The recent speculation about the future of West Ham United looks like it could come to a conclusion. An Icelandic consortium led by Eggert Magnusson the president of the Icelandic FA are believed to be close to finalising a deal worth £75 million. Which will see them take on the clubs debts that are in excess of £22 million.

The deal could be signed, sealed and delivered as soon as tomorrow (Tuesday 21st) morning. Granting the wish of Hammers manager Alan Pardew, who wanted the matter to be resolved as soon as possible so that he and his side can concentrate on football.

Charlton Athletic sensationally sacked Iain Dowie last night, only 15 games in to his tenure. He had managed only two league wins in that time, but he had led his side to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup, with three wins, and with only lowly Wycombe Wanderers between them and the semi finals his side would have only been 180 minutes from the final.

The Addicks board once known for their patience and persistence, were not prepared to give Dowie time to produce his renown ‘bouncebackability’. They conducted a review of staffing and the management team. Where there conclusion was that the current situation would not improve, however to cause minimal disruption they have promoted the backroom staff. Les Reed will now be Head Coach, and Mark Robson will be his assistant in a ‘back to the future’ type move. Relying on their Charlton pedigree.

The board backed Dowie with over £11 million of transfer money, which many believe he spent wisely bringing a number of talented players to the valley.

Charlton were not exactly dead in the relegation waters, one victory with other results in their favour could have lifted them out of the relegation zone and back to back victories would have them languishing in mid table.

It will become one of the ‘what might have been?’ questions that Addicks fans will be asking for years to come, especially if Les Reed manages to relegate the team and they miss out on next years bumper television deal.

Tottenham Hotspur were the first name out of the hat, swiftly followed by giant killers Southend United. Other ties see Arsenal travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool, a repeat of tomorrow’s league fixture.

Chelsea have a even further to travel, they go to St. James Park to take on Newcastle United, at least striker Andrei Shevchenko will feel at home in the cold on a December evening in the week commencing 18th.

The last tie sees Wycombe Wanderers travel to the Valley to play Charlton Athletic, could that be the banana skin that sees Iain Dowie unsettled from his managerial seat?

Carling Cup quarter final draw, ties to be played week commencing December 18:

Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Liverpool v Arsenal
Newcastle United v Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v Southend United

Spurs manager Martin Jol used this game as an opportunity to rest a number of his first team, giving debuts to a host of youngsters. The game was pretty eventless with both sides going through the motions. Until Leon Constantine put the visitors ahead on sixty-four minutes, taking advantage of the hang over Spurs may have been suffering since their victory over Chelsea on Sunday.

Martin Jol made his tactical changes almost immediately, demonstrating his intent to have more success in cups than last season. In a week of firsts for the home side Tom Huddlestone headed home his first goal for Tottenham, helped by Vale keeper Goodlad.

Vale held on until extra time when Huddlestone scored his second, a driven shot from out side the box that flew past the Goodlad with the help of a deflection. Spurs weren’t finished there Germaine Defoe added his name to the score sheet to seal Tottenham’s second win in a week.

When the draw was made manager Steve Tilson spoke on TalkSport and dared Sir Alex Ferguson to bring his strongest side. After Crewe Alexandra had forced his second string to extra time, before they got the better of them.

Tilson’s wish came true when he heard that Rooney and Ronaldo would be in the squad travelling to Roots Hall. He must have been lost for words when he read the team sheet that had only two players that were not regulars in the united first team, and one of those was Polish international Tomasz Kuszczak.

The home team played well and left Ferguson with a number of questions to ask his players. Freddy Eastwood scored a fantastic free kick to put the Shrimpers in front, bending the ball around the wall just out of the reach of the out stretched Kuszczak.

With little left on the bench and less still in the tank Manchester United were kept out by the brilliant saves of Flahavan, who frustrated Rooney and Ronaldo. Picking up a yellow card for making adjustments to the studs on his boots.

Southend United go through to the draw for the quarterfinal, which will be drawn live on SkySports 1 on Saturday 11th November. Having conquered the league leaders they will have no fear of their next opponents.

Jose Mourinho must have thought it was another regular visit to three-point lane after Claude Makelele scored his first Chelsea goal from open play. A fantastic volley from outside the area, the blues thought they had extended their lead when Drogba headed home from a corner. The effort was ruled out for what appeared to be pushing.

Martin Jol had kept the same side that dispatched Club Brugge 3-1 in their UEFA Cup game. Only ten minutes after going behind the hosts were back on level terms with the Champions. When Michael Dawson managed to guide home a Jenas free kick to score his first competitive goal for the club.

The game continued to be as explosive as the fireworks used to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. Especially when Aaron Lennon put Tottenham in front on 55 minutes. Leaving Spurs fans with a tense 35-minute wait, that must have felt just as long as the previous sixteen years since they last beat Chelsea in the league.

The game will unfortunatley be talked about for all the wrong reasons. Referee Graham Poll sent off John Terry for tugging Ledley King’s shirt, and booked a number of players for dissent. Some of whom have already vented their feelings in the press.