A measly ?50,000 is the difference between Shaun Goater spending Saturdays with his kids and continuing his top-class career as a goalscorer.

Reading boss Steve Coppell has finally confirmed what has been rumoured for some time, that he is refusing to play the Bermudian striker because it will cost the club ?50,000 in appearance fees.

Coppell has admitted he cannot afford to cough up the money ? payable to Manchester City ? while he is attempting to strengthen his squad.

The fee will kick in once Goater, pictured, has played 50 games for Reading and the striker, who will be 34 next month, made his 49th club appearance in the 3-0 defeat at Preston North End on December 28 but has been dropped for the last six matches.

?Because of Shaun?s circumstances he wouldn?t play this weekend anyway so we decided to let him go to Bermuda,? Coppell told the Reading Evening Post newspaper.

?Unfortunately he?s a casualty of the circumstances. The deal means that if he plays one more game we have to pay Manchester City another ?50,000 which is a lot of money.

?We?re still in the January transfer window and we?re looking to strengthen so every penny counts. I don?t have pot-fulls of money so I have to do the best I can with what I?ve got.?

The appearance fee was written into Goater?s contract when he was signed from Manchester City by former Royals boss Alan Pardew for ?500,000 in August 2003. The three-year deal expires in June 2006 and has made Goater one of the highest paid players at the club.

Even before the payment became imminent, Coppell has made it clear the former Maine Road legend wasn?t in his plans.

Goater managed 13 goals last term to finish as top scorer, something he achieved despite being dropped by Coppell when he was on a goal-a-game scoring streak.

This year, he wasn?t given 90 minutes even in pre-season and made just a league cup start before injuries to strikers forced Coppell into playing Goater for two league matches.

The Royals have tried to loan out Goater to get him off the wage bill. Oxford and Rotherham showed interest but the only firm offer was from QPR who couldn?t afford him.

?QPR called before Christmas but that?s the only one,? added Coppell.

?I doubt the situation has changed that much.?

Goater now finds himself in a footballing no-man?s land, performing for the reserves but knowing there is a glass ceiling keeping him from playing first-team football, however many other strikers get injured.

The addition of veteran striker Les Ferdinand to Reading?s squad has further weakened Goater?s position, meaning it would take a flu epidemic to strike the club for him even to get a look-in ? and even then Coppell might still go with a younger ? and cheaper for the club ? striker.

?It is not something I know about or can comment on,? said the ever-professional Goater when it was first revealed that there may be a clause like this in his contract.