No Loyalty Shown by Russian Royalty

McDermott (second right) was axed yesterday by Zingarevich (far right)  



 “Russian Owner Axes Manager” will be the headline with which the folk of Berkshire will wake up to this morning. Unfortunately for those fans, many of whom pack out the Madejski Stadium week in, week out, the headline refers not to Roman Abramovich’s trigger-happiness at Chelsea, but to their owner Anton Zingarevich dismissing manager Brian McDermott last night.

The similar traits of Russian billionaire football club owners evidently run beyond skin deep.

With nine games remaining in the Premier League season, Zingarevich has chosen to act now while the Royals, four points adrift of safety in 19th place, still have a fighting chance of survival.

McDermott is not a screamer and baller; he does not wear sharp suits and walk with panache. He is dignified and sure-footed, and, probably in the eyes of the relatively new owner, perhaps a little plain or boring.

However, without the ex-Arsenal midfielder, the Royals would most likely still be in the Championship. They were licking their wounds in September 2011, a few months after suffering play-off final defeat to Swansea City, and sat near the foot of the second tier, before regrouping and storming to win last season’s title – only their second ever promotion to the top flight.

Heck, fast forward to this year and here is a man who won the Premier League manager of the month award for January!

His reward is the one guarantee of football management: the sack.

Discounting Brendan Rodgers’ six month tenure with the Royals, they have had just three managers in 14 years; a more stable club for managers is rarely found.

And what really strikes a nerve is the fact that it is another nail in the coffin, to add to Nigel Adkins’ recent sacking at Southampton, of the top flight English managers. Only four remain.

Early rumours suggest Paolo Di Canio may take over the reins at least until the end of the season; however, his only experience in any post was up the M4 with Swindon Town.

The fiery Italian, who lit up the Premier League as a player, would perhaps envisage doing the same as a manager. He is everything McDermott is not; loud, brash, flamboyant, all of which may appeal to Mr Zingarevich, but it doesn’t matter how many roubles you have in the bank, the bottom line is: three teams must go down.

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