![Reading Festival has laid out its Look Out For The Planet pledge ahead of its return next week, bringing measures set to promote sustainability. Picture: Luke Dyson [LukeDyson.com]](https://wokingham.today/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Img1871502-360x180.jpg)
Jaap Stam says he will “go and work somewhere else” if Reading feel somebody is better placed to do his job.
The pressure increased on the Dutchman after Royals’ winless run extended to six matches, the longest of his tenure, with a 2-1 defeat to Norwich City at Madejski Stadium this evening.
And Stam also gave an update on injuries to Jordan Obita and Yann Kermorgant.
Here is what he told the media after the game.
On the defeat…
It’s disappointing as you can probably expect. It’s not a good feeling for everybody around the club and everybody that’s supporting the club. When you concede two goals by two set pieces that makes it even harder. A very disappointing evening.
On the start to the game…
I didn’t think we had a bright start. We spoke about doing thing differently which we didn’t do and that leads to that free-kick they score and then they’re 1-0 up. After that we had a good reaction, we went forward and scored the equaliser. Then after that we got more into the game. We didn’t give away too many opportunities, only one I think by Jerome with that ball over the top.
In half-time we talked about what we needed to do in the second half. I think we started well, were a threat in going forward but then again you concede a goal from a corner kick and you don’t want to concede a goal like this. It makes it so hard to get back into the game. There’s always the feeling that if you concede a goal like that then you need to work very, very hard to get back into the game because the opposition can sit a bit deeper and wait for their moments to come out and that’s what happened.
On the type of goals being conceded…
We’re not giving away lots of opportunities. But every ball that goes into the box is a threat and seems like it’s a goal.
On pressure after no wins in six…
There’s always pressure and there’s always people talking about your job and if you don’t win then this might happen. That’s how it is. If the club feels they can do better with somebody else then they need to make that decision. Of course I want to win games and do the same thing as last season. I think that’s normal. But it’s not easy. The players are frustrated as well. They feel it and they know what can happen.
I don’t really think about pressure too much. I think about the team, I think about what we need to do together to get back into a stride to get results again. If anybody wants to make a different decision then they need to do that, it’s up to them and I’ll go and work somewhere else.
On the international break…
It’s always bad if you go into an international break like this because you keep thinking about the result. If you’re losing it makes it even harder. A lot of the players are going away to play for their national team and other injured players need to have treatment. The next game is a big game against Leeds. They’re doing very well but by getting a result against a team like that, it can change everything.
On Yann Kermorgant…
Yann is doing well, he’s feeling well and he wants to get back into training as quick as he can of course. But in communication with the physio we sometimes need to take it easy with him. It’s not going to be months but it’s going to be a matter of weeks probably. But if you force it with these injuries and he gets the same again and he’s out for an even longer period than that makes it more difficult. But Yann is feeling well, there’s a lot of progress so hopefully it’s going to be a matter of a couple of weeks.
On Jordan Obita…
Jordan needs to have a scan this week. His knee was quite swollen so they need to have a look at it now to see what the exact injury is but it doesn’t look too good.
On John Swift…
John Swift had a problem with both his hamstrings in the last week in training. He didn’t pull a hamstring but he felt it. They’re looking into how bad it is but it wasn’t good enough for him to be in the squad.
