PHIL Parkinson reckons Reading are a great role model for other clubs – including City.

Parkinson is a Royals legend after playing for them for over a decade and was voted their all-time best central midfielder.

The Bantams boss joked: “I think my family must have put a lot of votes in on that day! Obviously, it was a great privilege to do well in that poll.

“I had a fantastic period there and I’m very honoured to be part of the club that moved from Elm Park to the Madejski Stadium, to be part of that transition and to see the club develop over the years.

“Sir John did a fantastic job because they put the building blocks and the infrastructure in place for the club to be successful.

“They’ve been in the Premier League twice in the last nine years and they’re a great model for a lot of clubs to look at.

“The board never put pressure on the manager, never interfered and let the managers get on with it.

“They’ve never overstretched themselves financially over the years and they’ve done things slowly.”