"I don't believe Alan should be there."
Reading chairman John Madejski's words may have a point - but he has only himself to blame.
Rewind the clock a couple of weeks to when West Ham originally approached the Reading chairman - according to FA regulations - seeking permission to talk to the then Reading manager, Alan Pardew. He declined the request - as he is perfectly entitled to do so.
However, he has only himself to blame for the final outcome, due to the manner in which he declined West Ham's request - which was on the Reading website as a press release.
What exactly he was trying to gain from this act still remains unclear, but from the moment it was brought into the public domain, West Ham were the party who had been placed in a compromised position.
If West Ham had left it at that, then whoever they got as manager eventually would know that he was at least second choice, and perhaps even lower down the list. The Hammers board therefore sought permission once again to speak to Pardew - once again by asking the chairman.
Madejski continued: "I would only ever follow the regulations of how it is laid down," as West Ham did.
After being turned down for a second time, Alan Pardew felt his career was been stifled by the Reading chairman, and handed in his resignation - the death knell in his Reading career. The rest is history as Pardew finally was given the green light to start for West Ham on the 18th October.
Madejski is walking a fine tightrope when he told BBC Online: "I do not believe in poaching people from their contract.
"If we decide we want a manager who was employed elsewhere then I would contact their chairman and ask to speak to their manager. If he said no, then that would be the end of it.
"I don't have good feelings about West Ham but how they run their business is up to them and for them to think about. I would only ever follow the regulations of how it is laid down.
"I believe in loyalty and sticking by the rules. If someone breaks the rules and breaks their contract, how can I wish them well? It's just not on."
Sour grapes if you ask me, John.