Dear Sir,

I am a Reading fan and I just wanted to set the record straight about Shaun Goater due to some of the rather odd articles I have read from your paper.

Shaun Goater signed for us last summer as a panic signing because David Connolly rejected a move to us and we lost Jamie Cureton to Busan Icons.

The fans were shocked at the fact he was given a three-year contract considering his age.

Last season he played most games and was very poor. He has no pace, his touch is loose, he is useless in the air and he can only finish when it is put on a plate for him.

We have a very good midfield so as a result our strikers get lots of chances and therefore he got 13 goals. I don't know where you got the idea he was on a "hot streak" last season because I can't remember him getting anywhere beyond tepid.

We sold Martin Butler to Rotherham which was a big mistake as he was excellent and Nicky Forster was injured for around half the season. As a result, Shaun was under no pressure from other players and kept his place despite constantly performing poorly.

When we reached the end of the season we signed Dave Kitson and Lloyd Owusu.

Kitson was injured too when he started and took a little while to get going and so only came into the team towards the end and Owusu is a squad player who works hard and has the club at heart.

All the fans could see at the end of last season that Goater would have no place at Reading this season because he actually had competition now. The fans really dislike his style of play because of his very poor work ethic and the fact he doesn't seem bothered about the club when he's on the pitch.

He is being paid a huge amount of money and if he really did want to get back in our team he would go out on loan to show people what he can do.

I would be very surprised if he is still here after the summer as he will either be sold or released from his contract.

I really did want Goater to achieve something at Reading but he will leave the club with very little respect from me as I feel he does not have the club at heart.

You can be as poor a player as you like but the thing that really upsets fans is not showing fight and Goater hasn't shown any.

I just wanted you to know the real story about Goater because I have not seen this reflected in your articles.

MARCUS HAYDON

Reading

England