Thursday, 20th June, 2013
Leeds United manager Brian McDermott may not admit it himself but club ambassador Eddie Gray knows full well there is unfinished business to be resolved for the boss at Reading this season.
McDermott had been manager at Reading for three years, following a year as interim boss and nine as a scout, when he was unceremoniously dismissed in March by owner Anton Zingarevich.
The 13-year association meant his departure had surprised many – despite the falling results – especially since he had brought Reading back to the Premier League in 2012, and was named Manager of the Month in January of this year.
He was almost immediately given the Leeds job – following Neil Warnock’s departure – and yesterday’s fixture announcement for the Championship had just one game on McDermott’s mind, the visit to the Madejski Stadium on 17th September.
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While McDermott himself is not letting much on, former Leeds United player Gray believes the 52-year-old has a point to prove, telling the club’s official site: "I think he still feels a bit aggrieved about what happened at Reading, probably rightly so.
"It is always quite emotional when a manager returns to his old club, especially a club he served well and where he was successful.
"He’ll be looking forward to going back and I’m sure that nothing would give him more pleasure than picking up the three points there."
McDermott, however, has a slightly lesser degree of resentment, and instead hopes to receive a warm welcome from the fans he served for so long.
"For me that will be a special game because I never really had a chance to say goodbye to anyone at the ground", McDermott said.
"I had 13 years there and I like to think I had a good time and I enjoyed my time there with the managers I worked under and as a manager myself.
"The fans were good to me there so it will be nice to go back."
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