A Return to Sanity

When Charlton Athletic went down 2-0 to Middlesbrough it signalled the end for Les Reed. He will be remembered as a record breaker in the worst possible sense – the man with the shortest ever tenure as a Premiership manager. We do not know if he had any hand (as was rumoured) in the sacking of Iain Dowie, but there is little doubt that he did not enjoy the confidence of the players and in his short time at the helm all he did was to preside over an alarming descent into the relegation zone.

The truth is that, whatever his experience as a coach, he was simply not up to the job and the football world was aghast when the Charlton board awarded him a lengthy contract – an aberration from which they have now happily recovered, to appoint a man who was unfortunate to be dismissed by West Ham United, having (unlike Mr Reed) proved himself capable of doing the job by re-establishing his club in the top flight and leading them not only to Premiership respectability but to the brink of a remarkable triumph in the F.A. Cup final, and into Europe.

Good luck to Alan Pardew. His appointment represents a return to sanity by the board of Charlton Athletic and in the light of the formidable challenge facing him, both they and their fans hope it is not too late.