Steve Coppell has paid tribute to John Madejski after the Club Chairman was awarded a knighthood in the New Year's honours.

Coppell and Madejski's strong relationship was one of the key factors behind the manager's decision to stay with the Club after last season's relegation, and Steve says the accolate is richly deserved.

"I'd like to offer the Chairman many, many congratulations from everyone on the football side of the Club," he told readingfc.co.uk

"He has been such a very benevolent man in so many different areas, over a long period of time.

"It would be difficult to pinpoint specifically why he has been given the knighthood because he is active in a range of different spheres.

"Considering all his work in so many aspects of the local community there's no doubt he has exerted a positive influence on people's lives, and this knighthood is fully deserved."