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Managerial history

Posted on: Tue 18 Jan 2011

June 1920 - May 1925: Walter Rayner

After turning professional in June 1920, the club decided it needed a full-time secretary-manager and plumped for Tottenham Hotspur coach Rayner.

But within five years he became the club's first boss to be fired, and was then banned from football management.

Rayner's first season in charge was in the Southern League, when the club finished eighth. But after becoming a limited company, the Addicks achieved election to the Third Division (South) in time for the 1921/22 campaign.

Rayner strengthened the squad to befit Charlton's new status, and only a run of one win in the last 12 games prevented a mid-table finish.

Finishes of 12th, 14th and 13th in the next few seasons saw the financially-troubled Addicks stand their ground in League football, but he was sacked on May 13th, 1925.

Rayner was suspended from football management the following year as an enquiry was opened into the financial affairs of the club under his stewardship.

May 1925 - January 1928: Alex Macfarlane

The old truism is that you should never go back. But former Newcastle United, Chelsea and Scotland inside-right 'Sandy' Macfarlane made a habit out it, spending two spells with both Dundee and the Addicks during his managerial career.

He had been boss at the Scottish club for six years when he accepted the chance of taking over at Charlton in 1925.

But the lack of money to bring in new players meant a tough first season for the new boss, and the club had to seek their only ever re-election to the Football League after finishing next to bottom of the table.

The following season saw a slight improvement, but the crowd refused to take to some of the manager's Scottish recruits, and John Cairns and Harry Kirk were both quickly sold due to the vocal barracking they received from the terraces.

Some were more successful, such as Alex Hird and goalscorer Wilson Lennox, and Charlton began the 1927/28 season with an unbeaten run of 12 games.

But Macfarlane was soon on his way, and accepted an offer to return to Dundee at the start of 1928.

January 1928 - May 1929: Albert Lindon

Lindon was Merthyr Town goalkeeper when Charlton swooped to sign him as player-manager. But he had a disastrous start to his managerial career, winning just one of his first 11 games - and losing half of the remaining matches of the season.

Only the good form in the opening half of the campaign accounted for Charlton's 11th-placed finish - the highest in the club's history at that time.

When Alex Macfarlane returned in the summer, Lindon became assistant manager and played 34 games for the club before hanging up his gloves in 1929.

May 1928 - December 1932: Alex Macfarlane

Macfarlane returned to The Valley in summer 1928 and helped Charlton to their first league success when the Third Division (South) championship was achieved in 1928/29.

With the club's average crowd topping 10,000 for the first time, Macfarlane kept the Addicks in the Second Division for the next four seasons, despite having little money to spend on players because of the club's crippling debts.

He was asked to resign in December 1932, with the Addicks looking destined for relegation, having agreed a pay-off of £1,000.

The Scot spent the next two seasons as manager of Blackpool, almost taking the Seasiders into the old First Division.

December 1932 - May 1933: Albert Lindon

Lindon endured a gloomy six months in charge after Macfarlane's second departure, and his appointment resulted in Charlton's relegation from the Second Division.

May 1933 - September 1956: Jimmy Seed

Jimmy Seed

The club's most famous and successful manager, Seed turned Charlton from a Third Divison (South) side to FA Cup winners pushing for the league title.

Seed quit Clapton Orient to join a financially-crippled club just relegated to Division Three (South) after a chance conversation with chairman Albert Gliksten.

After several acquisitions he began his reign in fine style with an unbeaten run of six games in a season which saw the Addicks finish fifth.

The next two seasons saw consecutive promotions, with Seed bringing in players such as Sam Bartram, George Tadman and - a club record £3,250 recruit - Don Welsh, who would all go on to become Charlton legends.

Seed's side showed no nerves during their first top-flight season, and achieved what is still the club's highest-ever finish - runners-up to champions Manchester City.

The next two seasons, until the start of the Second World War, saw finishes of third and fourth.

Seed retained his post in the variety of regional competitions set up during the war, and Charlton reached a Wembley final for the first time in 1943 - but were beaten 7-1 by Arsenal in the War Cup. The following year Seed's team reached the final of the competition again, and this time beat Chelsea 3-1, with Welsh lifting the trophy.

With the war over, the Addicks made two further trips to the Twin Towers in 1946 and 1947 - both FA Cup finals.

The first was lost 4-1 to Derby County after extra-time, but Seed became Charlton's first and only manager to win a major domestic trophy when they beat Burnley 1-0 thanks to Chris Duffy's goal. On his way to a civic reception, Seed broke the top of the famous trophy and had to stop at a garage to have it welded back on.

But the Addicks could not repeat their pre-war heights in the First Division, and could finish no better than ninth during the first six seasons after the end of conflict.

Indeed, in 1949/50 they narrowly avoided relegation with a 20th-position finish, but Seed took Charlton back to the big time with fifth spot in 1952/53.

Following two bottom-half-of-the-table finishes, Seed, now aged 61, endured a desperate start to the 1956/57 season.

The Addicks lost all of their first five league games - conceding 19 goals in the process - and after a record 8-1 defeat at Sunderland, Seed was asked to resign after more than 23 years at the helm.

Seed, who was never relegated in his time at The Valley, became an advisor at Bristol City in 1957 before 18 months in charge at Millwall. He remained on Millwall's staff until his death, aged 71, in July 1966.

September 1956 - October 1961: Jimmy Trotter

Jimmy Trotter

Trotter had already been associated with the Addicks for 22 years as a trainer when he replaced Seed as boss at The Valley. But his commitment to the club could not prevent Charlton from dropping out of the top flight, with Trotter unable to reverse their awful start to the season.

They finished bottom of the table in 1956/57 - some 10 points from safety and having conceded a record 120 goals - 21 years after entering the old First Division.

Trotter, who had always been popular with the playing staff, was a success during his first full season in charge, with his side finishing just one point away from an immediate promotion back to the top flight.

They had won five of their first seven games, and didn't lose until mid-September. December of that season also saw the incredible 7-6 home win over Huddersfield Town, when they had trailed 5-1 with just 28 minutes remaining.

On the final day of the season, they just needed a draw at home against promotion rivals Blackburn Rovers, but lost 4-3.

The following season saw a less impressive eighth-placed finish, and although they ended up seventh in 1959/60, Trotter's team produced some diabolical results, including a club record 11-1 loss against Aston Villa.

The Addicks could only manage 10th place the following year, which proved to be Trotter's last full season in charge.

The 1961/62 season began with just one win in the opening 12 games, and on October 2nd the directors decided to sack Trotter, ending his 27-year association with the club.

November 1961 - August 1965: Frank Hill

'Tiger' Hill took over a side that looked destined for relegation when he was appointed after a dreadful start to the season under Jimmy Trotter.

Hill was an experienced manager who had enjoyed previous spells with Burnley, Preston North End and Notts County before moving to The Valley, and somehow the club ended up finishing 15th in the Division Two table.

They had still been bottom of the pile in February of that season, but matters turned when Dennis Edwards scored a hat-trick at Luton Town, setting up a thrilling 6-1 win.

They would lose just five more games all season, losing three of those to the division's top three sides: Liverpool, Leyton Orient and Sunderland. Indeed, the former Scottish international's side was beating runaway champions Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on the last day of the season, but conceded two goals in the last two minutes of the game.

Hill's achievement was made all the more remarkable as defender John Hewie played four games in goal due to injury problems. South African centre-forward Stuart Leary was the driving force behind the turnaround with 13 crucial goals, but he had controversially left the club by December of the following season after refusing to agree a reduced contract with the club - he joined Queens Park Rangers.

It had been another miserable start to a season, with 1962/63 beginning with just two wins in 11 games - conceding more than five goals on three occasions.

But an upturn in form meant they had a chance of staying in the division with a win on the last day of the season at Walsall. The first game was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch, but Keith Peacock and Mike Kenning made it 2-1 in the replayed game to secure survival on goal difference.

The following season saw a massive improvement with a fourth-placed finish, thanks to 21 goals from Roy Matthews and 16 in 24 games from Eddie Firmani, who had returned from Italy.

However, it was back to the relegation scrap in 1964/65 as the Addicks finished fifth from bottom and just two points above safety. Hill was sacked 18 days before the beginning of the 1965/66 season.

August 1965 - September 1967: Bob Stokoe

Bob Stokoe

Stokoe would go on to achieve one of the biggest upsets in English football's history when he took Sunderland to FA Cup final victory in 1973 against Leeds United.

His Second Division side beat a team on the verge of the double at Wembley that day - but his record with the Second Division Addicks was rather less impressive.

The former Newcastle United defender arrived at Charlton after a spell as player-manager of Bury, and was known to still enjoy getting stuck-in on the training pitch.

But results just didn't happen with the SE7 club, and he would win only a quarter of his games in a two-year spell.

They would finish just five points above relegation in both of his seasons - 18th in 1965/66 and 20th a year later.

He attempted to change things around by selling Billy Bonds, Len Glover and Mike Bailey during his tenure, and also sold and brought back Eddie Firmani - who would eventually take over as his replacement.

The start of the 1967/68 season saw a failure to win any of the opening five games and a 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace resulted in Stokoe losing his job.

September 1967 - March 1970: Eddie Firmani

Eddie Firmani

The Addicks legend was Stokoe's assistant and decided to hang up his boots when he took the hotseat.

An initial caretaker role soon became a full-time position, and Charlton went on to win more games than they lost and eventually finished 17th.

The next season began in fine style and, after losing on the opening day of the season, they then went nine games unbeaten. A great run of form in the last quarter of the season saw them finish third in the table, and it would be another 17 years before they matched that feat. Rivals Crystal Palace would just pip them for promotion, despite a great season for the likes of Charlie Wright, Alan Campbell and Peter Reeves.

The following season was soon going the wrong way when Firmani's side suffered a 5-0 humbling by Swindon Town and a 6-0 defeat at Bristol City. A run of seven consecutive defeats would follow at the turn of the year.

By March 1970, the Addicks were at the foot of the table having won just once in 12 games, and Firmani was dismissed two days after a 5-0 home defeat by Leicester City.

March 1970 - April 1974: Theo Foley

Theo Foley

It was a tough first job in management for the man who eventually went on to coach the Arsenal side which won the title under George Graham in 1989.

Foley was promoted from a coaching role at The Valley and, after keeping the club in Division Two as caretaker, was given the full-time post.

He had just four games at the end of 1969/70, and after two draws and a defeat managed to oversee a win over Bristol City that guaranteed safety.

Foley's first season saw a second consecutive third-from-bottom finish - quite an achievement, in a way, as the Addicks had failed to win until the 10th game of the campaign and didn't win again for another eight matches. They won just one game away from home all season - and just eight altogether in 42 matches.

The following season saw relegation - although a haul of 33 points was actually three more than the previous year.

A terrible end to the season saw no wins in the final 10 games, and a 5-0 defeat at Blackpool on the final afternoon of the term, when only a draw was needed to be safe, saw them in Division Three for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The next two seasons saw only mid-table finishes, and Foley was sacked in April 1974.

While results were poor during the amiable Irishman's four-year reign, his lasting legacy was the purchase of a group of players, including Mike Flanagan, Derek Hales and Colin Powell, who would play a key role for the club in the next decade.

As for Foley, he would enjoy a long career as coach and scout at Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as a brief stint as boss at Northampton Town in the early 1990s. He still works at The Valley as a matchday host.

May 1974 - March 1980: Andy Nelson

Andy Nelson

Nelson, a former First Division championship winner as a player at Ipswich Town, quit his post at Gillingham to take over at The Valley and had immediate success with promotion during his first season.

The Addicks made a decent start to the season and were in eighth position midway through the season, but began a run of just six defeats in the final 23 games.

A last day of the season win over Preston was enough to achieve third position in the Third Division, and Derek Hales' brace brought up 20 league goals in only his second term with the club.

The transition to Second Division football seemed to inspire the striker, and his 31 goals in 1975/76 propelled the Addicks to ninth spot.

That was bettered the following year when Charlton came seventh; this time it was Mike Flanagan firing the goals in with a haul of 23 following Hales' departure to Derby, following 18 strikes in his first 19 games of the season.

Nelson's side began 1977/78 in fine style with just one defeat in the first eight games, but would soon go 14 matches without a win. Ultimately, they would rely on a draw on the last day of the season against Orient to keep them in the division.

Nelson had been somewhat side-tracked during the latter part of the season as players such as Flanagan, Lawrie Abrahams and Colin Powell missed Division Two games due to the club's link up with NASL side New England Tea Men.

Nelson felt the deal was in the long-term interest of the club, particularly as it opened up funds to bring in players, but few fans - or opposition clubs - agreed as Charlton were drawn into a relegation scrap.

The next season saw another battle at the wrong end of the table, and a 2-0 win over Oldham Athletic again meant last-day survival - although mass protests on that day saw banners calling for Nelson to be replaced by long-serving player Keith Peacock.

That season had also seen the infamous on-field scrap between Flanagan and Hales during an FA Cup tie with Maidstone United. Nelson's position was undermined by the appointment of Mike Bailey as chief coach in October 1979, as he became general manager. The confusion was cleared up in March 1980 when Nelson's contract was cancelled following three consecutive defeats.

March 1980 - June 1981: Mike Bailey

Bailey was a former Charlton midfielder who initially joined the club as chief coach in October 1979 under general manager Andy Nelson.

Bailey, who had played 169 times for the Addicks in the 1960s, was to be in charge of the playing staff with Nelson 'moving upstairs', but duties became even more complicated in January 1979 when Nelson resumed team selection responsibilities.

Matters were resolved in March when Nelson was sacked and Bailey was given the job of overseeing the final nine games of the relegation season - Charlton failing to win any of them.

Bailey refused to panic and stuck with many of the team from a torrid year, while also making teenagers Paul Walsh and Kevin Smith first-choice players.

Walsh and the experienced Derek Hales scored 41 goals between them as Charlton finished in third place, making a quick return to the Second Division.

Bailey enjoyed a run of 11 wins in 12 games at one point in the season, while the club also progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup before losing out to First Division title-chasers Ipswich Town.

After an enormously successful first full season, it was little surprise Bailey was a wanted man, and the club's financial difficulties made it an even tougher ask for him to stay. Shortly after promotion had been clinched, he quit to take over at Brighton & Hove Albion.

July 1981 - June 1982: Alan Mullery

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur and England star effectively did a job swap with Mike Bailey, as he had resigned from his post at Brighton & Hove Albion to take over at The Valley when Bailey moved to the Goldstone Ground.

Mullery began a big change in personnel with several players - including Colin Powell - departing, and the likes of Steve Harrison, Don McAllister and Leighton Phillips coming in.

The Addicks made a half-decent start to the campaign, but hit an unbeaten run of 12 games at the turn of the year.

It is believed Mullery asked for two experienced players, including former Nottingham Forest and Scotland midfielder Archie Gemmell, to help the promotion push, but was told by chairman Michael Gliksten that the club did not want First Division football as it would create more financial problems.

Mullery lost his drive after that and, despite a decent mid-table finish, they won just one of their final 11 games of the season.

The arrival of new chairman Mark Hulyer and his promised investment could not tempt Mullery to stay, and he quit at the end of the season, going on to manage Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and, again, Brighton.

June 1982 - November 1982: Ken Craggs

Craggs had been Alan Mullery's assistant for the previous seven years but had no hesitation in staying with Charlton when offered the manager's role.

Craggs - who had never played professional footballer - was in charge when the club signed Danish international and former European Footballer of the Year Allan Simonsen, and worked alongside controversial new chairman Mark Hulyer.

After overseeing the sale of Colin Walsh, Viggo Jacobsen and Steve Harrison, Craggs won his first game in charge 2-1 at Leicester City. He would, however, manage just four more wins in the opening 15 games of the season.

After a 5-1 home defeat to Rotherham United he was told his job was safe by Mark Hulyer, but was sacked two days later.

November 1982 - July 1991: Lennie Lawrence

Lennie Lawrence

His nine-year spell was dogged by the club's move away from The Valley, but Lawrence was the first manager since Jimmy Seed in the 1930s to take Charlton into the top flight.

Lawrence was brought to the club by Ken Craggs just a few short months before the latter's departure, and the two shared the common bond of having never played in The Football League.

Lawrence was inexperienced in club management to say the least, having just a short spell as caretaker boss of Plymouth Argyle on his CV.

But he made the step up from reserve-team manager to the hotseat in November 1982 - taking the job for the rest of 1982/83 - and helped the club retain their Division Two status on the final day of the season with a 4-1 win at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Danish legend Allan Simonsen inspired the side during the middle of the season - scoring nine goals in 16 games - but would quit the club in March with the club unable to pay his wages or instalments of his transfer fee.

By this time former chairman Michael Gliksten had petitioned for bankruptcy against Mark Hulyer, and Charlton owed money left, right and centre.

But Lawrence, now in permanent charge, seemed to rise above the problems and managed a mid-table finish in 1983/84 - despite the club avoiding liquidation in March 1984 - and comfortably stayed up in 1984/85.

The following year saw the heartbreak of leaving The Valley for Selhurst Park, but against all the odds Lawrence took them back to the top flight.

He could rely on the goals of John Pearson, who he had brought in from Sheffield Wednesday, young midfielder Mark Stuart, as well as old boy Flanagan during his final year with the club.

They made a great start to the season with just two defeats in their first 10 games, and then only lost twice more all year from mid-January meaning they finished runners up behind Norwich City.

Their first season in the top flight for 29 years could not have started any better with 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the third game of the season, but it was a big step up and the Addicks would finish just two points above the automatic relegation places in 1986/87.

That meant competing in the newly introduced play-offs with three teams from the Second Division, and after defeating Ipswich Town in the semi-finals, Charlton twice drew with Leeds United in the two-legged final before two goals in extra-time by captain Peter Shirtliff enabled the Addicks to overturn a 1-0 deficit in a dramatic play-off decider at Birmingham City's St Andrews.

Lawrence also took his side to Wembley in the Full Members' Cup final when they were defeated 1-0 by Blackburn.

The next two seasons saw improvements in league position, with 14th spot out of 22 registered in 1988/89.

But football and business realities caught up with Lawrence the following year when Charlton were relegated - some 13 points from safety - with only Millwall finishing below them in the First Division.

While Lawrence managed to keep hold of Robert Lee, Paul Williams and John Humphrey both moved on and the Addicks could only finish in the bottom half of the table in the old Second Division in 1990/91.

That summer he was approached by Middlesbrough and quit the club - still based at Selhurst Park - after nine years at the helm.

July 1991 - June 1995: Steve Gritt/Alan Curbishley

Steve Gritt and Alan Curbishley

When Charlton player Gritt departed the club in 1989 for Walsall, it could have been his last involvement with the club after 12 years in defence and midfield. But within months he had returned.

Six years later and he left The Valley following four seasons as joint manager with former teammate Curbishley.

Gritt had only experience of reserve team coaching when he and Curbishley took the reigns in July 1991 following Lawrence's departure.

The club was somewhat shattered as Lawrence had held things together for so long, despite the financial worries and the continuing problem of playing home games at Selhurst Park.

But Gritt and Curbishley began their spell in charge (now playing at Upton Park) well, almost making the play-offs during their first season, with Robert Lee and Carl Leaburn both getting into double figures.

The following season saw the biggest positive of all with Charlton returning to The Valley, but negatives in the sale of Lee to Newcastle United and a disappointing year on the pitch.

The Addicks struggled in mid-table, just as they would the following year, although an FA Cup run would be the highlight of 1993/94.

Gritt and Curbishley saw their side beat Burnley and Bristol City, while in the fourth round the Addicks clinched a 1-0 win over a Blackburn side which would finish second in the Premier League. But the run ended in the sixth round at Manchester United, who would go on to do the double that season. United, who had Peter Schmeichel sent off, won 3-1 with Leaburn grabbing a 77th-minute goal.

There was to be no cup run the following season and after a finish of 15th it was decided that the club would be better served with just one man in the hotseat.

June 1995 - May 2006: Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley

Regarded as the club's most successful boss since Jimmy Seed, Curbishley turned Charlton from a mid-table side in the old Second Division to a fixture in the Premier League.

When new chairman Richard Murray decided he wanted one man in charge, he selected Curbishley, who then brought in highly-respected coach Les Reed, and so began a vast improvement on the pitch.

Following three years of mid-table football, the Addicks made the plays-offs in 1995/96 after finishing sixth in the First Division table. They could not have started any better in the semi-final, against South London rivals Crystal Palace, when Shaun Newton put the Addicks ahead in the first minute. But Palace would go on to win the game 2-1 and the second leg 1-0.

Charlton's top scorer that season, Lee Bowyer, became the most expensive teenager in the country that summer when he was sold to Leeds for £2.8m, and the midfielder was missed the following year when the Addicks could only manage a bottom-half-of-the-table finish.

Curbishley invested shrewdly that summer in a top quality centre-forward, Clive Mendonca, who would score 23 goals in 1997/98 as the Addicks finished fourth - just three points off automatic promotion.

Curbishley was also now getting the best out of midfielders Mark Kinsella and John Robinson, both of whom had joined from lower league clubs but would go on to play international football with Ireland and Wales respectively.

But it was Mendonca who stole the show in an amazing First Division play-off final against Sunderland, scoring a hat-trick, while Richard Rufus - a player who came through the ranks under Curbishley - scored his first-ever goal.

Eventually penalties were needed, and when Sasa Ilic saved from Michael Gray, Curbishley had taken Charlton to the Premier League for the first time.

Again Curbishley invested wisely with the purchase of Andy Hunt and Chris Powell - the latter another player to go on to become an international, with England.

But the club's first Premier League season ended in relegation on the last day of the season, and Danny Mills - plucked from Norwich City's reserves - would soon be sold to Leeds for £4.3m.

He was the only major departure, and the squad was strengthened with the arrival of goalkeeper Dean Kiely from Bury. And Charlton would go on to win the First Division title for the first time with Hunt grabbing 24 goals, while also establishing a club record 12 consecutive victories.

Rather than being involved in another Premier League relegation fight, 2000/01 began in incredible fashion - beating Manchester City 4-0 - and concluded with a strong mid-table finish of ninth.

The following two seasons saw Curbishley's side begin well and virtually avoid any chance of relegation by the new year, but poor finishes to both campaigns meant the Addicks ended the campaigns in the bottom half.

In 2003/04 they spent much of the season in the top four, eventually ending the campaign in seventh position and just missing out on a UEFA Cup spot. They had been rocked by the £10m sale of midfield linchpin Scott Parker to Chelsea in January - a player Curbishley had taken from the academy and turned into an England international.

It was the club's best finish in over 50 years - confirming comparisons between Curbishley and Seed.

At the end of the 2005/06 campaign, Curbishley called time on his Valley reign after 15 years and a total of 729 games in charge; one shy of Seed's record.

May 2006 - November 2006: Iain Dowie

Following Alan Curbishley's decision to step down, Dowie was named the new head coach of Charlton just days after leaving rivals Crystal Palace.

The 41-year-old spearheaded a new-look coaching triumvirate which also included assistant head coach Les Reed, who returned to the club in a coaching capacity, and development coach Mark Robson.

In addition, the trio were joined in the club's management structure by Andrew Mills, general manager - football.

Charlton plc chairman Richard Murray said at the time: "I am particularly delighted to have secured the services of Iain. He is a very bright young coach with modern ideas and a real passion for the game, and I know he is very excited to be joining us. We interviewed some 20 candidates and Iain was without doubt the man who impressed all of us the most."

From the moment Dowie was unveiled at a Valley press conference to replace Curbishley, it was a roller-coaster ride in SE7. Indeed, halfway through that first media gathering, a writ was served on the new Addicks boss by Eagles chairman Simon Jordan, who insisted he had been misled by Dowie when he left Selhurst Park.

It was always going to be tough to replace a man of Curbishley's standing, and Dowie left the club in November following five-and-a-half eventful months at the helm that concluded with an eighth Premier League defeat in 12 games and Charlton at the foot of the table.

November 2006 - December 2006: Les Reed

Reed was promoted to head coach and Mark Robson to assistant head coach following the sacking of Iain Dowie.

But results failed to improve and on Christmas Eve the Addicks announced that Reed had left his position by mutual consent.

A 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on December 23rd, 2006, had triggered the end of Reed's brief reign as manager and left the Addicks 19th in the Premier League table and seven points adrift of safety.

December 2006 - November 2008: Alan Pardew

Alan Pardew

Pardew was the third man to take the helm of the Addicks since the start of the 2006/07 season, with the former Charlton midfielder unveiled at a Boxing Day press conference, just 16 days after being relieved of his duties as boss of West Ham United.

His arrival in SE7 had an immediate galvanizing effect and a thumping 4-0 win against the Hammers, the club's relegation rivals, on February 24th was the start of a six-match unbeaten run.

The Addicks fought back from two goals down to record a plucky point at Watford and beat Newcastle United and Wigan Athletic at home, and after 0-0 draws at Manchester City and at home to Reading, Charlton were out of the relegation zone.

An agonising late strike from James McFadden at Everton six days later put them back in the bottom three, however, and Pardew would later admit that was the game that effectively sealed his side's fate.

Relegation was then confirmed after a home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the penultimate game of the season.

A busy summer followed as the manager reorganised on and off the field. Darren Bent left for Tottenham for a record-breaking £16.5m and fellow England star Luke Young also departed for Middlesbrough.

By the end of the year, Charlton were handily placed in fifth spot in the Championship, and looking primed for a Premier League push in 2008.

But what turned out to be a frustrating year for the club began in bad fashion as two goals from ex-Addick Kevin Lisbie earned Colchester United a famous 2-1 win at The Valley on New Year's Day. Charlton soon slipped out of the play-off picture and ended the campaign in a disappointing 11th place.

The Addicks temporarily topped the table the following term after a thrilling 4-2 victory against Reading on August 23rd. However, the club went on to win just twice in 15 games, and the demoralising 5-2 home defeat against Sheffield United was an eighth match without victory. Pardew departed by mutual consent later that evening with Charlton in the bottom three of the Championship.

As a player, Pardew moved to Charlton in November 1991, going on to make over 120 appearances for the Addicks.

November 2008 - January 2011: Phil Parkinson

Phil Parkinson

Initially lined up as a potential replacement for Alan Curbishley in the summer of 2006, Parkinson finally became the Valley manager in November 2008.

He was installed caretaker boss when Alan Pardew left the club, and was handed the job on a full-time basis on the final day of 2008.

Back in May 2006, Parkinson's former club, Colchester United, denied him permission to talk to the Addicks, and the Chorley-born 42-year-old instead moved to Hull City.

After a short spell at the KC Stadium, he was appointed as assistant to Pardew in January 2007. The pair had worked together previously, when Parkinson was Pardew's captain during a glittering career at Reading.

Skipper when Reading reached the second tier in 2002, Parkinson was soon taking steps on the coaching ladder and gained UEFA's highest coaching qualification, the Pro Licence, within three years.

By this time a managerial career had been born as he took charge of unfashionable Essex outfit Colchester in February 2003.

Three seasons later, the U's, despite having the lowest average attendance in the division, were promoted to the Championship following a second-placed finish.

After Charlton's initial enquiry regarding their manager fell on deaf ears at Layer Road, Parkinson instead headed for Hull but left in December 2006.

A former Southampton trainee, Parkinson's professional breakthrough came at Bury, where he made 169 league and cup appearances.

His first match in charge of Charlton was a 2-1 away defeat to QPR but after eight games in caretaker charge, Parkinson was finally named Charlton's 19th permanent manager, and although he was unable to stave off relegation, the Addicks lost just one of their final eight matches in 2008/09.

Tasked with reducing the club's wage budget, Parkinson oversaw huge squad changes the following term, which began with a record-breaking six wins in a row and the club's regular position in the top two of League One in the season's opening months.

But Charlton struggled to maintain their momentum as winter approached and, affected by some fixture cancellations, dropped out of the automatic promotion places and were eventually cruelly beaten by Swindon Town on penalties in the play-off semi-finals.

The failure to gain promotion prompted further squad upheaval, with top scorer and captain Nicky Bailey sold to Middlesbrough for £1.4m, soon after the departure of England youth international Jonjo Shelvey to Liverpool for an initial £1.7m.

Parkinson departed The Valley on January 4th, 2011, the day after a 4-2 defeat at home to Swindon Town left the Addicks lying in fifth place in League One.

January 2011 - present: Chris Powell

Chris Powell

Charlton appointed Chris Powell as the club's new manager on Friday, January 14th, 2011.

Powell, who had been working as first-team coach at Leicester City under former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, signed a three-and-a-half year contract.

Charlton chairman Michael Slater said: "We spoke to a number of strong candidates as part of the recruitment process. As soon as we met Chris, it was clear he was the stand-out candidate and the one we wanted to be our new manager.

"He has natural leadership ability and his passion for the club, together with his football knowledge and ideas for the future, are hugely impressive. We firmly believe Chris is the right man to take the club forward on the pitch and we're thrilled to have got him. We think fans will be, too.

"I'd like to thank Leicester for their co-operation in releasing Chris from his coaching role to take on his new position with us.

"With new owners and a fresh and dynamic manager in place, our goal now is promotion to the Championship."

Powell, who had no fewer than three spells at The Valley as a player, is respected as one of the most articulate men in football and was chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association for five years until his retirement as a player last year.

The left-back was part of the Charlton team which won the First Division championship in 2000 and went on to establish the club in the top flight over the next seven seasons. In 2001, Powell also became the first Charlton player to be selected for England for 36 years, ultimately earning five international caps.

Powell said: "I'm absolutely delighted - I'm honoured and proud to be the Charlton manager. It's all happened very quickly, but this is my fourth time at Charlton and I know the club extremely well.

"I want what the fans want. I know what the club has been through over the years, and I know that there is a lot of hard work that lies ahead, but I'm willing to do that. I want to be part of building a brighter future for everyone connected with Charlton."

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