New Reading assistant manager John Coleman says he would not have joined the club if he did not believe it could earn promotion back to the Championship.
The 63-year-old, who has more than 1,000 matches of managerial experience, was appointed as Leam Richardson’s assistant this summer after a career that included leading Accrington Stanley from non-league to League One.
Speaking to the club’s media for the first time, Coleman said Reading’s ambition matched his own.
“It feels fantastic to be here. It’s a wonderful club with great history. It is an opportunity that was too big to pass up on, at a club that is going places and has the capability to go places.
“Looking at the surroundings and facilities here, we should use this to do what we want to do. We shouldn’t take it for granted, misuse it or think it’s a venue for fun. You can enjoy going to work, but it’s like Lewis Hamilton using his car to go to the beach on a Sunday. He wants to use his car to win, and we want to use our facilities to win.
“I have managed a lot in the Football League, and I got close to getting a team to compete for the play-offs in League One, but I want to get in and experience the Championship. This club is desperate to get back to that and if I didn’t think we could do it, I wouldn’t be here.”
Coleman has spent the opening weeks of pre-season working alongside Richardson and his coaching staff and said he had been impressed by the commitment shown by the squad.
“You can tell players’ characters very quickly,” he said. “I have been really impressed with the attitude and work ethic. The way the staff have conducted themselves, the way the players have conducted themselves and the organisation is very good. There is a purpose behind it.
“I saw them working in a Hyrox event on Tuesday after a long session in the morning and they pulled each other through. I was getting tired just watching them but the way they pulled each other through and how the staff rallied around them, being part of it makes you feel like you’re pushing towards something.”
Coleman believes the hard work put in during pre-season will provide the foundations for the campaign ahead.
“I don’t care what anyone says, if you work hard to achieve something and you get it, it is miles more satisfying than being given it. Hopefully we are relishing the work rate because it is only going to get harder. I have no qualms that they will embrace that.”
Reading finished seventh in League One last season, narrowly missing out on the play-offs, but Coleman said the club would not shy away from its objective for the coming campaign.
“We have to believe. The Gaffer had a good meeting on the first day and he said that this is what we are here to do: get promoted. There are no heirs and graces, we won’t be avoiding the ‘P word’, we will be mentioning it every day and keep our eye on the prize.
“The fans have every right to want that – you support your team because you want to be successful. We shouldn’t be in a league if we don’t think we can be successful. You have to go into every campaign thinking you can win.
“When you work hard for them and your supporters see you working hard for them, they will forgive a lot. I think we will get effort in bucketloads this year.”
