It was widely expected but perhaps not quite so swiftly. Little more than two hours after Reading had bowed out of the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs at the Madejski Stadium last night, Steve Coppell, their manager, resigned.

Reading confirmed that Coppell had left - after five-and-a-half years at the Berkshire club - shortly after midnight. In a statement, Coppell said: "Following our exit from the play-offs, I feel it’s the best thing for both the club and myself for me to leave. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Reading manager and would like to thank everyone connected to the club for the support I have received.”

Coppell had become disillusioned as he appeared increasingly unable to motivate a side that had been relegated from the Barclays Premier League the previous season. From seeming to be in line for automatic promotion, they slipped to a final fourth-placed finish and then exit at the hands of Burnley last night.

Sir John Madejski, the Reading chairman, said: “I am very disappointed to confirm that Steve has decided to step aside as our manager but I respect his wishes. I would like to thank Steve sincerely for everything he has done for Reading over the last five-and-a-half years, which has been the most successful period in the club’s history.”

Burnley proved that a sixtieth game of the season was not a game too far for them as they overcame Reading in the second leg of their play-offs semi-final. A 61st game - for a possible £60 million jackpot - awaits them in the final on May 25, when they play Sheffield United at Wembley.

Although Burnley failed to reach the heights of their epic Carling Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, which they lost, second-half goals from Martin Paterson and Steve Thompson were easily enough. It gives them a shot at a prized place - and the richest of rewards - in the Barclays Premier League next season.

As is the way, though, of Owen Coyle, the Burnley manager, perspective is everything. His side languished in 23rd place in the division after four matches and yet, slowly but surely, they hauled themselves back into fifth place - just behind Reading - before applying the coup de grace on their Berkshire rivals.

As the 3,000 travelling fans cheered wildly, Coyle instructed his players to keep their celebrations to a mininum. “Yes, it was deliberate,” he said. “We went to applaud the fans because they had given us magnificent support. I told the players to go over but also that you have to recognise we have not yet achieved our goal. That is to get into the Premier League.”

For Reading, an abject closing run to the campaign of nine home matches without a win - seven in which they failed to score - ruled out a quick return to the top flight. It also raised questions over the future of Coppell, which he was quick to answer with his resignation. His contract would have expired next month.

”There is no plan,” Coppell said, before later announcing his departure. “I didn’t expect this, I expected something else. I can only apologise to our supporters. Managers are judged on results and I feel that, looking back now, we have had more than enough opportunities to have been promoted and we haven’t been. That’s the manager’s fault.”

For Coyle, one of the bright young managers in English football, the success story of 2008-09 has been unrelenting. Burnley almost reached Wembley in the Carling Cup until Tottenham knocked them out - 6-4 on aggregate - in the closing seconds of their semi-final at Turf Moor. This time, there was no let-off for their opponents.

Coppell is not usually one for surprises but he sprung a whopper by giving Simon Church his debut. The Wales Under-21 striker had spent most of the season on loan with Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient. Church was part of Coppell’s three-pronged support group for Shane Long up front and they quickly set about making up the 1-0 first-leg deficit.

For all Reading’s intent, though - like at Turf Moor - they could not find a way past Brian Jensen, the Burnley goalkeeper. When Long cut in and unleashed a fierce drive, Jensen palmed it away. However, he was relieved when Michael Duberry lobbed the rebound over the empty net.

Burnley’s composure under pressure was admirable, a testimony to how they have survived so many matches this season. Their resilience was rewarded with two goals in seven second-half minutes, when Paterson rattled in his nineteenth goal of the season from 30 yards and Thompson scored with a speculative lob over Marcus Hahnemann

Reading (4-2-3-1): M Hahnemann — L Rosenior, A Pearce, M Duberry, D Harding — B Gunnarsson, J Tabb — J Kébé (sub: D Kitson, 53min), M Matejovsky (sub: S Hunt, 53), S Church (sub: G Little, 53) — S Long. Substitutes not used: A Federici, K Cissé. Booked: Duberry, Kitson, Long.

Burnley (4-1-3-2): B Jensen — M Duff, C Carlisle, S Caldwell, C Kalvenes — G Alexander — W Elliott (sub: C Eagles, 84), C McCann, R Blake — M Paterson (sub: J Gudjonsson, 71), S Thompson (sub: J Rodriguez, 79). Substitutes not used: D Penny, K McDonald. Booked: Kalvenes, Elliott.

Referee: M Riley.

Play-off final: Sheffield United v Burnley - Monday, May 25 (at Wembley Stadium)

Attendances on the up

Football League attendances are at their highest levels for nearly 50 years, according to figures released yesterday. More than 16 million supporters attended the 1,656 matches played in the Coca-Cola Championship, League One and League Two this season and the Championship is on course to retain its place as the fourth most watched league in Europe, with 9.9 million in attendance this season at an average of 17,891 per match, a rise of 5 per cent from 2007-08.