Even as Tommy Burns was booted out from the Reading manager's job last Thursday (16 September 1999) opinion remained split on if the timing was right or not. Many fans agreed that he'd already had enough time and was never going to turn it around, others thought that, particually following the Bradford result, the corner was about to be turned and he should be given a bit longer. But, perhaps statistics speak for themselves. Take a glance at the statistics below, prepared by Lee Redpath, and you'll see that Burns is officially Reading's worst manager in recent history. Even Terry Bullivant won a greater percentage of games in his short spell in charge of the Royals.

At the time of writing (21 September) the manager's position remains vacant, but the emerging favourite is Mark McGhee. He may have been a dis-loyal bastard but perhaps his managerial record at Reading speaks for itself.

Team	From	To	Games	Won	Lost	Drawn	%Won	%Drawn	%Lost
Tommy Burns' managerial record
Reading	25-03-1998	16-09-1999	70	20	30	20	28.5	28.5	42.8
Celtic	12-07-1994	31-05-1997	146	80	23	43
Kilmarnock	01-08-1990	12-07-1994	42	14	18	10
Terry Bullivant's managerial career
Reading	30-06-1997	07-03-1998	48	15	19	14	31.2	29.1	39.5
Barnet	01-08-1996	30-06-1997	54	17	18	19
Jimmy Quinn's managerial career
Swindon	02-10-1998	Present	47	12	22	13
Reading	05-01-1995	09-05-1997	127	46	47	34	36.2	26.7	37.0
Reading	14-12-1994	05-01-1995	5	2	1	2
Mark McGhee's managerial career
Wolves	13-12-1995	05-11-1998	159	65	55	39
Leicester	14-12-1994	07-12-1995	51	16	21	14
Reading	10-05-1991	14-12-1994	183	79	53	51	43.2	29.0	27.8