Alan Pardew, the former Reading FC manager, has opened up about his tumultuous departure from the Royals in 2003.
Pardew began his management career in Berkshire, serving as caretaker manager before becoming regular first-team manager in 1999.
He spent four years with Reading, and after losing in the Division Two play-off final in 2000/01, Pardew’s side redeemed themselves by winning automatic promotion to Division One the following year. Pardew’s stint ended in controversy after the club lost in the play-off semi-finals against Wolves in 2002/03.
After being denied permission to talk with West Ham United at the start of the 2003/04 season, Pardew resigned as manager and later joined the Hammers following a court dispute.
Pardew told TalkSport: “When I was Reading manager and the up-and-coming manager of the time, I was flying at Reading.”Sir John Madejski hired me because he trusted me as the reserve team manager.
“I take his team to promotion and the top of the Championship, albeit for a brief period, and then I go to West Ham.”
Pardew went on to have a successful managerial career, spending three years in command of West Ham before moving on to Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, and West Brom.
He went on: “His (Madejski’s) last conversation with me was, ‘You might have done this deal with West Ham, but can you show the loyalty back to me that I showed in giving you the job in the first place?'”
“I was really ambitious at the time, and West Ham had turned my head financially, so I departed.
“In retrospect, I felt badly. I did it because it was West Ham, but the financial aspect was important because it was much higher than what Reading was paying.
“When I went to see him at the final moment, he was in tears, and I was very distraught. It was a tough decision.”
Pardew led West Ham to the FA Cup final in 2006. They were defeated in a dramatic final by Liverpool. Later in his career, he reached the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace, losing to Manchester United in 2016.
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