Charlton have appointed Les Reed as their new head coach just hours after sacking manager Iain Dowie. Reed was Dowie’s assistant at The Valley, but has now been given the top job on a permanent basis. He has previously held the post of acting FA technical director and coached England Under 20s. The Addicks’ development coach, Mark Robson, has been promoted to assistant manager. The club is expected to bring in another coach or manager to work alongside the pair.
Dowie, meanwhile, has found an unlikely ally in tangerine arch-enemy and lawsuit penpal, Simon Jordan. The Crystal Palace chairman said: "Despite my personal differences with Iain, on a professional level, at times, Iain was quite inspirational. I think parting company with someone after 12 games is very early and is not what support is about. I think Charlton have not really given him a chance."
[Rob Parker]