Hammers told to ditch Pardew bid

Reading chairman John Madejski today insisted he will not let Alan Pardew speak to West Ham.

The Royals manager is the No1 choice to replace Glenn Roeder at Upton Park and Madejski has already rejected one approach.

West Ham were hoping further discussions over the weekend would change his mind, but Madejski said: "We've got a contract with the manager and contracts should be honoured.

"Under the terms of his contract, the manager would be allowed to talk to a Premier League club, but we won't give him permission to speak with one of our main Division One rivals."

West Ham caretaker manager Trevor Brooking now looks likely to remain in charge for the match between the sides at Upton Park on Saturday.

Pardew, 42, took training at Reading as normal today.

Brooking, who returned to West Ham after working for the BBC TV commentary team in Macedonia, said: "You have to go through the system of asking permission and that has been rejected.

"I am just thinking about concentrating on the Reading game - they are a very good side and I think it will be our toughest game of the season so far.

"We want to try and get that result and then see what unravels itself as the week goes on."

Brooking is also weighing up bringing in a left-back, either Wayne Quinn or Robbie Elliott from Newcastle in time to face Reading.

He said: "I think we need the likes of Elliott and Quinn because of Rufus Brevett's injury and the importance of getting a left-back in. It is an 'either - or' with the two Newcastle lads and I think we will end up with one of them before Saturday's game.

"I have watched Reading in clips and whatever. They are well organised, enthusiastic, and at the moment unbeaten - so they have got a lot of things going for them.

"But so have we and we are at home where the fans will play their part. It will be a pretty tense affair and very competitive, I am sure, but it is an important game even this early in the season."