Call for a Pardew inquiry

The League Managers' Association have called for an investigation into Alan Pardew's resignation as boss of Reading yesterday.

Pardew - West Ham's No1 target to take over the vacant manager's position at Upton Park - quit Reading after chairman John Madejski twice denied West Ham permission to approach him.

The Royals chairman said Pardew's contract only allowed him to speak to Premiership clubs and, today, an LMA statement revealed that chief executive John Barnwell has told Pardew the Association cannot support or protect him if he terminated his contract unilaterally.

The statement said: "Alan understands the LMA's position in respect of the code of conduct.

"What the LMA is keen to uncover, though, is just how it became public knowledge that Alan Pardew's name was top of West Ham's wanted list, therefore creating this difficult position.

"The LMA believes, and indeed expects, that this matter should be the subject of a full and immediate inquiry by the Football League."