CHARLTON will hand Phil Parkinson the chance to stake his claim for the manager’s position after Alan Pardew was sacked following Saturday’s 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United.

Former Charlton goalkeeper Dean Kiely has backed the Addicks to recover from relegation from the Barclays Premiership, insisting the club will not slide further down the Football League.

Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes will join Everton on loan until the end of the season, according to his club Benfica.

“MERRY Christmas, Les. You’re sacked.”

Alan Pardew will be officially unveiled as Charlton boss this afternoon barely a fortnight after being dismissed by West Ham.

LES REED thought he was set to follow Iain Dowie out of Charlton when the phone rang on Monday but is determined to prove he is the right man to take the club forward.

CHARLTON chief executive Peter Varney yesterday admitted the club had made a mistake appointing Iain Dowie as head coach and confessed the promotion of Les Reed to replace him is a “gamble”.

Charlton has confirmed they have terminated the contract of Iain Dowie following a review of the management team’s performance so far this season.

Charlton’s proposed withdrawal from the Stock Exchange moved a step closer today when the club purchased 30,000 more of their own shares.

The 22-year-old was the leading English scorer in the Barclays Premiership last season with 18 goals in the league and 22 in total following his move from Coca-Cola Championship club Ipswich.

Charlton have offered a new three-year contract to England defender Luke Young.

Chairman Richard Murray insists there was always more to Charlton than just Alan Curbishley as the Addicks prepare for a new era under Iain Dowie.

New Charlton boss Iain Dowie could be faced with a £1m (€1.5m) compensation claim from his former employers Crystal Palace.

Charlton chairman Richard Murray admits he thought it was a joke when this afternoon’s press conference to unveil new manager Iain Dowie was interrupted by the news of legal action launched by Crystal Palace against their former boss.

Charlton have unveiled Iain Dowie as their new manager.

ALAN CURBISHLEY admits he would have felt a “fraud” if he had stayed with Charlton after deciding not to renew his contract at the end of next season — and chairman Richard Murray insisted it served the best interests of all parties for the long-serving manager to leave this summer.

Charlton 0 Blackburn 2

Alan Curbishley will leave Charlton at the end of the season after close to 15 years in charge at The Valley.

Charlton have announced a financial losses of £5.1m (€7.5m) for the six-month period ending December 31, 2005.

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney insists talks with Alan Curbishley will be held this summer, following a report suggesting the Addicks boss has already been offered a deal.

Charlton 2 Middlesbrough 1

Charlton have signed a £6.6m (€7.8m), four-and-a-half year sponsorship deal with Spanish property company Llanera SL.

CHARLTON chairman Richard Murray has called for a “redistribution of finances within football on a more equal basis” to avoid the Premier League being dominated by a select few and becoming “predictable.”

Should things not go to plan for England over the next 10 days, the issue of just how long Sven-Goran Eriksson will sta in the job are bound to be raised once again – along with just who would be in line to take over from the Swede.

Waterford 3-18 Down 0-19

There are three clashes down for decision in today's final round of the National Hurling League relegation section.

Ticket prices should be slashed for televised matches to avoid games being played in front of sparse crowds, supporters’ chief Malcolm Clarke has warned.

Charlton today announced a net loss of £1.682m (€2.4m) for the six months ended December 31, 2004.

Charlton made a net profit of £11.1m (€16m) last year – due almost entirely to the sale of Scott Parker to Chelsea in January.

Down 0-5 Tipperary 4-20

Danish international winger Dennis Rommedahl has completed a £2m (€2.9m) move to Charlton from PSV Eindhoven.

Charlton reported a loss of £690,000 (€1m) in their interim results for the six months ended December 31, 2003.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley believes new signing Paolo di Canio will bring a different dimension to his side.

Goals at vital stages set up victory for Galway but they made heavy weather of defeating Wexford in this League game at Pearse Stadium.

Andy Todd has been placed on the transfer list by Charlton after a training ground bust-up with a team-mate.

Charlton defender Andy Todd will learn his fate today after being involved in a major training ground bust-up with another player.

Charlton have denied reports that Andy Todd has been placed on the transfer list, but conceded that he has asked for a move.

Charlton Athletic are paying the price of playing in the Premiership, and plc chairman Richard Murray has called for a more equal distribution of wealth in order to make the league more competitive.