McDermott: I know I'm favourite for the sack

Posted Monday, December 17, 2012 by PA

Reading manager Brian McDermott understands why he has been installed as favourite to become the third Barclays Premier League manager to be sacked this season.

The Royals lie second from bottom in the table and six points adrift of safety after a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland on Tuesday. And ahead of the visit of Arsenal to the Madejski Stadium McDermott has accepted the precarious nature of his position.

"People talk about my job and I understand that. I don't go home at night feeling great about myself because we're not winning games," McDermott said. "I'm favourite to go first, we all know that. Sixteen games ago I'd have been 50-1, now I'm 7-4.

"That's how it works in football and I completely understand because it's a results-driven business.

"Generally over the last three years we've won a lot of games and our record is good, but all I do is focus on what I can do. We're not winning but we're trying to win."

Reading fans have been sympathetic to McDermott and the former Arsenal midfielder appreciates their patience.

"Our fans have been fantastic, I can't fault them. They travelled in numbers to Sunderland and Southampton," he said. "They have seen loads of success in the last three years and at the moment it is a tough time.

"They are standing by the team. The alternative to standing by the team is not standing by the team and that isn't helpful.

"All I can do is ask them to stand by the team. I can't demand anything. We are doing the best we possibly can and I can only ask them to stand by us and they've done that."