Murty Leading by Example

With all the speculation surrounding players leaving Reading, skipper Graeme Murty has revealed his priorities.

The likes Nicky Shorey, Stephen Hunt and Ibrahima Sonko seem to have forgotten that had it not beeen for Reading they would never have played in the top flight in the first place, but Murty remains loyal and has put things in perspective.

Murty explained that while some players want to forget about relegation and jump ship, he too wants to get back to the Premier League, but with Reading.

He told the Reading Chronicle, 'Some people may want to forget about last season which is understandable.

'Personally, I`m still extremely angry and upset about it.

'I think about it a lot because we all want to be back up there in the Premier League. But the fact is we`re not and I`m sure there are others who feel the same as I do.

'However, if we can channel that anger in a constructive way and use it to help us next season then it can be a positive thing.

'The manager will want us to show him how much we want to get back there. From my point of view, I`m desperate to get on with the job and the lads have to show the same attitude and pull in the same direction.

'Some players are going to be disappointed because they haven`t got a big move to another club. Well, that`s just tough.

'Now it`s down to the rest of us to convince them that there is value in still being here at Reading and that perhaps the only way they are going to get back into the Premiership is with Reading.

'Hopefully we can all help to develop that attitude because we have a tough battle ahead.

'If anyone thinks it is going to be a breeze they are wrong. We need to show intensity and that we`re ready to go from the start.

'It`s a different challenge for us. We`ve always been the underdogs but not any more.

'If players want to stay they will stay, it`s as simple as that. The managers will be able to tell that from their reaction in pre-season.

'If a big club comes along and entices someone away then there`s nothing we can really do.

'There will always be speculation, it`s par for the course. What`s important is that we prepare for the season in the right way and ignore everything else.'

Prima donnas take note of the wise words from the Reading captain, speaking like a true loyal Royal.

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