Reading's plans to expand the Madejski Stadium have been postponed until the club's survival in the Barclays Premier League is secured. The club have planning permission to increase the stadium capacity to 38,000 but will not commit themselves to the project while the club is battling against relegation.

Reading, currently third from bottom, are one of six teams fighting for survival who are separated by just seven points. Nigel Howe, Reading's chief executive, said: “We have always built this club on sensible foundations and that’s what we are doing again here. From day one, we’ve said there’s no point expanding if we don’t maintain our place in the Premier League. We will revisit things once we know where we are at the end of this season and make a plan accordingly.”

Even if Reading to retain their top-flight status, Howe confirmed work on the stadium expansion would not begin before the summer of 2009. “We still have every intention of increasing the stadium capacity, but now is not the right time to do it,” he said. “We are not in a position to make a final decision now, so there would be insufficient time for us to begin work this summer if we so desired.

“This is a huge undertaking for the football club, and everyone understands that all aspects must be absolutely correct before we are ready to start work.”

Reading have already put contract talks with Nicky Shorey, the England left-back, on hold until the end of the season.