Charlie Oatway has defended Steve Coppell's right to quit Albion for Reading, three months into a new one-year contract.

The voice of the Seagulls' dressing room says the players are desperate for Coppell to stay, but they will understand if he accepts Reading's offer to take charge at the Madejski Stadium.

Tomorrow's home game against Blackpool could be Coppell's last in charge of Albion, although the situation is by no means cut and dried.

I understand he is not particularly impressed by Reading's financial package. He is happy with the Seagulls and will take the weekend to think things over.

Oatway said: "The boys don't want him to go and we hope it collapses.

"At the end of the day he is going to do what is best for Steve Coppell, not what is best for us lot or the club.

"If he was going through a bad time they wouldn't think twice about sacking him, so he has got to think of himself.

"If he does go we would be the first ones to phone him up and wish him all the best."

Nicky Hammond, Reading's recently appointed director of football, and reserve team manager and chief scout Brian McDermott take charge of the Royals for their home game against Bradford tomorrow, as caretaker Kevin Dillon is dealing with a family bereavement.

Hammond confirmed: "There will be no announcement before the weekend."

Albion have been hit not only by more managerial upheaval but a cruel double injury blow.

Oatway has a back operation tomorrow morning, which will rule him out for at least three months, and fellow midfielder Simon Rodger is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.

An operation earlier this week revealed that Rodger has damaged a cruciate ligament in his left knee.

He faces further surgery to reconstruct the knee later this month.

Coppell explained: "Jolly had an operation to trim the cartilage and to explore what the actual damage was.

"We found out he had an old injury, where he partially tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Against Middlesbrough he sheared it right through, so he needs a reconstruction.

"The surgeon has trimmed the cartilage and now he is waiting for a couple of weeks for that to settle down, then he will have the reconstruction. We are looking at five months."

Albion will also be without captain Danny Cullip, Paul Watson, Ben Roberts and Dean Blackwell tomorrow, but Gary Hart (ankle) and on-loan Darius Henderson (calf) could be available for selection.

"I had more or less discounted Harty, but I think now he has probably got a good chance," Coppell said. "It's not as swollen or bruised as we anticipated."

Meanwhile, Albion have received confirmation that sub Dan Harding's booking at Hartlepool last Saturday will count.