Reading owner Anton Zingarevich has criticised recently-dismissed manager Brian McDermott over his lack of activity in the transfer market.

The Russian businessman has come under fire for not supporting the Royals boss with funding, but he has now insisted that was never the case.

"I would like to say there always was a transfer budget and I thought we should have done more in January," he told the Reading Chronicle.

"We tried to sign players but perhaps we should have been more active."

McDermott was sacked as Reading boss earlier this month, with Nigel Adkins later replacing him at the helm.