Charlton Athletic

Reed denies plotting Dowie's exit
New Charlton boss Les Reed has denied stabbing predecessor Iain Dowie in the back by plotting a players' revolt. Reed, who had been Dowie's assistant, was promoted after Charlton sacked the former Crystal Palace manager after just 15 games in charge. The appointment sparked rumours Reed had orchestrated a mutiny in the camp. \"That's not the way I operate. Football is a cruel game and this isn't how I would've chosen to come into the job,\" Reed told the Evening Standard. Charlton plc chairman Richard Murray said Dowie was sacked following a review of the club's structure. Former Football Association director of youth development Reed added: \"In football, opportunities usually arise because of the demise of somebody else. I was out of work for two years after getting the sack at the FA. \"Iain is a great manager and an inspirational and charismatic person. He left with dignity and a lot of chairmen must be keeping an eye on his situation.\" Reed also made light of his inexperience in club management and insisted he is ready for the challenge of saving Charlton from relegation from the Premiership. The new Addicks' boss said: \"My background is unusual but I'm not new to management. \"I managed a massive department at the FA and have plenty of experience working with international players. \"This job doesn't daunt me but it is a challenge and I'm looking forward to it.\"

Kinsella joins staff at Charlton
Mark Kinsella has been appointed development coach at Charlton. The 34-year-old has quit his role as reserve-team manager and first-team coach at Walsall to join new manager Les Reed's backroom staff. \"I'm really looking forward to being part of the team to try and move the club up the table,\" the former Addicks captain told the club website. Kinsella combined playing with his coaching duties for Walsall and will be available to play on Saturday. \"Walsall have been brilliant to me,\" he said. \"I've really enjoyed my time at the club and that has made it a much harder decision than it might have been. \"But they know how I feel about Charlton, which is my club. It's difficult to leave, but I'm very excited about coming back to Charlton.\" Walsall chairman Jeff Bonser explained that Kinsella had a clause in his contract allowing him to join a Premiership club should the opportunity arise. \"Charlton approached the club earlier this week in order to gain permission to speak to Mark and, in line with our agreement, permission was granted,\" said Bonser. \"We explained to Charlton that Mark was an important part of our plans but, at the same time, we could not stand in his way. \"We are grateful to them that, despite his imminent departure, they were prepared to allow him to play at Bury on Tuesday and, should he be selected, against Swindon this coming Saturday.\" Charlton manager Reed was delighted with Kinsella's appointment. \"Mark will be responsible for the development of our young pros, for the liaison with the academy set-up and the management of the reserve team,\" said Reed. \"I'm particularly pleased that Mark has agreed to join us because he has very strong leadership qualities, tremendous drive and enthusiasm and of course Charlton blood running through his veins. \"It will be a big boost for us to have someone of Mark's quality on the full-time coaching staff, and it's further evidence of our commitment to move forward and upward.\"

Tottenham v Charlton
Charlton defender Djimi Traore is out with a hamstring injury and will be replaced by Souleymane Diawara. Centre-back Talal El Karkouri is a minor doubt with a toe injury but should play while striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is close to a return. Tottenham have Robbie Keane (knee) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle) out but striker Mido (groin) is back. Didier Zokora is suspended after his dismissal against Middlesbrough but Hossam Ghaly returns from his ban. Charlton (from): Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Diawara, Faye, Kishishev, Hughes, Reid, D Bent, Sam, Hasselbaink, M Bent, Rommedahl, Ambrose, Holland, Thomas. Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Lee, King, Assou-Ekotto, Davenport, Huddlestone, Stalteri, Ziegler, Murphy, Malbranque, Tainio, Lennon, Ghaly, Berbatov, Mido, Defoe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tottenham assistant boss Chris Hughton: \"I think the system Charlton are using at the moment is one that Iain Dowie introduced in his last few weeks, playing Andy Reid off the front with Darren Bent further on. \"It says a lot for the quality Bent has with him having scored the amount of goals he has given the fact that his team have struggled for good results. \"He is certainly one to watch and Andy, from a deeper position, will find the runs of Bent.\" Charlton boss Les Reed: \"I like to play fluid football and I like to play with width. \"I wanted to shore up the midfield and make sure we were strong in a different way. \"Luke Young and Hermann Hreidarsson like to get forward and so does Djimi Traore. I do like wingers but we need to be stronger down the centre.\"

Charlton 0-3 Liverpool
Liverpool heaped more misery on lowly Charlton as they overpowered their hosts to record a comfortable victory. A third-minute Xabi Alonso penalty gave the Reds the lead after Djimi Traore's high tackle on Jermaine Pennant. The visitors wasted plenty of chances and were almost punished when Hermann Hreidarsson shot over an empty net. Darren Ambrose and Darren Bent also gave the Reds late scares but a Craig Bellamy volley and Steven Gerrard curler secured a win for the visitors. Charlton had gathered in a group huddle before the game and Traore's adrenalin seemed to have got the better of him as he conceded an early penalty. The home side needlessly lost possession and Traore was punished for catching Pennant with a raised foot as the pair challenged for a Mark Gonzalez cross. Alonso stroked in the penalty and more goals seemed inevitable as the Reds took command against their tame rivals. But, while Charlton fans will have been bemused at the ease with which Liverpool sliced through their side, the visitors will have been wondering how they did not put the game out of reach within the first 20 minutes. Bellamy raced through and evaded a joint challenge from Addicks keeper Thomas Myrhe and centre-back Talal El-Karkhouri only to see a sliding Luke Young clear his shot off the line. Kuyt fired a shot across goal just wide of the far post after combining well with Bellamy and Pennant had a another strike cleared off the line by Traore's knee. Charlton almost made the visitors pay for their missed chances but Hreidarsson shot high with a gaping net in front of him when Andy Reid's pull back came to him on his weaker right foot. Kuyt side-footed another chance just wide as Charlton began to belatedly muster up the murmurings of a challenge. But the chances continued to flow for the Reds as Alonso and Gerrard tested Myrhe with long range strikes. Kuyt hit the foot of the post after the tireless and lively Bellamy again set him up for a chance. Ambrose volleyed high and Bent squeezed a shot agonisingly wide as Charlton looked to snatch something late in the game and caused Liverpool some late nerves. But Bellamy raced clear and volleyed across goal and Gerrard also got in on the goalscoring act before Charlton were booed at the final whistle. Charlton boss Les Reed: \"We need to broaden and widen our squad. We need some balance and have a strong bench and, hopefully. January will allow us to do that. \"We have to turn it around. We've got to stop those performances and build on the confidence of the players. \"We've got to work hard and dig in. It's going to be a long job but we have to be better and show more passion.\" Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez: \"The idea is to find the balance between attack and defence. \"We're now doing that but every game is different and we need to keep going. \"My idea is to think about the next game. Maybe in one or two months we will see if we are closer but we need to keep going.\"

Charlton 0-1 Wycombe
League Two side Wycombe Wanderers shocked Premiership strugglers Charlton by beating them at The Valley to reach the semi-finals of the Carling Cup. Addicks keeper Scott Carson had already made two good saves before Wycombe took the lead, Jermaine Easter driving the ball home with a fierce 25-yard shot. Charlton improved after the break but failed to create any clear-cut chances. Amdy Faye's scuffed shot was the best effort from the home side and it is Wycombe who progress to the last-four. Addicks boss Les Reed has now won only one of his seven games in charge since he succeeded Iain Dowie last month and his job is already under threat. He was frequently booed here but, judging from the frequent chants from Charlton supporters of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt', most of the fans' ire is currently directed at the players. Fifty-three places may separate the two sides in the League but you would not have guessed who were the top-flight team early on. Wycombe had already won at one Premiership ground in this competition this season - when they overcame Fulham in the second round - and they were full of confidence from the off. Carson, back in goal for Charlton after missing Saturday's home defeat by Liverpool because of the terms of his loan from the Anfield outfit, was pushed into action early on. First Stefan Oakes tested him with a stinging free-kick, and he had to push away two Easter drives in quick succession. Still Wycombe came forward and it was Welsh under-21 striker Easter who put them ahead before half-time to maintain his record having scored in every round of his side's Carling Cup run. Carson was left exposed again and this time he was helpless as Easter latched on to a loose ball 25 yards out and smashed home a fierce low drive. Charlton did up the ante after the break with the visitors visibly tiring. Reed's side were suddenly winning the midfield battles they had surrended earlier - but, for all their possession, clear-cut chances were still few and far between for the home side. Faye shot wide from Darren Bent's cutback but that was the closest Reed's men came to a leveller. The pressure increased when Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink was thrown on as a third striker but Wycombe battled on and they survived to claim a famous victory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlton: Carson, Sankofa (Hasselbaink 74), Fortune, Diawara, Traore, Rommedahl, Faye (Holland 69), Hughes, Thomas (Sam 70), Marcus Bent, Darren Bent. Subs Not Used: Myhre, El Karkouri. Booked: Hughes. Wycombe: Young, Martin, Antwi, Williamson, O'Halloran, Betsy, Grant (Palmer 63), Bloomfield, Oakes, Easter, Mooney (Stonebridge 87). Subs Not Used: Christon, Dixon, Anya. Booked: Grant, Easter. Goals: Easter 35. Att: 18,940 Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Charlton chairman backs boss Reed
Charlton chairman Richard Murray has given his backing to under-fire manager Les Reed and said the club will provide funds for new signings in January. The Addicks have won one league game in six since Reed took over from Iain Dowie and the new boss has been subjected to criticism from supporters. Murray said: \"It's unfair on Les at the moment. His current record is similar to Iain's but are both at fault? \"We will spend in January but we will have to wheel and deal.\" Charlton are currently second from bottom in the Premiership but are five points from safety. Their miserable form continued on Tuesday when they were knocked out of the Carling Cup by League Two side Wycombe Wanderers. Murray said the signings made by Reed's predecessor may have something to do with the club's current predicament. \"Les is getting hammered at the moment and it is a tough spell for the club. Very tough,\" he added. \"We have to see some changes on the pitch. We were awful against Wycombe. \"But those who watch Charlton regularly will say maybe it was the same under Iain Dowie. Maybe we haven't got a good enough squad. \"We spent a lot of money in the summer - £11m we didn't have to spend. \"We backed Iain, they were his signings, but I had never heard of Souleymane Diawara, apparently the best centre-half you've never heard of. \"For a club like ours to spend £3.7m on one player like that is a fortune. Some people must not look at Les but at what went on before.\"

Pardew in plea to Charlton fans
New Charlton manager Alan Pardew has appealed to the fans to get behind their team and show some belief as the Addicks battle against relegation. \"The message I need to send is that the stadium will need to help us,\" said Pardew, whose first game in charge is at Fulham on Wednesday. \"They have been disappointed with what they have seen and have been coming to games more in hope than belief.\" Charlton are second from bottom in the Premiership table, with 12 points. And the Addicks, who parted company with boss Les Reed on Christmas Eve and announced that former West Ham manager Pardew would succeed him, are eight points adrift of fourth-from-bottom Sheffield United. Pardew added: \"I will suggest to the fans that, regardless of performances in the next nine or 10 games, they should just come in and give us everything they have to make it intimidating for the opposition. \"They need to do that against Fulham. Even for 30 minutes if we look horrible and are not getting it together, I want them to give us the benefit of the doubt.\" The Charlton squad have been accused of lacking passion this season but the new manager will wait to see how they perform for him. \"I can only be critical of them once they are under me,\" said the 45-year-old. \"They have to appreciate that I am the third manager this season and we don't want it to be any more. \"They need to enthuse themselves and get on track. It is not about being nice, pretty and seeking that aesthetic win. It is about fighting and digging in and winning games.\" Fulham manager Chris Coleman is aware of the danger of playing a team with a new manager. But with games against Charlton and bottom side Watford over the next week - with a match against Chelsea sandwiched between - Coleman is aware of the importance of picking up points against the struggling sides. \"Charlton have got to start winning but we have to take full points from the game,\" said Coleman. \"We are away from home so we have got to keep it tight but we will be going there for victory. \"We took a point from West Ham last Saturday and face Charlton next. Then we have Chelsea and Watford. \"It's a tough run of games but it's one that gives us a real chance of picking up points. \"If we can nick a couple of wins it keeps Charlton and Watford where they are and we can breathe a little easier as well. \"The next week is a good opportunity for us to pick up points.\"

Charlton v Fulham
Charlton will give a late fitness test to midfielder Amdy Faye after he limped off during the second half of his side's 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough. Darren Ambrose (knee) and Jerome Thomas (virus) could be pushing for recalls but Andy Reid and Luke Young are out. Fulham defender Zat Knight will miss out because of a broken jaw which will sideline him for two months. Striker Heidar Helguson is suspended but Collins John and Claus Jensen could return from hamstring problems. Charlton (from): Carson, Sankofa, Fortune, Diawara, Traore, Rommedahl, Faye, Hughes, Sam, M Bent, D Bent, Myhre, Thomas, Holland, Hasselbaink, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Ambrose, Kishishev. Fulham (from): Niemi, Rosenior, Omozusi, N Jensen, Bocanegra, Christanval, Queudrue, Volz, Brown, Radzinski, C Jensen, McBride, Routledge, Zakuani, C John, Runstrom, Lastuvka, Batista.

Charlton to hold Pressley talks
New Charlton boss Alan Pardew is set to hold talks with former Hearts captain Steven Pressley in the next 24 hours over a possible move to The Valley. The 33-year-old defender watched the relegation-threatened Addicks draw with Fulham in the Premiership on Wednesday. And Pardew said: \"There is a good chance he will be at Charlton.\" The Scotland international is a free agent after leaving Hearts earlier this month following his criticism of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. Pressley also claimed there was \"dressing-room unrest\" at the Scottish Premier League club. Pardew, who replaced Les Reed as manager of Charlton on Christmas Eve, did, however, add a note of caution after revealing his attempt to sign Pressley. \"We are interested in bringing him here before the transfer window but I am never confident about signings until they are done,\" he added. \"What I like about him is he is a leader. I think we have got some very good centre-halves here but he comes into a pack where we need characters and leadership and that is one thing that attracts me to him.\" Celtic, Rangers, Southampton, Derby and Leeds have also been linked with Pressley, who is ineligible to play for any new employer before the opening of the transfer window in January. Meanwhile, Pardew has insisted that striker Darren Bent will be staying at Charlton until at least the summer. Bent has been linked to a number of Premiership clubs, plus Championship side Sunderland. \"Darren is definitely staying through the transfer window and carrying the fight for us through the rest of the season,\" stated Pardew.

Charlton sign China captain Zheng
Charlton have completed the signing of China captain Zheng Zhi on loan with a view to a permanent deal. The 26-year-old, who plays in defence or midfield, joins from Shandong Luneng until the end of the season with Charlton having an option to buy him. Zheng is the Addicks' first signing under the managerial tenure of Alan Pardew, who took over on Christmas Eve. Zheng enjoyed a brief trial at Charlton last month before heading to Qatar to represent China in the Asian Games. The player scored 21 goals for Shandong Luneng as they won the national league title earlier this year.

Arsenal v Charlton
Arsenal have nine players on the sidelines for the game against Charlton at the Emirates Stadium. They are Theo Walcott, Alexander Hleb, Emmanuel Eboue, Emmanuel Adebayor, Abou Diaby, Thierry Henry, William Gallas, Johan Djourou and Freddie Ljungberg. Charlton's Luke Young and Andy Reid could return for the game in London. Young (knee) and Reid (hamstring) have returned to training, while Amady Faye has recovered from the injury that has kept him out for the last two games. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Baptista, van Persie, Almunia, Flamini, Aliadiere, Song, Lauren, Denilson. Charlton (from): Carson, Sankofa, El Karkouri, Fortune, Faye, Young, Hreidarsson, Traore, Ambrose, Hughes, Kishishev, Holland, Reid, Thomas, Rommedahl, M Bent, Hasselbaink, D Bent, Myhre, Fortune, Sam, Diawara.

Charlton contest Sankofa red card
Charlton have appealed against the red card shown to full-back Osei Sankofa during the 4-0 defeat at Arsenal. The 21-year-old was dismissed for a tug on Gunners' striker Robin van Persie in the 29th minute at The Emirates. Charlton claim Talal El Karkouri was the last man and that Van Persie was in an offside position. Boss Alan Pardew said: \"The decision against us was a triple whammy. He should have been given offside, two yards offside by the way.\" Pardew added: \"Secondly, he didn't pull him back too hard and the player went down quite dramatically; and then Osei getting sent off as well, that was a big blow for the team.\" The Football Association confirmed the appeal would be heard on Wednesday. A statement on the FA's website read: \"Charlton Athletic have submitted a claim for wrongful dismissal in relation to Osei Sankofa's sending-off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.\"

Sankofa loses sending-off appeal
Charlton's appeal against the red card shown to Osei Sankofa during the 4-0 defeat at Arsenal has been rejected. Sankofa was also given a further one-match ban because the Football Association disciplinary committee deemed his appeal as "frivolous". Charlton had pleaded for wrongful dismissal, claiming that Robin van Persie was in an offside position when he was tugged back by Sankofa. Sankofa, 21, will miss Charlton's next two matches. Charlton play Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday and then face Middlesbrough in the Premiership on 13 January.

Pardew cleared of conduct charge
Charlton manager Alan Pardew has been cleared of the improper conduct charge arising from his touchline bust-up with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Pardew was manager of West Ham when he clashed with Wenger in the game at Upton Park on 5 November. A Football Association disciplinary commission found the charge against Pardew not proven. Wenger was also charged by the FA last month and fined £10,000 for his part in the incident. Marlon Harewood's 89th-minute winner sparked astonishing celebratory scenes from Pardew, who was subsequently shoved by an angry Wenger. The pair buried the hatchet by shaking hands after Pardew's new club Charlton were beaten by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on 2 January.

Reed explains Charlton departure
Les Reed has revealed that it was his decision to step down as Charlton's head coach in December - and blames the media for making his job impossible. Reed, who was in charge for 41 days, told the Addicks matchday programme: "Nobody told me it would be easy. "What I had not accounted for was the media campaign that would create a hostile environment. "I took the decision to step aside so the chairman could get the ball rolling on Alan Pardew's appointment." Reed took charge after the departure of Iain Dowie in mid-November - but stepped down on 24 December, with Pardew named as the new manager hours later. And Reed, the former technical director of the Football Association, believes the media campaign against him "was instigated by football pundits on television who did not know me or this club well enough to comment". The 54-year-old said that he would not have left the role if he did not think it was the best thing for the Addicks, who are currently second from bottom in the Premiership. "I would like to make it clear I would have done everything in my power to get this club out of trouble," added Reid. "But perhaps it was right man, right club, wrong time. My position had become untenable in circumstances not of my making and beyond my control. "I had stated several times that I would not quit the job and betray the trust placed in me, so I did not walk away from the problem. "I still believe in different circumstances I would have been a successful manager at Charlton and could still be a success elsewhere."

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