Curbishley could have signed 'last Charlton contract'

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley believes he has probably signed his final contract at The Valley.

Curbishley, 46, last week agreed to extend his stay at the south-east London club to the summer of 2007.

The new offer was put in front of the Premiership’s second-longest serving boss in recognition of hauling Charlton into the top six of the top flight and amid increased speculation he will move on to manage one of England’s big clubs.

His new contract is thought to include numerous escape and compensation clauses, making him an expensive proposition, and naming specific clubs he would be allowed to talk to should an approach be made.

“It could well be my last contract at Charlton,” Curbishley told the Evening Standard. “If I see this out I will hit 50 years old.

“The chairman could have tried to get me to sign for longer but I think this is the right length of time.

“I had to think long and hard about the contract, questioning whether I have become too comfortable.

“We sometimes take what we have achieved at Charlton for granted. We have had a few bad results in recent weeks but we have got a lot going for us.”