COPPELL EXPECTS MAJOR CHANGES AT READING

Coppell - says departures are inevitable.

Reading manager Steve Coppell admits departures at the club are "inevitable" following their relegation.

The Royals' two-year stay in the Barclays Premier League ended in agonising circumstances on Sunday when they were edged out on goal difference by Fulham.

Even a 4-0 victory at Pride Park could not prevent them joining Derby and Birmingham in the Coca-Cola Championship next season following the Cottagers' 1-0 win at FA Cup finalists Portsmouth.

Speculation had already surrounded the futures of the likes of Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Nicky Shorey even before the club's fate was sealed.

And the hefty cost of relegation to the second tier is now likely to increase the prospect of players heading for the exit door.

Coppell, whose own future at the Madejski Stadium remains shrouded in doubt, said: "I think inevitably now there will be a reassessment and a rejig, it always happens.

"I think there were always going to be some changes anyway. I suppose it's now a time of reflection, making conclusions and going from there."

As for the Royals' relegation, Coppell conceded his side had paid the price for failing to take points off the sides around them.

"We have had our opportunities this year," he added.

"We are talking about margins and they turned out to be significant at the end of the day.

"We had our opportunities, Bolton took six points off us, Fulham took six points as well.

"The golden rule at the bottom is you have to beat the sides around you and we never did that."

However, he insisted this year's fixture list had done them no favours whatsoever.

"In a way I think playing Derby in the last game of the season was a little bit of a disadvantage.

"Also, harping back to six international breaks this year we have had long journeys on five of those.

"I think that was a disadvantage as well. No other team had so many away games after the international breaks."

There were no excuses from County manager Paul Jewell, however, who warned his underperforming squad that not even those who arrived in January should assume they will be at Pride Park next season.

He said: "There is no gimmes there, they are all under scrutiny. I don't think any player, whoever he is, could have any arguments if he is not here next season on what I've seen.

"I know the players are better than what they have shown, I know that 100%.

"When you come into a club that is on the floor it is difficult to show your best but I would have expected the players that have come in during January to show more than they have shown."

And the Rams boss warned those who do leave should not expect to find themselves in the top flight next season.

"I don't think they care enough, they just don't care enough," he added.

"That's what happens when you get relegated, players think it's not their fault and they will always get another chance.

"You won't see too many of our players going to other Premier League teams."

One thing which Jewell believes could work in his favour is the fact he has known Derby were doomed for considerably longer than Coppell or Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.

"There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes," he said.

"The advantage, if we like, is now Birmingham and Reading have been relegated they are going to be looking for a team that will get them out of the Championship.

"We have known since March that probably we were going to get relegated so we have a head start hopefully.

"We've put a lot of hard work into trying to improve the squad and also there will be players going out the door, if we can get them out.

"We will have to take hits on players I guess because players that were bought for huge sums of money haven't pulled it off."