Former Reading FC striker Simon Cox has slammed former Royals coach Steve Clarke.

The academy graduate returned to the Madejski Stadium in 2014 but was ultimately frozen out by the current Scotland manager during his year-long spell at the club.

Speaking to The Second Tier Podcast, Cox claimed that Clarke left him out of the squad without offering an explanation for his exclusion.

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Cox said: "Steve [Clarke] had the players he wanted to play.

"Some of the times I was being left out for young players without him even talking to me or giving me the time of day.

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"That was poor man-management. I didn't feel entitled to chat to him, but when you've played in the Premier League and at international level, you deserve a bit of respect.

"I never really got that with Steve [Clarke]. That was an issue for me.

"I was obviously not the type of character he wanted, which is fine.

"But, you have got to be big and brave with your management and tell players these things."