PARKINSON UP FOR RELEGATION FIGHT
Charlton Athletic's caretaker manager, Phil Parkinson, has vowed to give his all to the “relegation dogfight” and challenged his players to show their passion for the club in the London derby at Loftus Road on Tuesday night.
Parkinson had been Alan Pardew’s assistant for just under two years at The Valley, but following the former West Ham manager’s departure on Saturday after the 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United, the 40-year-old was handed the reins on a temporary basis by the Charlton board.
Pardew admitted that he had failed to halt the Addicks’ decline since taking over on Boxing Day 2006, when the club were in the Premier League. After relegation and then finishing six points below the play-off zone last season, the club have sunk to deeper depths – they are now 22nd in the Championship.
“It has been difficult here,” said Pardew, 47. “It was a club on the slide when I arrived and I haven’t managed to stop that. The players’ confidence is so low – it’s difficult at the bottom of the league.”
Ex-Colchester manager Parkinson, who club sources suggest wants the top job on a permanent basis, believes that Pardew will return to football, “stronger and hungrier than ever”.
But for cash-strapped Charlton he wants a heavy dose of realism. “It's been a disappointing time for everybody at the club,” Parkinson said of Pardew’s exit by mutual consent.
“We've all got to accept we're in a relegation dogfight. Now is the time to roll our sleeves up and come out fighting.”
On playing Queens Park Rangers, who lost 3-0 against Watford on Saturday in Paulo Sousa’s first game in charge, Parkinson added: “There are a lot of people looking for a reaction now on Tuesday at Loftus Road.
“I'm confident we've enough characters and the bottom line is we want to see some pride and passion.”
CANDIDATES FOR ADDICKS HOT-SEAT:
Alan Curbishley, 51, currently unemployed
The former West Ham manager spent 15 fruitful years at The Valley before his stint at Upton Park. He did not rule out a return to Charlton on Sunday but added he would prefer to manage above the Championship. “If I did look to come back I think it would be in the Premier League,” he said.
Aidy Boothroyd, 37, currently unemployed
Having exited Vicarage Road earlier in the month, Boothroyd, who has been linked with a switch to Charlton in recent weeks, would like to jump back in to the managerial hot-seat. He took Watford up to the Premier League in first foray into management three years ago, but left the club by mutual consent.
Mark Kinsella, 36, Charlton’s reserve team coach
Former Addick Kinsella has been in charge of the reserves for two years, is popular at the club and has his backers. Having only hung up his boots earlier this year the Republic of Ireland international would be inexperienced, though he has had stints as first team coach at Walsall.
Iain Dowie, 43, currently unemployed
The former Northern Ireland striker, who took over at The Valley when Alan Curbishley left in 2006 and was sacked 15 games later, parted company with QPR earlier in November. He is known to want to return to management.
Charlton Athletic's caretaker manager, Phil Parkinson, has vowed to give his all to the “relegation dogfight” and challenged his players to show their passion for the club in the London derby at Loftus Road on Tuesday night.
Parkinson had been Alan Pardew’s assistant for just under two years at The Valley, but following the former West Ham manager’s departure on Saturday after the 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United, the 40-year-old was handed the reins on a temporary basis by the Charlton board.
Pardew admitted that he had failed to halt the Addicks’ decline since taking over on Boxing Day 2006, when the club were in the Premier League. After relegation and then finishing six points below the play-off zone last season, the club have sunk to deeper depths – they are now 22nd in the Championship.
“It has been difficult here,” said Pardew, 47. “It was a club on the slide when I arrived and I haven’t managed to stop that. The players’ confidence is so low – it’s difficult at the bottom of the league.”
Ex-Colchester manager Parkinson, who club sources suggest wants the top job on a permanent basis, believes that Pardew will return to football, “stronger and hungrier than ever”.
But for cash-strapped Charlton he wants a heavy dose of realism. “It's been a disappointing time for everybody at the club,” Parkinson said of Pardew’s exit by mutual consent.
“We've all got to accept we're in a relegation dogfight. Now is the time to roll our sleeves up and come out fighting.”
On playing Queens Park Rangers, who lost 3-0 against Watford on Saturday in Paulo Sousa’s first game in charge, Parkinson added: “There are a lot of people looking for a reaction now on Tuesday at Loftus Road.
“I'm confident we've enough characters and the bottom line is we want to see some pride and passion.”
CANDIDATES FOR ADDICKS HOT-SEAT:
Alan Curbishley, 51, currently unemployed
The former West Ham manager spent 15 fruitful years at The Valley before his stint at Upton Park. He did not rule out a return to Charlton on Sunday but added he would prefer to manage above the Championship. “If I did look to come back I think it would be in the Premier League,” he said.
Aidy Boothroyd, 37, currently unemployed
Having exited Vicarage Road earlier in the month, Boothroyd, who has been linked with a switch to Charlton in recent weeks, would like to jump back in to the managerial hot-seat. He took Watford up to the Premier League in first foray into management three years ago, but left the club by mutual consent.
Mark Kinsella, 36, Charlton’s reserve team coach
Former Addick Kinsella has been in charge of the reserves for two years, is popular at the club and has his backers. Having only hung up his boots earlier this year the Republic of Ireland international would be inexperienced, though he has had stints as first team coach at Walsall.
Iain Dowie, 43, currently unemployed
The former Northern Ireland striker, who took over at The Valley when Alan Curbishley left in 2006 and was sacked 15 games later, parted company with QPR earlier in November. He is known to want to return to management.
