Brooking remains in the dark

Report: West Ham 1-0 Reading

West Ham caretaker manager Trevor Brooking has admitted that the search for a new manager at Upton Park has become a tangled mess.

The Hammers' top target, Alan Pardew, has become stuck in a state of limbo after resigning as Reading manager in the hope of holding talks with West Ham.

Reading have refused to accept Pardew's resignation and have also rebuffed two approaches from the Hammers for permission to speak to the 42-year-old rookie manager.

Brooking has already stated that the club will not wait forever for Pardew, but says that subsequent approaches for other managers on the shortlist may send out the wrong signals.

"I don't know how it moves on now," Brooking admitted.

"I'd have preferred it if we'd not had the public debate because you make a shortlist and if you get totally rebuffed you ask the question somewhere else.

We can't let the situation linger on Trevor Brooking West Ham caretaker manager

"Suddenly we're in the debate about what's going to happen and then the remainder of the shortlist think they are third or fourth choice.

"It doesn't help anyone but let's try and resolve it.

"There's no panic button because the fans are helping us get a few results which are enabling us to take stock and see where we are. But we can't let it linger on."

The unfortunate timing of West Ham's First Division clash with Reading on Saturday was a further complication in the Hammers' chase for Pardew.

But reports claim that the former Crystal Palace midfielder will hold further talks with West Ham this week over a four-year contract, even though any deal would inevitably lead to court action from Reading.

Pardew's agent Barry Neville refused to comment on the speculation and told this website: "I can't comment on any of that. There's nothing I can say about it at the moment."

Brooking remains hopeful that West Ham can agree a compensation package with Reading and made steps in the right direction when he buried the hatchet with Royals chairman John Madejski after Saturday's game.

"I saw John Madejski by the dressing room and congratulated him on his side's performance," said Brooking.

"You've got to be big enough to talk to each other and acknowledge each other.

"I wished him well this season. But I didn't have lunch in the boardroom so I don't know how that went."

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