Published: Thursday, 15th May, 2008 12:02pm

Hahnemann slams team-mate's commitment

by Anthony Smith

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MARCUS Hahnemann has launched a scathing attack on his Reading team-mates and questioned their commitment to the club's relegation battle.

In a sensational outburst, Royals' goalkeeper claimed some players were not trying as hard as others because their futures already lie elsewhere.

Hahnemann did not name individuals and the outspoken American refused to expand on his theory before he flew back to the States yesterday (Wednesday) for more surgery on his hand.

The 36-year-old stopper argued: "I think some might not be as devastated as me - it might be because of some guys leaving.

"But you have to play well to leave and I don't know if a lot of the guys did themselves any favours."

Several first-team regulars have been linked with moves away from Reading throughout the season.

The futures of Player of the Year Stephen Hunt, Nicky Shorey, Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle have been the subject of widespread speculation.

Shorey has one year to run on his present deal after rejecting a new contract last summer and is a target for West Ham. Reports suggest Hunt and Doyle are wanted by Sunderland in a £10 million transfer, while Lita is in the same boat at Shorey after refusing to renew his contract.

Emerse Fae, John Halls, Graham Stack and John Oster may also leave this summer.

"I think changes are inevitable," admitted Hahnemann. "I don't know what's going to happen, who's going to leave and who is going to be coming back.

"Financially it (relegation) will be devastating for the club and all the players. I'm going to have to play for another six years now. I'll have the pins out and auction them on Ebay."

But Hahnemann, who will have 14 pins removed from his hand, is determined to help Reading reclaim their place in the top-flight.

"I'm going to be here, I'm sure of that," insisted the 35-year-old. "I have another year on my contract and I want to get this team back in the Premier League, and I will do whatever it takes."

Royals' relegation was confirmed at Derby County on Sunday and Hahnemann, who made more saves than any other keeper in the Premier League this campaign, believes the squad must quickly recover to prevent any negativity spilling over into next season,

"We're not Premiership players any more," he stressed. "That's something we have to get into our heads as quickly as possible.

"You see it happen when teams go down. It's devastating for them because once you've tasted the Premiership, you don't want to have to go back to the Championship and do it all again.

"You think teams should go straight back up because of the strength they have but it often doesn't work that way because they're not mentally prepared for it.

"We've got to get our minds right because we've got a difficult season ahead of us."

Ironically, all three clubs faced with relegation last Sunday won, but it was Reading and Birmingham City who will join Derby in the Championship next season.

"We sat in the dressing room in silence," added Hahnemann. "It was just devastating. We lost out by one point so you begin to think back to the times we screwed up.

"We went on an eight game losing run, we lost at home to Fulham - you name it. So many times we didn't do what we needed to and we paid the ultimate price."

But he also argued: "To get relegated on goal difference is unbelievable. It's absolutely ridiculous.

"But you know, we didn't go down on Sunday. We went down when we didn't take any points off Bolton and Fulham at home.

"We always said that you have to beat the teams around you. We didn't do that this season and now we're faced with a season in the Championship.

"There was also a degree of complacency. Teams figured us out a bit and maybe we were too predictable.

"We had the same back four throughout last season. This season we had to change it countless times because of injury. That was a huge factor. We didn't have a solid core of the team.

"It's so frustrating because I take a lot of that responsibility on my shoulders. We just have to figure out where to go from here."