Parky: Dillon For The Job

Last updated : 14 September 2003 By Rob Cooper
John Madejski is expected to embark on a nationwide search for a new manager this week, but former player Phil Parkinson reckons Mr Mad needs only look within the Madejski Stadium.

The tenacious defensive midfielder, who hung up his boots at the end of last season, reckons interim boss Kevin Dillon, devoid of any managerial experience, is the man for the job.

Parky, who is still adored by the Reading faithful, told BBC Radio Essex: "Reading have a good manager in Kevin Dillon. He's a good mate of mine and I'm wishing him all the best. I think he deserves a chance at the job.

"I'm hoping he'll be the next manager of Reading."

Kevin Dillon
Dillon: Unlikely to be considered good enough to lead the Royals on a permanent basis
Dillon, who yesterday made a losing start to his career as a manager, is perhaps not the ideal choice for the job. The 44-year-old seems incapable of filling the job full time.

His decision yesterday not to change the team at all from the one that beat Wimbledon suggests he doesn't have much of an opinion of his own.

Substitutions were another area where the Geordie fell short of what was expected of him. Leaving it late to make changes was unwise, but the switches that eventually came lacked common sense.

The hard-working James Harper was taken off, whilst Andy Hughes, who seemed to be taking an afternoon off was kept on the field.

But even more baffling was Dillon's decision to play Tyson, a left-winger, on the right. The 20-year-old looked out of place, persistently cutting inside. Whilst there may have been some clever thinking behind the idea, it didn't work.

Not even the support of the Reading fans is likely to prove enough for Kevin Dillon. Indeed, Phil Parkinson, who is doing a sterling job at Colchester, would be better qualified for the role.

However, the 35-year-old is not interested in the job, having only taken control of the Layer Road side six months ago.

"I've got a job to do at Colchester United and we've still got a lot of hard work to do," he affirmed.