MAURICE Evans' decision to resign from Oxford United and join Reading, just hours before tomorrow's Thames Valley derby, came as a bombshell at the Manor Ground.

Many of the staff expressed their great disappointment at the loss for the club of a father figure, one of the game's true gentlemen and someone who has a vast knowledge of football.

Evans, 63, has had a long association with Oxford United. He managed them when they won the Milk Cup in 1986, then became general manager and later a director. He was much more than chief scout, the only title he was given in the new regime.

"It's Oxford United's loss and Reading's gain," was the comment of several people at the club.

But Reading were cook-a-hoop with their capture on the eve of tomorrow morning's Division 2 derby at the Madejski Stadium.

Chairman John Madejski said: "I'm delighted to welcome him back. He has great experience and an in-depth knowledge of football.

Reading manager Alan Pardew said: "Ron Grant, our kit man, said Maurice has blue and white hoops under his skin. I've always found Maurice to be a gentleman and I know his heart is here with Reading."

On the record, Evans said: "It's brilliant to come back. It's where I started my career and I had 25 years here. I still live locally and it's a good opportunity for me as I feel it's the right time to leave Oxford."

Privately, though, he was known to be disappointed with recent events at the Manor. Malcolm Shotton, whom he helped bring to the club as manager, asked for his advice less and less, and chairman Firoz Kassam brought in Fenton Higgins as a 'football director' rather than appoint Evans in a general manager's role. And, despite speculation that the caretaker management duties would be shared between Evans and Mickey Lewis, Evans was ignored.

United scout Jack Casley, who had got to know Evans extremely well, said: "Maurice will be sorely missed. Mickey Lewis could have done with his help.

"The crunch came a little while ago when even Malcolm Shotton didn't consult him. But he has vast knowledge and so many other managers call him to ask for his assessments of players and their worth in the transfer market.

"I'm sure, had Oxford asked him to be general manager or a joint caretaker, he would have stayed. But it really hurt him that he wasn't asked."

Lewis said: "I'm really sorry to see Maurice go. It's good to bounce ideas off people and Maurice was someone I very much respected."

Didcot-born Evans, who played 407 league games for Reading between 1955 and 1966, and then returned to coach and manage them, will be in the directors' box at tomorrow's game. But on the Reading rather than the Oxford United side.

Story date: Saturday 06 November

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