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We first of all had the farce of West Ham pursuing Alan Pardew at Reading. They were refused permission to talk to him so he just walked out. After going to court a settlement was reached and Pardew starts at West Ham a week on Saturday on the day we visit the Boleyn Ground.
Trevor Brooking will still be in charge that day although Pardew will certainly be there taking in the match and surely more than just a spectator.
Reading began their search for a replacement and incredibly moved for Peter Taylor (they must have been desperate to sign Ade Akinbiyi and Trevor Benjamin) but as luck would have it for them he said no.
They then turned their attentions to Steve Coppell and after long negotiations he has decided to leave the Withdean Stadium and become the new manager of Reading.
It was always difficult to imagine Coppell at Brighton, for so long associated with Crystal Palace it was somewhat strange that he would be in charge of their fiercest rivals.
He has in fact had four different spells as Palace manager and during one of those spells had Stan Ternent as his number two as they won promotion to the old First Division beating Blackburn in the play off final. Coppell has also managed both Manchester City and Brentford. He had a short spell coaching at Swindon before replacing Martin Hinshelwood at Brighton last season.
Reading will be hoping he stays around longer than he did at Maine Road, he walked out after just 33 days there in November 1996.
Coppell said this morning, "I am delighted to be at Reading and looking forward to getting on with the job in hand. This is a very ambitious club and I am looking forward to working with the players and staff as we aim for the Premiership."