Mark Bowen expressed his delight after Reading FC were able to keep Andy Yiadom and Tom Holmes at the club.
Both players put pen to paper on long term contracts with the Royals after their previous deals were due to expire at the end of this month.
“It’s massive. Not just because of the history they have with the club, and with these guys they could have possibly pursued a situation with a better deal somewhere else,” said Bowen.
“We’re relying on selling a vision of what we are trying to be and what we’re going to do as a club.
“I know the attributes they’ve got as players and we managed to sell the vision to get them to sign contracts and hopefully we can push on as a club and make things better.
“He’s (Holmes) a kid that has grown up at the club and is a man now.
“I still think he’s got a lot to come in his game but first and foremost, he has signed because he is a top player.
“He is a very good player and he is going to get even better, we hope.”
Despite the positive contract news, Reading have lost John Swift, Andy Rinomhota and Josh Laurent all on free transfers to fellow Championship clubs this summer.
Bowen continued: “When you have an idea of the players you want to keep and then you can’t keep them because of financial reasons, it can come down to the financial decision for individuals and you have to wish them well.
“It’s a disappointment but you have to live with that.
“When bringing Josh (Laurent) to the club, I spoke to him and his dad a lot, we gave him the opportunity to step up when a lot of clubs weren’t sure and he grasped it with both hands.
“He felt it was the one and only time he had a chance to secure his family so I felt it was a financial decision more than anything.
“We tried our best but we know he did a sterling job for the club while he was here.”
