhere else.

"Part of us still hopes he will stay, but the reality is he will go."