Top role for former Charlton manager?

 

Alan Pardew, 62, is among those standing in the election to succeed Howard Wilkinson as the chairman of the League Managers Association (LMA).

Now 80, Wilkinson is standing down at the end of the season after 34 years leading the organisation he helped to establish. Eight people, including both male and female candidates, have been nominated for the position and the LMA’s 680 members will send ballot papers next week and have four weeks to vote.

Pardew’s pitch includes that he has played and managed at every level, and that he wants to promote more inclusion of ethnic minority coaches.

No doubt he will not mention that he screwed up big time at Charlton.

Pardew might soon be available

Critics of Lee Bowyer looking for a replacement might wish to note that Alan Pardew could soon be available. Things have not being going too well for him (or Chris Powell) at relegation threatened Den Haag in the Netherlands and Pardew was 'approached' by a group of supporters at a recent training session: Exchange of views

The Daily Mail described the angry fans as 'hooligans' who, 'armed with a flipboard, hijacked his training session in front of stunned players to show why his tactics are wrong as the club hurtles towards relegation.'

The obvious solution is to replace Pardew by Powell.

Pardoo and Powell in charge of Dutch Millwall

It's an unlikely pairing from a Charlton perspective, but Alan Pardew is coach and Chris Powell is assistant coach at ADO Den Haag, sometimes referred to as the Millwall of the Netherlands.

Alan Pardew has taken the controls at Den Haag.

The Chinese owned club has a 15,000 seater stadium. With a traditionally working class base drawn from two working class suburbs of the Dutch administrative capital and home of the royal family, the club is historically known for off the field troubles. While Pardew and Powell were being interviewed for The Times a white hatchback tore through the car park doing wheelies.

Relegation threatened ADO won their first match under the new bosses 2-0. Fans displayed a 'Ghostbusters' banner to welcome the Charlton hero and villain: Who are you going to call?

Pardew has been out of work since being sacked by West Browmich Albion in 2018. He called up Powell when he heard the job was available and they headed off through the Channel Tunnel on the 300-mile drive to The Hague in Pardew's 'bangers for cash' car. Which coach would you rather spend 300 miles in a car with?

Pardew sees the position as reviving his career: 'I've been accused in the past of certain things, but this role is a great opportunity for me to carry the flag for English coaches abroad. I'm hoping to do a good job here and then we'll see.'

New Dowie shock

It is rocket science

Copies of this month's Four Four Two have been placed in the horror comics section after it was found to contain a photograph of Ian Dowie. He is interviewed, appropriately enough, in the 'Ask a Silly Question' feature.

Turns out that when Dowie was a rocket scientist he worked on air-launched anti-radiation missile (ALARM). That should have rung alarm bells at The Valley. Even if he could fix a broken missile guidance system, he couldn't help his players find the back of the net.

Dowie thinks that the future is in teleportation. So that's how he got from Selhurst to The Valley.

Meanwhile Alan Pardew fans can read about his popularity at Newcastle here: Sack Pardew

Pardew admits 'errors' at Charlton

Speaking on 'Goals on Sunday' former Charlton manager Alan Pardew admitted that he made 'errors' at Charlton, but he's learnt from them. He said he was forced to sell 9 players after relegation including Andy Reid who was like a Messi to Charlton. Reid was certainly well thought of by fans and has gone on to have a successful career.

However, one well-informed Addick has commented, 'The sale of Reid wasn't as simple as Pardew's hand being forced. He wasn't able to accommodate Reid successfully in a 4-4-2, which is how he wanted to play, the player wanted to take the money on offer and the manager didn't resist the suggestion of selling him, from what I was told at the time. If Pardew had opposed the deal it probably wouldn't have happened.'

A director at the time commented, 'I don't recall Pardew being forced to sell any particular players or any particular number of players. I'm sure he was told to work on getting the wages down. The manager being forced to sell a player just didn't happen back then.'

Pardew for Palace

Listening to 606 last night, I was quite amused to hear Palace fans arguing with each other about whether Ian Holloway should get the push. My view of Holloway is that he is the kind of loud mouth lacking judgment who is well suited to the Nigels and Nigellas.

However, it appears that Ian Holloway is under real pressure and that Alan Pardew is the favourite to replace him. Indeed, no less an authority than Richard Cawley of the South London Press has tweeted that there is some substance to a story that has appeared in a number of papers: Pardew

Pardew is under real pressure at Newcastle, where his team were booed off after drawing 0-0 with West Ham yesterday. There would be a nice symmetry in Pardew steering Palace to relegation. If we managed to stay up, and he kept his job, we could welcome him to The Valley next season, although it is an interesting speculation who would be Charlton manager by then. Doubtless some of the rumours circulating at The Valley yesterday were no doubt exaggerated in the telling.

Charlton report Pardew to Premier League

Charlton have reported Newcastle manager Alan Pardew to the Premier League after he broke a confidentiality agreement in relation to a bid for Rob Elliot.

Newcastle made a derisory £100,000 for the keeper on Wednesday which was immediately rejected.

It is unlikely that we will get any joy from the Premier League, but it is worth making the point.

Pardew enhances his c.v.

Alan Pardew gained something to add to his c.v. after Newcastle went down 3-1 to Stevenage in the FA Cup this evening. Apparently Newcastle are only the third team to lose to fourth tier opposition since the formation of the Premiership. That's the quality you get with a five-and-a-half year contract. The Silver Fox weaves his magic!

Dowie steps forward

Iain Dowie reckons he must be in the frame for the vacant managerial posts at Burnley and Preston. He commented, 'You're always interested in clubs of the magnitude of Burnley and Preston.'

Would they be interested in him? Well nothing amazes me in the world of football. In any other walk of life such a track record of falure would disqualify you from even getting on the short list.

Mind you, he might suit Preston. He is a proven relegation specialist.

To top it all, I have just heard on Radio 5 that Alan Pardew thinks that David Beckham should go to Newcastle because a quality player needs a quality manager. Ego or what?

Which of them is more up himself? Dowie or Pardew?

You couldn't make it up

New coach takes training at the Skydome this morning, courtesy Coventry Plumbing and Heating Coventry Blaze

Alan Pardew has proclaimed that Newcastle United is 'a working class club'. So what does that make Charlton? And is Surrey Hills resident Pardew working class?

Coventry Blaze have been very secretive about who their replacement coach would be for Thommo who has been suspended for his alleged part in last Saturday's brawl on the rink. The decision had to be approved by the Elite League and is a total surprise: Scorching

In hockey fights sometimes kit is wrenched off, but they will have a challenge with this guy.

250,000 people have now watched YouTube footage of last Saturday's bench clearance.

Gloom continues at Toon

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle commented yesterday, 'To say the appointment of Alan Pardew is bewildering and perplexing to Newcastle United fans is an understatement.'

It went on to capture the mood of powerlessness among fans that may translate into empty grey seats at St James' over the coming months and next season: 'No amount of chanting, protests, gnashing of teeth or complaint is going to change the decision. As long as Ashley holds the reins and controls the finances of the club, he calls the shots.'

The fans' website nufc.com is usually reserved. On Thursday it referred to Pardew as 'a chancer appointed by chancers' [very good - ed], adding: 'And in making the change, Mike Ashley has once again demonstrated the utter contempt that he now holds for the fans that he once sought to buddy up with. At a stroke he's managed to successfully re-ignite the bad feeling on and off the field that resulted in our fall from grace two seasons ago. Is he trying to take us down?'

Of course, if Newcastle beat Liverpool tomorrow, Pardew will be hailed as the saviour Geordies have been waiting for since [fill in date of your choice].

Toon gloom as latest Charlton reject arrives

For some unfathomable reason Newcastle United thinks it is a good idea to bring Charlton rejects on to the coaching staff at St. James's Park. First the Magpies hired relegation specialist Iain Dowie as coach. Down they went, just as Hull City did the following year.

Now they have brought in the 'Silver Fox', Alan Pardew. Admittedly, Pardew is probably the better of the two. His appearance is less inclined to scare those of a nervous disposition. He can't claim to be a rocket scientist. He won't take players on a run up the A1 just before a match. Whilst he probably does enjoy the occasional glass of wine in his Surrey Hills home, that's as far as it goes. He also takes an interest of the welfare of everyone involved in the club, broadly defined.

I have a lot of friends who are Toon fans so I hope it works out for them. Newcastle have some of the most passionate fans in the country and they are far less irritating than those of Portsmouth. Even when we were thumped 3-0 at St. James's Park, I enjoyed my visits, even if I needed treatment for altitude sickness after reaching the away seats.

One Charlton fan went out to put a bet on a Newcastle relegation after the news was leaked. I can see his point, but let's hope they survive.

I have subsequently learnt that the Silver Fox has been appointed on a five-and-a-half year contract. You've got to admire his nerve, but what's all that about?

Newcastle is on a short list of three clubs drawn up by the Qatar Investment Authority as they look for a Premiership 'trophy' in the wake of their World Cup hosting success. Goodness knows what they would make of Pardew, but then Spurs is their first choice and 'Arry may seem a bit unusual to them.

Pardew blow for Toon

Already reeling from losing popular manager Chris Hughton, Newcastle United fans have been shocked to learn that their next manager may be none other than the Silver Fox, Alan Pardew: Pardew

It will be recalled that the Magpies suffered the curse of Dowie when they were relegated with him as coach. To then suffer Pardew as well is to experience a cruel and unusual punishment. OK, we suffered it at Charlton, but others can learn lessons from our experience.

However, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, dissatisfied with Toon's 11th place in the Premier League following promotion, wants an 'experienced' manager. Alan Pardew certainly has plenty of that at various clubs.

Alan Curbishley is also being mentioned, but his name is brought up every time there is a top level vacancy. He doesn't move north of the M25.

Last night it became apparent that Martin Jol was in the frame. Jol resigned from Ajax where he has not been a happy bunny. One might have reservations about Jol, but given a choice between him and Pardew, there is only one answer.

One wonders where the Pardew story came from in the first place as it was extensively carried by the media. Perhaps it came from sources close to Alan Pardew, but I have no evidence of that.

Super Al sacked

Super Alan Pardew has lost his job at Southampton two days after they beat Bristol Rovers 4-0: Pardew

Apparently the Southampton board think that Super Al cannot achieve their targets, i.e., promotion. Seems that the penny has finally dropped on the south coast. Shame we can't claim a share of his compensation.

It has been pointed out that Iain Dowie is available.

Pardew out at Saints?

Alan Pardew's future at Southampton is doubt: Pards

Some reward for getting the paint drying trophy. Another impatient owner, reminding us how well served we are at Charlton.

Pards wants Addicks to go up

Alan Pardew claims that he retains an affection for Charlton and wants them to go up:
Pards

It's going to be a tough fixture this afternoon. Our defence is looking quite solid, but we have a problem scoring goals. I am going for a 0-0.

Myles Weston sets out to prove a point

Former Addick Myles Weston is out to make a point when Brentford play Charlton tomorrow. In an exclusive interview in the Hounslow Chronicle he blames Alan Pardew for getting Charlton in a mess: Weston

The Bee here in Toronto is looking for a sports bar that will show Charlton v. Brentford at 7.15 a.m. This strikes me as a futile quest, but Inspector Sands may have more luck in New York City where he will be tomorrow.

The Bee in question has lived all his life in the same house in Acton. I'm not quite sure what the geography is that makes you Brentford rather than a Super Hoop, but I can't stand QPR. Their fans always seem to have an exalted view of themselves and then there is Rodney Marsh who was always slagging off Charlton.

I have a DVD of a rather good 1930s film called the Arsednal Stadium Mystery. This is not about how Arsenal managed to escape relegation at the end of the First World War, but the murder of a player of an opposing team. It contains quite extensive footage of a Arsenal v. Brentford match. It all seems very kick and rush.

This reminds us that Brentford were once a top flight club. Recent encounters with the Addicks include a 3-2 win in a cup replay at The Valley when Salmon managed to concede an avoidable goal and a 3-1 victory in the cup when Michael Turner was playing. He was mot that impressive that day, but I am certainly pleased with the money he has brought us.

Optimism comes hard to Charlton fans, but I am going for a 2-1 win tomorrow with goals by Bailey and Llera.

One week to go

There is a sense of mounting interest as the season approaches with quite a few Addicks planning to go to Bournemouth today to see if the Addicks can do any cherry picking. Let's hope the weather is better than it is in the Midlands.

An Argentinian friend contacted me from BA today, recalling his visit to The Valley and wishing us well. Earlier this week I rang up my publisher at Oxford University Press. There is an inverse relationship between the prestige of a publisher and their ability to publish a book promptly, but his main topic of conversation (perhaps as a diversion from the book) was the prospects for Saints this season under Pardew. He seems convinced that Pardew's talents will overcome the ten point deficit and win promotion for them, mainly it would seem on the grounds that he is not Dutch.

This brought me to reflect on how many Saints fans I know. The godfather to my eldest granddaughter (now nine years old and on holiday in Canada) is a Saint (Joe the Saint). The colleague in the office next door has a season ticket and the person opposite is also a Saint (they could string a banner across the corridor). As is one of my oldest friends.

This report has no Charlton content, but I am glad we don't have an owner like this (fortunately for Livingston fans he has subsequently thrown in the towel): No speaka de English

If you don't know where Livingston is, it's a Scottish new town and you often see their ground when you fly into Edinburgh.

Pardew in at Saints

Santiago, Chille: There was dancing around St. Mary's Stadium as Southampton fans learnt that Alan Pardew is to be their new manager. Whether his appointment on the Feast of the Virgin of Carmen will be auspicious remains to be seen.

Initially Charlton did reasonably well under Pardew, particularly given the wreckage left by Dowie. But then he decided that a play off place was not good enough and went into Tinkerman mode.