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Friday, 12 March 2010

World News Reading Release Fed's Main Rival

READING have begun life without Steve Coppell by releasing four major players from his reign.

Michael Duberry, Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty and Leroy Lita have all been been told their contracts will not be renewed after talks with director of football Nick Hammond.

Alan Bennett, Gary Frewen, Scott Golbourne, Tom Hateley and Daniel Spence have also been shown the door but Brynjar Gunnarsson has been offered a new one-year contract while youth players Oliver Bozanic, Scott Davies and Ben Hamer have also been offered new deals.

Hammond said: "The players who are leaving will all be sorely missed, but this week has seen the end of an era and it's time for the club to move on.

"It was important for us to resolve the issue of our out-of-contract players quickly, which now allows us to focus all our energies on recruiting the right manager to replace Steve Coppell.

"Graeme Murty and Marcus Hahnemann were key members of the team throughout Steve Coppell's managerial reign, and they will both forever hold a significant place in the club's history.

"Leroy Lita's goals in his first season at the club played a vital role in propelling us towards the Premier League, and Michael Duberry has been an important player for us in the last couple of years.

"I'd like to sincerely thank them for all their efforts and wish them well for the future."

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