From their official site:
http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~435780,00.html
Royals Chairman John Madejski has explained the reasons for the delay in appointing Steve Coppell as new Reading manager.
The Chairman said he wanted to speak to Coppell much earlier but was initially not given permission by Brighton Chairman Dick Knight, and his determination to follow the correct procedures caused the process to take longer than normal.
http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~435780,00.html