The first game after the August transfer window was a 3-0 home defeat by West Ham who had been whipped 6-0 by Royals in the corresponding fixture last term and Coppell, who is expected to make a decision on his future over the weekend, admits he could see the writing on the wall.

"There were a number of games that I look back on, and the West Ham game at home was a significant one," he said.

"Losing 3-0 flattered us and I thought then 'I wish that had happened last week' because then I would have attempted to do some last-minute (transfer) business.

"All last summer I was aware that maybe we were standing still, while other people were improving.

"But then we had a good run just before New Year. I thought we would be all right and we would get out of it."