Former Reading FC manager Alan Pardew has opened up about his controversial exit from the Royals back in 2003.
Pardew started out his managerial career in Berkshire, first as caretaker boss before becoming permanent first-team manager in 1999.
He spent four years with Reading and despite being beaten in the Division Two play-off final in 2000/01, Pardew’s team redeemed themselves by winning automatic promotion to Division One the following year.
Having finished the 2002/03 with a play-off semi-final defeat to Wolves, Pardew’s tenure ended in controversy.
Having been denied permission to speak to West Ham United at the beginning of the 2003/04 season, Pardew instead resigned as manager and eventually joined the Hammers after a court dispute.
Speaking on TalkSport, Pardew said: “When I was Reading manager and the up and coming manager of the time, I was flying at Reading.
“Sir John Madejski gave me the job because he had faith in 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 taking charge of West Ham for three years followed by spells with Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Brom.
He continued: “His (Madejski’s) last conversation with me was ‘You might have done this deal to 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 super ambitious at the time and West Ham had turned my head financially and I left.
“In hindsight, I felt bad. I did it because it was West Ham, but the financial part of it was relevant because it was significantly more than what Reading were paying.
“When I went to see him at the last moment he was in tears, and I was emotional as well. It was a tough call.”
Pardew took West Ham to the FA Cup final in 2006 where they were beaten in a thrilling final by Liverpool.
He then got to the FA Cup final again later in his career with Crystal Palace and lost out to Manchester United in the 2016 final.
