Reading FC

FOREVER GRATEFUL: Brian McDermott has Alan Pardew to thank for bringing him to Reading
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Brian McDermott tells of debt to Saints boss

By Jonny Fordham
July 30, 2010

Brian McDermott believes he would be nowhere in football management if it wasn’t for Southampton boss Alan Pardew (below).

The two managers will lock horns in Reading’s final pre-season friendly at St Mary’s tomorrow (3pm kick-off) – 10 years after McDermott’s big break when Pardew plucked him from struggling Conference South side Woking.

Pardew, then boss at Madejski Stadium, brought in McDermott to help coach in Reading’s Academy and head up scouting duties.

“If it wasn’t for Alan Pardew then I wouldn’t be here now,” said Royals’ boss. “Pards was the one that brought me to the club and I have a lot to thank him for.

“He did a great job for Reading to get us into the Championship and then nearly into the Premier League.

McDermott added: “I’m sure everyone has their own views on how he left (for West Ham United in 2003), but for me he has been so important.

“He showed great belief in me and took me from a Conference club to Reading. I owe him a lot for doing that.”

Tomorrow’s game against the Football League Trophy winners on the south coast sees a number of familiar names line up against each other. Royals’ former defensive coach Wally Downes will be on the sidelines as Pardew’s assistant, while kitman Ron Grant is also helping Southampton out on a temporary basis.

Left-back Dan Harding, who joined Reading on loan during the second half of the 2008-09 campaign, is now an ever-present in the Saints side.

Winger Michail Antonio, who scored for Southampton at Wembley during his loan spell last season, will be in Royals’ squad after netting in the 2-1 home win over Wolves in midweek.

And Reading skipper Matt Mills is likely to face his younger brother Joseph, who plays as an attacking left-back for Saints.

McDermott will field his strongest line-up eight days before Royals’ Championship opener at home to Scunthorpe United .

Star midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson (Achilles) and forward Noel Hunt (ankle) face late fitness tests, but ex-Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak is expected to be fit following a rib injury.

McDermott added: “If Gylfi is not right then I won’t risk him. Noel Hunt should be close, though, and hopefully Grzegorz Rasiak is okay as well.”

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bitter sweet for me, we ended up with Coppell so although at the time i didn't think it, every cloud...

Mr Green to you
30/07/2010 at 13:57

“I’m sure everyone has their own views on how he left (for West Ham United in 2003), but for me he has been so important"

Indeed we do Mc. I remember Pardew standing outside the hearing in 2003 wearing West Ham colours, stating he had agreed to join West Ham, despite up to that point never had official permission to even talk to them. I remember Brooking effectively tapping him up and admitting so on live television.

I remember that so called peoples club dumping him from a great height when results dipped. I laughed a lot that day.

Still, his career has never been the same. It just gets worse.

Not bitter at all......