Madejski: No Grudge with Sidwell

Reading chairman John Madejski holds no ill filling towards former Reading midfielder Steve Sidwell, who decided against signing a new contract with Reading to leave for Chelsea in the summer.

"He played out his contract," Madejski told Sky Sports News. "We needed to keep him.

"We should have sold him at Christmas, if we were going to make money, but the point is we did need him."

For more than a year Reading tried to convince Sidwell that the Madejski was the right place for him, but not even promotion to the Premiership and an 8th place finish last season were enough to convince him to stay.

So although Madejski admitted that Reading could, and maybe should have sold him when they could keeping him as they did was the right thing to do, but he wishes him all the best all the same, but is not sure if the Chelsea move was the right thing for him "Best of luck to him. I'm not a person who begrudges anybody that betters themselves, and water finds its own level," he added.

"He's obviously incredibly confident about himself. He's a very good player, very disciplined and works hard at his game. He's a dedicated player, so that bodes well for him.

"I'd love him to have stayed at Reading, but he decided to go. Whether he can sustain a place in the Chelsea first team remains to be seen."

Chelsea is a move many would find too good to say now to, how things pan out for him only time will tell. He is good enough for Chelsea, but the question is will he play enough to prove this?

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