Dillon Shocked By Ipswich Hurley-Burley

Last updated : 12 October 2002 By Rob Cooper
George Burley
George Burley
Next weekend Reading will become the first team to play Ipswich Town in the post George Burley era after the Tractor Boys sacked their long-term manager on Friday.

Ipswich, relegated from the Premiership just last May, have had a disastourous start to the campaign. Despite being amongst the favourites for promotion they currently lie in a poor nineteenth place.

Nethertheless Reading Assistant Manager Kevin Dillon admitted he was shocked to hear the news.

Dillon told readingfc.co.uk: "I'm shocked. The first manager this season went recently and since then there have been five or six more sackings.

"Managers speak to each other, players speak to each other and I'm sure chairman do the same so it's no coincidence that a several managers have gone in such a short space of time."

Ipswich have announced that Tony Mowbray will manage the team until they can find a permanent successor to George Burley.

However, Kevin Dillon admitted that Reading will approach their clash with the Tractor Boys next weekend in the same way as if Burley had still been in charge.

"Burley leaving doesn't affect our game plan. It might upset Ipswich slightly because Burley has been there such a long time. He's got a long connection with the club after playing there, a lot of his staff are still at the club and they'll be down."