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 THE dust has settled, the Premier League is just a disappointing memory - and life for Reading FC as a Championship club has resumed. The serious action does not start until August 3 - but Part 1 of the "bonus pre-season" has been completed for new boss Nigel Adkins and his right-hand man, Andy Crosby. Rather than come in cold at this time, they've had eight games to form a picture of who, among the present playing staff they want to keep, who they can release, and which positions they need to strengthen. Of the current squad, it's clear that Noel Hunt and Ian Harte are surplus, and both could end up at Leeds with Brian McDermott. Kaspars Gorkss, despite his lifeline appearance on Sunday, could join them at Elland Road, as could Mikele Leigertwood. There could also be a place with B-Mac for forgotten contracted defender Shaun Cummings, who has just been called into the Jamaica World Cup squad alongside Jobi McAnuff, Adrian Mariappa and Garath McCleary. Alex Pearce is also on his way, but whether his old mentor Brendan Rodgers sees him as a good enough replacement for the retiring Jamie Carragher at Liverpool remains to be seen. Some fans will have been disappointed that Jay Tabb did not get the same reprieve opportunity as Gorkss on Sunday, but he will be away as well, probably staying at Ipswich. It's long been known that Simon Church and Joe Mills would not be back. Then it gets trickier - which of the contracted players are likely to be sold? After a promising start, Pavel Pogrebnyak did not perform as well as expected, and moving him on would certainly ease the payroll. The two halves at West Ham indicated why the 4-2-3-1 might not be set in stone next season. Things perked up considerably when Nick Blackman and Adam Le Fondre were paired up front in the second half. Can the club hold on to Alfie? Probably doubtful. A mid-to-lower Premier League club would value him, although his agent might ponder that a goal-laden glory-glory run in the Championship might propel him even higher up the earning scale at a later date. Alex McCarthy will attract a lot of attention, and might even get a half for England in one of the two friendlies for which he is in the squad. He will have to do better than his worst-of-season showing at West Ham, but his ability is well known now and someone big will at least bid for him. Apart from that, Jem Karacan could be lured to Turkey, and McCleary may be a target. INCOMING: Adkins will probably raid his old Southampton haunt for at least two - maybe Danny Fox and Guly Do Prado - also his favourite striker, Billy Sharp. Keep an eye out also for Chris Humphrey (Motherwell), Alan Tate (Swansea), Nakhi Wells (Bradford), Dwight Gale (Peterborough) and one or more foreign players. Watch this space!
 READING HOTELS - IF you need a hotel room in Reading, the UK - or anywhere in the world - our discount booking service is the answer. Click here for Reading Guide's own link to LateRooms.com®. Availability and prices are updated daily, the prices per room not per person, and there's no booking fee. PLEASE NOTE: If you make future bookings, it would help sustain Reading Guide if you do so from this link.
 The Trinity Mirror-owned former Reading evening newspaper, the Post, is now a midweek solo edition which interchanges identity to become the getreading website and Friday paper.
-------------------------------------  The Chronicle is the oldest newspaper in the Reading area, having started life in the early 1800s as the Berkshire Chronicle - it is now a locally-owned subsidiary of a Scottish media company.
-------------------------------------  First published in 1885 as the Henley Free Press, the locally-owned Henley Standard has been a front-runner in the electronic era with some consistently lively multi-media output.
-------------------------------------  The Newbury Weekly News was first published in 1867 but was among the first locally to embrace the internet with extensive coverage including video under its Newbury Today brand.
-------------------------------------  The Wokingham Times is the longest-established newspaper in that area, with a website, getwokingham, styled like its Reading stable-mate the Post, sharing some content with getreading.
-------------------------------------  The stable-mate of the Reading Chronicle and the Slough Observer has been serving south-east Berkshire for the past 50 years and keeps up well on its website with the news from its patch.
-------------------------------------  The Maidenhead Advertiser was first published in in 1869 and once had an enviable circulation larger than the town's population - still a thriving paper and now also fully multi-media.
-------------------------------------  An independent information site for Maidenhead, giving comprehensive details and listings for businesses, restaurants and tourism in that area.
-------------------------------------  BBC Radio Berkshire has the benefit of the Corporation's central Government funding for its broadcast and multi-media output with county-wide website coverage.
-------------------------------------  After many name and image changes, the south's commercial TV operation has found it's corporate feet with a good website to match - latest from Fred Dinenage and Reading's own Sangeeta Bhabra.
-------------------------------------  Reading's "community" radio station, 107fm, part of Sir John Madejski's empire, has a lively site, like the station itself, and keeps up with the news as well as features about its own output.
-------------------------------------  Reading Borough Council has spruced up its PR and corporate multi-media in recent years and issues frequent media news releases on the key community subjects.
-------------------------------------  The University of Reading, in its 111th year, is in the top one percent of uni's worldwide, and its frequent news releases reflect its highly-acclaimed research work.
-------------------------------------  There are several "Readings" in the USA, best-known of which is the 88,000-population Reading city northwest of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania - it's local paper is the Eagle, backed up by its dot.com version.
-------------------------------------  From another "Reading, USA", this time 16 miles north of Boston in Massachusetts is The Advocate newspaper which feeds an excellent news service into its equally-excellent website, named Wicked Local.
-------------------------------------  A news aggregator which trawls the www for any story it finds with the word "Reading", so it can occasionally, therefore throw up book-reading topics - but it's a good source of interesting items.
 Keep up to date with all things Royal with their official website, giving info about the club, the team, tickets, souvenirs and more, including interviews and subscription video.
-------------------------------------  An unofficial Reading FC website always full of well-written comment, positive and negative - but always constructive - about the Royals. Named after the old "Home End" at Elm Park.
-------------------------------------  Reading's adopted top-flight Rugby Union team, survived a relegation scare in 2012/13 and look forward to better times ahead. The website has comprehensive news, info and video.
-------------------------------------  Reading's most consistently successful sports club runs 11 men’s teams and seven ladies’ teams, with both elite squads at the top of the domestic game with many international stars.
-------------------------------------  Reading Cricket Club operates in tandem with the adjacent Reading Hockey Club, providing a two-pronged elite sports operation at the extensive Sonning Lane site.
-------------------------------------  The club finished its 2012/13 season a creditable third in the National South West Division One (East). Founded in 1898 as Berkshire Wanderers, the Reading RFC still fields a Wanderers XV.
-------------------------------------  Originally founded for youngsters from non-rugby-playing schools, Abbey went senior in 1956, later acquired their own 22-acre site at Emmer Green and have competed successfully since.
-------------------------------------  Now known as The Rams, the Redingensians club was founded in 1926, originally for former pupils of Reading School. It runs teams in all age groups at its complex in Sonning.
-------------------------------------  Reading CC has been promoting cycling in Berkshire since 1974. With over 200 members, the club is dedicated to giving cyclists the opportunity to race, ride and enjoy life on two wheels.
-------------------------------------  The club has a long and proud history with past Olympic stars such as Ann Packer, Bev Callender and Britain's most successful-ever female sprinter, Kathy Smallwood.
-------------------------------------  A friendly community rowing club located on one of the best stretches of the upper Thames, with access to 6km of beautiful water from Caversham Bridge to Mapledurham lock.
-------------------------------------  Founded as recently as 1997, the Rockets had such spectacular lift-off that they now run age-group, ladies and seniors teams. They are National Division One champions 2012/13.
-------------------------------------  The legendary (and still going strong at 80) Reg Fearman brought Speedway to Reading in 1968. Smallmead closed in 2008 but the Racers faithful still have hope - and a good website.
 The Magpies have an extremely proud, and unique football boast - their York Road ground is the world's oldest football ground used continuously by the same club.
-------------------------------------  Finchampstead CC is renowned as one of Berkshire’s best, with two full-sized grounds in a picturesque countryside setting in the village. It's a Berks county venue.
-------------------------------------  The Hawks are one of the leading clubs in the Thames Valley, among the top 50 in the country, and are currently on the up again after a rare lean spell in their fortunes.
-------------------------------------  Bracknell RFC has an illustrious pedigree, founded in 1955 by Welsh and Cornish men new to the New Town area. 2012/13 champs of South West Division One (East).
-------------------------------------  The Blues, a focal point for the West Berkshire rugby community, finished the 2012/13 season comfortably mid-table in South West Division One (East).
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UK's leading independent quality hardwood furniture retailer Just half an hour on the train - and so much to see! Shop online and check for frequent offers Great money-savers every day - just click your favourite town Always great value from one of the top High Street names We're with those who say chocolate is good for you! Save up to 20percent off car hire in Europe and elsewhere A great chance to freshen up your office this Spring! Great last-minute bargains to hit the slopes!   News from The Reading Guide 31/12/2012 CLICK HERE > > > > > more... 30/12/2012 FOR NEWS 30/12/2012 ARCHIVE 30/12/2012 FOR 2012 29/12/2012 AND 2011 |
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