Jaap Stam

Opinion: Why leaving Reading for Leeds United would be a sideways step for Jaap Stam

Saturday saw Jaap Stam’s odds cut to 2/1, second favourite for the vacant Leeds United job.

Since, Stam’s agent has ruled out the move, with the Dutchman set to sign a new 2-year contract with Championship rivals Reading.

As a Reading fan, I can’t see any reason why Stam would want to swap Berkshire for Yorkshire, and given the frosty reception both he and his Reading side received after the 2-0 defeat at Elland Road, I’m not sure Leeds fans would’ve warmed to Stam.

Whilst Leeds are undoubtedly the bigger of the two clubs, Reading is the club with a bigger chance of returning to the Premier League in the near future, and here is why …

Foundations and Stability

Leeds are a club built on their history and tradition – a sleeping giant of the English game who are certain to one day return to the Premier League, however Reading are a club with the perfect foundations from which Jaap Stam can build on his ‘Dutch revolution’.

Firstly, new Chinese owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li have promised to bankroll the club, and have already pumped a £60 million loan into the club’s coffers to help pay off the debts that have been holding the club back financially for so many years.

Jaap Stam has been promised a ‘war chest’ of funds to build the squad he needs to push for automatic promotion and with the club hopefully set to offer Danny Williams a new deal, it’s clear the owners will spend whatever is needed, albeit cautiously in ‘the Reading way’, to get this side into the top flight.

Additionally, with star man Chris Wood surely set to depart in the summer, Leeds seemingly have no backup plan or alternative. Last season, no player other than Chirs Wood scored more than 5 league goals. Reading’s Yann Kermogant (19), Garath McCleary (9), John Swift (9) and Roy Beerens (7) all scored more.

Reading have goal threats from across the pitch, despite their “boring Reading” tag, and with Stam looking to add an extra striker to the ranks, the only way is seemingly up for the Royals.

You also doubt the likelihood of Reading losing any key players this summer, with the exception of Williams. Whilst Jansson and Wood could well leave and Kyle Bartley looks set to return to Swansea, Reading will likely keep hold of all their key players this summer, with Liam Kelly, John Swift and Liam Moore all tied down on long-term deals.

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