Reading dig in over Pardew resignation

Alan Pardew plans to stay away from Reading's game with West Ham this weekend after his resignation was rejected by the Royals.

The 42-year-old resigned as Reading's manager yesterday morning after the club's chairman, John Madejski, twice refused him permission to speak to the Hammers, who want him to succeed the sacked Glenn Roeder.

Madejski refused to accept his decision, putting Pardew's assistant, Kevin Dillon, in charge for the game at Upton Park, where Trevor Brooking remains as caretaker manager.

"Given the fixture, I'll be taking time away with my family over the weekend to consider my future outside of Reading Football Club," Pardew said.

The former Crystal Palace and Charlton player made a statement saying: "I wish to announce my resignation from Reading Football Club with immediate effect. My main issue has always been the opportunity to speak to West Ham United Football Club which has been denied to me."

Madejski dug his heels in, saying: "The manager Alan Pardew tendered his resignation, which the board has not accepted. For the game at West Ham on Saturday, the team will be managed by Kevin Dillon and assisted by the current management team of Brian McDermott, Nick Hammond and Niall Clark."

Madejski's decision leaves Pardew in limbo with the Hammers keen to appoint their 10th manager as soon as possible. Brooking will stay in charge until Pardew can be appointed following two unbeaten spells in the dug-out.

But Brooking said: "Obviously I'd like it sorted out as soon as possible. We want to try and get the right person and in the meantime I will carry on until we get to that point.

"At the moment we haven't been able to resolve it so I'm happy to jog along but let's see what happens in the next few games. I'm happy to continue, but I don't expect it to go into months.

"We've got a little shortlist and you look to get the person you think is right. At the moment that hasn't happened but the more time that person gets to do the job, the better really because this is an important year.

"I'm concentrating on Reading, which is a very tough game, and other issues don't really come into it. It's not for me to comment on what's happening anywhere else. All I know is I'm the caretaker manager at the moment and I will continue to do it."

Pardew remains top of West Ham's shortlist of candidates to take them straight back into the Premiership, and the club are prepared to improve significantly his £150,000 per year salary. But they will face a costly compensation claim for the man who guided Reading out of the Second Division and into the play-offs last season, in which they lost to Wolverhampton.

Pardew added: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players for all the effort they have given me, and I am sure they will have continued success at the club. Most of all I would like to thank the fans for their support over the last six years and genuinely wish them all the success they deserve."

Pardew, a former Palace and Charlton defender, stepped up from reserve team manager in October 1999 and guided Reading to the Second Division play-off final in 2001. Reading lost to Walsall but won automatic promotion the following season as runners-up to Brighton.