Reading FC

Reading FC take Harte

By Jonny Fordham
September 01, 2010

Ian Harte has targeted a return to the Premier League after joining Reading in a shock £100,000 deadline-day move from Carlisle United.

The former Leeds United, Levante and Sunderland left-back on was snapped up on his 33rd birthday yesterday.

Carlisle tried to fight off Royals’ advances by offering the Republic of Ireland international a contract extension at Brunton Park, but Harte preferred a two-year deal at Madejski Stadium.

Speaking to the Post just after the transfer window slammed shut last night, Harte admitted he was looking forward to a new and exciting challenge in Berkshire.

The set-piece specialist, who scored an incredible 18 goals last term said: “Hopefully I can add to what the squad has here and help push things forward.

“The main priority for me is to get a regular spot in the team and take it from there. The manager said he had been interested for a while and thankfully the opportunity came up for me.

“If I could score a few this season then that will be fantastic, but as long as we’re pushing for promotion, that’s the most important thing.

“There’s a mixture of experience and youth. We have a good combination of players and it’s up to us to go out there and do it now.”

Harte has won 64 caps and scored 11 goals for his country and is full of experience, having played in the World Cup and Champions League.

He should have no problems in settling in Berkshire with his wife and two young daughters, as he already knows Shane Long, Brian Howard and Andy Griffin.

After also turning down the opportunity to join Carlisle’s League One rivals Huddersfield, Harte is ready to prove he is still good enough for the Championship.

He added: “I always knew I was capable of playing in the Championship, but when I came back from Spain I went to Sunderland and didn’t really play.

“I dropped divisions when I went to Carlisle, but it’s paid off and here I am now. I watched bits and pieces of the Leicester game the other day and I knew about the move then.

“Someone back in Drogheda, where I’m from, told me about the interest. I spoke to my agent and it turned out to be a 100-per-cent goer and I’m delighted to have signed.”

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I listened to talk sport on Tuesday - An agent explained that transfer deadline day invloved a chain of buying and selling similar to the chain of a house purchase. He said that clubs usually only sold if they could buy the replacement they had lined up. Siggy was our best player by a mile - we would have been relegated without him last season. So where is the evidence RFC is a well run club. It is all rhetoric - actions speak louder than words. Words are cheap and we all know who likes cheap!!

Jon Pepper
11/10/2010 at 11:54

It seems ajr that you another one who doesnt understand what 'support' is.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
03/09/2010 at 11:34

bushes, who are you to grant anything to anyone?

the thing is you attack anyone and everyone about their opinions.they may not be 'supporters' financially, but they are morally.how do you know they don't subscribe to reading player or buy lots of merchandise, add that to the miles they travel to watch one match(reckon that might be further than yourself) and the cost to travel then you have one fantastic supporter, fair play to them.

ajr111, swindon
03/09/2010 at 11:22

You appear to go more games than Expom, so I shall grant you honourary Supporter status. Do not abuse this gift.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
02/09/2010 at 16:24

You correct, by that definition I do not 'support' Reading. Sure do follow and love em though! And hopefully I'll be at the Portsmouth game to welcome back that tall Ginger!

Maryland Royal
02/09/2010 at 15:52

I am sure there are many local sports teams in your locality that are crying out for your attention. You may follow Reading, but you do not 'support'. By supporting you invest in the club on a regular basis, you travel to games and get your voice heard. That is support.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
02/09/2010 at 15:16

Bushes, I don't understand why someone cannot support a club they are not geographically close to. I love Reading but live in the US. I began following the Royals when they picked up a then young Bobby Convey from my local team DC United. I could only follow them on the internet for awhile and only was able to watch them really when we were in the premiership. I didn't just randomly pick Reading to follow or paid attention to them because of Bobby Convey... yes thats how I first did, but I came to love Coppell, the style of play, their spirit and the team. I don't claim to know as much or be as strong a supporter of the team as you but I do support them despite having originally no affiliation with the town or team. I've been able to go to one game last season and will be hopefully watching them play Portsmouth in April. Yeah we sold are best player, but very few of us really know whats going on financially and like you said, people gotta stop moaning about it and support whats on the field!

Alex Torrella
02/09/2010 at 15:00

Notice you didnt deny any of what I said, just went on another smug trip.

Speaks volumes.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
02/09/2010 at 13:23

What a exquisite and a enjoyable reply from you Bushes. Your words flow majestically Bushes you are truely a gifted one. So you think no one get complacent then in there job if they been there for a few years then? I think Coppell would do NH job very well and bring in a whole new approach that they need in that department. You never know Bushes someone from Australasia might buy Reading fc one day and take it to the next level that it needs badly proper investment. Because Reading fc is a sleeping giant. It has a potential area base over a million people in the surrounding areas of Reading. All it needs is someone to tap into that market properly and they are on a winner. You might have to make the ground alot bigger thou. So what do you think of that one same again? We are supporters we are not worthy. By the way i was looking at the other comments and you have a fan club from our cousin's across the ditch Australia i see. He must think highly of you to call you that name Bucket Boy impeccable name for you to have. What a heavenly name thats a real compliment from an Australian.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
02/09/2010 at 12:32

I have told you before Expom, you are not a supporter of Reading. You may follow them via the Internet but you don’t support. This goes the same for people living elsewhere in the world. It really isn’t rocket science.

What it comes down to is you know nothing about how the club is run, you’re thousands of miles away talking about a club you have zero affiliation with. God help us if people take your comments seriously. Slagging off the Chairman and Nicky Hammond is particulary galling coming from someone who does not give penny one to the upkeep of the club.

‘At the moment nothing is working properly at the club’

Based on what? Selling a player for millions? Not one player or member of staff has stated there are any problems. Spot on again Expom, how do you do it?

Please follow another club, one closer to you. Try Hawaii.

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
02/09/2010 at 11:57

What's the matter Bushes there is a thing called accountability in life. There's alot of comments here that are well justified with what they are saying may be its not what you or like having in front you. Just because l live on the other side of the world does not make me a supporter and there are people from the USA, Canada, Australia that follow Reading fc they do not make it to games to. Does that not make them supporters of Reading fc too. Because you will find that alot of clubs in the UK are looking at those countries to make the game grow and get there suppoters clubs going in which country they can. So what you saying that people who live in another country and support Reading fc and may never been to any games cannot have an opinion on whats happening with the clubs situation. So Bushes you will have to get use to people from other countries having their say on what is going on Reading fc.

There is a thing called market development and every major product has to re-invent themselves so that it stays in the public eye and people talk about like Reading fc did wining the championship to go to the premiership. Reading was the talk of the country wasn't they you would have agree on that one Bushes.

The only thing i hear about now is the lack of investment people moaning on what is going wrong with the club. JM needs to re-invent club again get new people involved. Put Coppell in NH place, because he would bring something very new to the club. NH has been there for a long time now and he is complacent and bring in some younger staff members to bring a buzz to the place make it vibrant how it was when they were pushing for promotion. If it means JM standing a side and letting a younger chairman take the rains but JM to stay on to give advise to the younger chairman as a mentor. At the moment nothing is working properly at the club, they one bit right and another bit goes wrong. Be prepared to get lots of comments that might up set you in this space. Another fine set of sophisticated comment i shall recieve back.

Expom, Christchurch New Zealand
02/09/2010 at 11:17

to all those budding economists out there who calculate the clubs wealth purely on players sold, attendances, sky money in premier & parachute payments - can I introduce the concept of players wages, running a football club, employees, maintenance, pensions, insurance etc etc

Wages in the premier league broadly matched what we had to pay our players whilst in the premier league - so there is no large pot of cash!

Robsy , Reading
02/09/2010 at 10:59

What a bunch of moaning old women you are. Do me a favour and don't go to games anymore, like Expom (if he ever went).

Bushes Bernal, The Hop Leaf
02/09/2010 at 09:31

are we just trying to stop them form scoreing with these signing or we going to find another some one who can score for us

aussie gaz, Australia
02/09/2010 at 09:05

Honestly SJM, how can you make the statements that have flowed from your 'palace suite' in the club's hotel over the past two months when you give BM such a load of left overs. We may be loyal Royals, but we ain't 'simple'. And if BM gets us anywhere other than in the relegation zone this season he will have performed miracles yet again.