Brian McDermott: 'Chairman is one of us'

Reading manager Brian McDermott believes that his working relationship with chairman Anton Zingarevich would not work if they did not remain in contact.

Zingarevich's fellow countryman Roman Abramovich sacked Roberto Di Matteo on Wednesday and Rafael Benitez was appointed as Chelsea's new manager without meeting the club's owner.

McDermott has revealed the contrasting relationship which he enjoys with his boss.

McDermott said: "The owner, the chairman, the board, the director of football, everyone is in it together, that is my view.

"If you have a situation where you have an owner and there is a 'him and us' - I don't think that works. Anton is very much part of what we are trying to do here, he is one of us.

"He came to pre-season with us and joined in and was very much a part of it - we have dialogue all of the time and it is very much everyone together, including the owner."

Zingarevich completed a takeover of Reading in May when the club were promoted to the Premier League.