Reading

Odds: 2500/1

Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 1 (Championship, Promoted), 2004/05 - 7 (Championship), 2003/04 - 9 (Championship), 2002/03 - 4 (Championship), 2001/02 - 2 (League One, Promoted).

2005/06 Cup Progress
FA Cup Fourth Round (replay) vs Birmingham City (a) - lost 2-1.
Carling Cup Fourth Round vs Arsenal (a) - lost 3-0.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Dave Kitson (striker) - 22 goals.

Players In
Seol Ki-Hyeon (Wolves - '1,500,000), Sam Sodje (Brentford - '350,000), Graham Stack (Arsenal - Loan).

Players Out
John Mullins (Mansfield Town - Free), Jamie Young (Wycombe Wanderers - Free), Ryan Crockford (Released), Conor Sinnott (Released), Darren Campbell (Released), Ryan Catney (Released), Simieon Howell (Released).

Reading stormed the Championship last season and lost just two league matches all campaign, incidentally the curtain raiser at home to Plymouth Argyle and then Luton Town in February - which left a mammoth 33 match unbeaten run in between.

The Premiership will be a much tougher level to play at and manager Steve Coppell seems content to give his current squad a fair crack of the whip since he has not been prolific in the transfer market this summer.

Wolves striker Seol Ki-Hyeon has been the Royals' most expensive acquisition at ain initial '1 million rising potentially by a further '500,000. The South Korean signed for the Midlands outfit from Anderlecht two summers ago in a '1.2 million transfer.

Brentford defender joined an exodus of players leaving Griffin Park and bought himself a ticket to Premiership football in a '350,000 transfer. The Nigerian international has gone from non league football with Margate to top flight football in just two seasons, making 100 appearances for Brentford in between.

Coppell has also shown interest in '3.5 million rated Ghana centre back John Mensah, contracted to Rennes and who impressed during the World Cup and gave a trial to Cameroon defender Andre Bikey, available on a free transfer from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Left back Nicky Shorey, who made the Professional Footballers' Association's Championship team of last season, signed a two year contract extension to tie him to the club until 2009 while winger Bobby Convey agreed a new three year deal after being granted a work permit. The 23 year old featured in all three of the USA's matches in the World Cup.

Verdict
Reading will take heart from the excellent first season's both Wigan Athletic and West Ham United enjoyed last term, although both side's spent a lot more money than the Royals have done presently. The club may also be without the services of contract rebel Steve Sidwell, who rejected the offer of a new deal to stay at the Madjeski Stadium.