LIAM Moore has shrugged off speculation that Jaap Stam is on the verge of being axed by Reading FC.

Pressure piled on the Dutch boss after Royals suffered a second successive Championship defeat at the hands of Norwich City last Saturday.

Royals’ winless run now stretches to six games in all competitions and some supporters are calling for Stam to go.

The 45-year-old caused even more of a stir when he appeared to challenge Royals’ hierarchy to find a better man for the job following Saturday’s 2-1 home reverse.

But centre-back Moore insisted the players are fully behind Stam and accused fans of having short memories after last season’s third-place finish.

He told the Reading Chronicle: “We’re 10 games in, before I came here we had just come off of the back of two 17th and 19th place finishes.

“We had next to no budget last year and we finished third in the table.

“This season hasn’t been an ideal start. I know football is very short-minded, fans and players are impatient because we want things and we want them now.

“Look at the bigger picture, we’re building, we’ve got some quality players through the door and results will change.”

Bracknell News:

Jaap Stam cuts a frustrated figure during Royals' home defeat to Norwich City.

Royals were booed off the pitch on Saturday and have won just two of their opening 10 Championship games.

However, Moore stressed: “I don’t like the sound of pressure towards the manager. I have full faith in him and I know for a fact everyone in the dressing room does too.

“He’s confident in his ability and he’s confident in the team. It’s just about getting results and turning things around quickly so everybody will be happy again.”

Reading’s poor start to a league campaign is the worst since 2009/10 under Brendan Rodgers.

The Northern Irishman was given until December to turn things around before he was eventually dismissed.

Former bosses Nigel Adkins and Steve Clarke were also axed in the month of December.

Royals director of football Brian Tevreden was approached for a comment on Stam’s future but did not respond.