Steve Coppell believes he is winning his battle to keep Reading’s relegated squad together, despite Andre Bikey’s admission that he would welcome the opportunity to move to France this summer.

Bikey is understood to be reluctant to ply his trade in the Championship next season and there has been reported interest from St Etienne and Rennes.

He still has two years left to run on his current contract at Madejski Stadium, but is hoping that a compromise can be reached which will allow him to further his career elsewhere.

Royals have already lost Dave Kitson to Stoke for what could end up being a club record £5.5million fee, while Glen Little left on a free to Portsmouth. But so far the bulk of Royals’ team remains in place.

And Coppell told the Evening Post: “I don’t expect to lose many players now. We may lose one more, but we’re not under constant threat. I thought there would be a lot more interest in the players.

“It does surprise me. Given the performances over the last three seasons, I would have thought our players would have been targeted more. We had speculative bids, but no real serious back-up from there.”

Bikey is currently with the Cameroon Olympic squad and is thought to favour a move away from Madejski Stadium for the sake of his international career.

He told Skysports.com: “To be honest, playing in the Championship has never been my ambition. I love the top level, and Reading are in the Championship. I want to play in a top division.

“Playing in France would be good, but England is my preferred choice. I could learn a lot in the top league here, or in France.

“I am open to a transfer, but I have a contract with Reading until 2010.”

Coppell said: “Like the rest of the players, if anyone comes in – as long as it’s a realistic offer – we will put it to the player and he can make his own mind up.

“He wants to be at the Olympics and I think if I was a player it would be exciting, but I think he will be aware that our season starts before he comes back and other people are likely to be in pole position.

“He’s played in World Cup games in the summer and all the players in national sides talk about playing wherever and all of a sudden he finds himself playing in the Championship so I think he would not find it attractive, but as yet I’m not aware of any interest in him.”

For the full story pick up a copy of Tuesday's Evening Post.

Site navigation

• Home
• News
• Business
• Sport
• Entertainment
• Lifestyle
• Jobs
• Property
• Motoring
• Classifieds

• A A