Championship side Reading have sacked manager Brian McDermott after just over five months in charge.

Reports in the Netherlands say ex-Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, who recently left his role as a coach at Ajax, is a contender for the job.

A club statement said it had been a "difficult decision" for the board of directors to relieve McDermott of his duties.

Reading said they would now undertake a "rigorous recruitment process" in order to identify the former Arsenal midfielder's successor.