COPPELL TALKS FORSTER

Forster is 1 of a couple of players who's deal expires at the end of the season and Coppell believes the contract situation is a major reason why Forster has struggled to make the impact many Reading supporters would have hoped for this season.

The former Gillingham and Birmingham City striker suffered a horrendous 2004 with lengthy groin and stomach injuries, which left supporters questioning how long he would be match fit for.

It also doesn't look good for Forster by the fact that Dave Kitson put pen to paper on a new 3 and 1/2 year deal on just Monday this week.

Speaking at length on the matter, Coppell said;

"Fozzy didn't travel, to be fair his [contract] situation has lay heavily on his shoulders for a while.

"He's desperate to win a contract, the best way to ease his mind would be to give him that contract, but in terms of performance you have to say he's not produced, and we've not seen anything like the best of him this season.

"It would be a hell of a dangerous precedent to give him a contract, especially when he's not earned it as such, and do it just to put his mind at rest to hope he comes into form.

"Leaving him out can be easily criticised in view of the fact we've not scored many, but to be fair Fozzy's been part of that. It was a change and another option up front."

"I've got to make decisions, I know it's one that's easy for people to criticise because Foz is very popular with the fans, but from pre-season the contract situation has been an issue with him."

The latest development in the Forster contract saga could signal the end of a career for a player who has been a great servant to Reading Football Club and has had to earn his praise after setback after setback.

Forster joined the Royals in July 1999 for a fee of £650,000 from Birmingham City and has proved to be 1 of a couple of decent Tommy Burns signing's.

His 1st season was mixed and despite his early injuries, he found form towards the end of the season as the Royals finished strongly under Alan Pardew and Martin Allen.

But his 2nd season was dealt a severe blow when he tore cruciate knee ligaments in the pre season friendly against Charlton Athletic. He wasn't to play for the Royals again until the middle of March.

But he still played a major role that season, when he dumped Bournemouth out of the Playoffs with an injury time equaliser which sent Wigan to face the Royals and not Bournemouth.

He then produced 1 of the greatest RFC comebacks when he single handily took Reading to the Playoff Final after coming off the bench to set up Martin Butler for the equalising goal against Wigan Athletic in the 2nd leg before winning an injury time penalty which Jamie Cureton had saved only for Forster to tap in the winner.

His 3rd season he stayed injury free and was the main striker in the promotion season, though many supporters will forget his contribution because of a certain Mr Cureton's winner at Brentford. He finished top goal scorer at the club.

Forster though couldn't have wished for a better season the following year when he was pivotal in the Royals rise up the old Division 1. He played the lone striker role in that 4-5-1 formation and proved his worth when his injury against Wolves in the Playoffs changed the way of the game.

But the departure of Alan Pardew has seen the slow decline of Forster with injury after injury and the emergence of Dave Kitson as the new striker of Reading FC.

The situation will keep us guessing for the next few months wherever we have seen the last of Nicky Forster at Reading Football Club?