Steve Coppell quits as Reading manager after club fails to clinch promotion to Premier League

Coppell quits Reading following playoff failure

READING, England — Steve Coppell quit as manager of Reading following the club’s failure to clinch promotion to the Premier League.

Reading was demoted from the top flight last season and missed out on a place in the League Championship playoff final after losing 2-0 to visiting Burnley on Tuesday in the second leg of the semifinals.

Coppell’s departure had been widely anticipated after 5 1/2 years with the club, with many commentators speculating that he was prepared to step down even if the team made it back to the Premier League.

“Following our exit from the playoffs, I feel it’s the best thing, for both the club and myself, for me to leave,” Coppell said.

Reading had looked set for an immediate return to the Premier League after beating League Championship leader Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan. 27, but failed to win any of its remaining eight home matches and finished fourth in the 24-team second tier.

That poor run continued with the 3-0 aggregate loss to Burnley, which will meet Sheffield United in the May 25 playoff final. The winner will join Wolves and Birmingham in being promoted.

The 53-year-old Coppell took charge of Reading after Alan Pardew left for West Ham in 2003 and took the club into the Premier League for the first time three years later.

“I am very disappointed to confirm that Steve has decided to step aside as our manager, but I respect his wishes,” Reading chairman John Madejski said. “I would like to thank Steve sincerely for everything he has done for Reading over the last five and a half years, which has been the most successful period in the club’s history.”