Charlton Athletic striker Darren Bent has changed his management team, he will now be looked after by Neil Fewings of the Wasserman Media Group (WMG), who recently acquired SFX who look after fellow England striker Michael Owen.

Bent had been linked with many clubs during the recent transfer windows after his successful first season with the Addicks since joining the club from Ipswich in June 2005. The change in management could help the player make the move to one of suitors who have been chasing his signature, as his club could look to cash in as they re-structure for life in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Spurs seem to be leading the chase for the 23 year old, as they look to strengthen their forward line up. After missing out on securing his services in January they will be poised to move when the window opens again at the end of the season.

Alan Curbishley has received the same dreaded vote of confidence that his predecessor Alan Pardew was given by the new West Ham board. Pardew has since been installed in Curbishley’s old club Charlton Athletic.

Curbishley has spent a considerable sum of the Icelandic consortium’s investment money in an attempt to keep the Hammers in the top flight. So far it seems that this has been in vain as the introduction of the new players has not had the desired effect on results.

On his return to the Valley Curbishley would have wanted a better score line. His side finished three nil down at half time, to goals from Ambrose, Thomas and Darren Bent. Bent returning to Pardew’s squad after a lengthy period on the treatment table.

The second half was no better for West Ham as Jerome Thomas scored his second and his teams fourth, to seal Charlton’s Emphatic win over fellow relegation strugglers to close the gap on Wigan.

Iain Dowie is due to be unveiled at the Ricoh Arena today as the new manager of Coventry City. The post became vacant when Micky Adams was relieved of his position after a poor run of form in January.

Coventry are currently 17th in the Championship with just 38 points. Dowie is not unfamiliar to this type of situation having joined Crystal Palace in a similar position. He managed to turn their season around and took Palace to the premiership after winning the play-off final.

Dowie has impressive managerial statistics that would have helped him become the strongest candidate for the Sky Blues position. In 222 games he has won 86, drawn 75 and lost just 61. Those stats would be even more impressive had his spell at Charlton Athletic been removed as in his 15 games they won 4, drew 3 and lost 8.

Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song, nephew of Cameroon international Rigobert Song has joined the addicks until the end of the season. Alan Pardew is trying to add to his squad to ensure they have the troops required for the relegation battle ahead.

He has been limited to just cup and substitute appearances for Arsenal this season as there are a number of other midfielders ahead of him in the Arsenal squad and Arsene Wenger is eager for him to get more first team football.

Former Hull supremo Phil Parkinson has joined the Charlton backroom staff to be Alan Pardew’s assistant. The pair have worked together previously at Reading. However Parkinson is best known for his work at Colchester United where he took the club to  the Championship on a shoe string budget.

The deal is mutually beneficial as it allows Parkinson to keep working while he seeks a permanent job and his experience and rapport with Pardew will help both the players and staff of Charlton Athletic.

Addicks boss Alan Pardew has invited offers for striker Darren Bent.  Although He is reluctant to let go of a prized asset, he is more than aware that even if Bent is only missing for the short-term five week recovery period that could be detrimental to the clubs premiership survival.

Pardew knows through experience that injuries to key players strikers in particular can be costly. The injury to Dean Ashton at West Ham was enough to unsettle the team and in the end it cost Pardew his position.

At least now with the January window open Pardew has a few weeks to bring in other striking options, and help his struggling side. He knows that there are clubs out there who want Bent and have the luxury of not needing him to be effective immediately.  Current offers are around £7M but Pardew believes that a young England striker injured or not should command a higher fee.  He told SkySports News “…the figures for Darren Bent being bandied around are way too low.”

Scotland defender and former Hearts captain Steven Pressley has decided to snub a move to the premiership in favour of staying in Scotland to join Glasgow Celtic.

Pressley indicated that his relationship with manager Gordon Strachan and prestige of the club were his motivating factors for moving across the M8 from Edinburgh to Glasgow, following his acrimonious split with Hearts.

The new Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew is ready to make his first signing since taking the helm at the Valley. His target is former Hearts captain Steven Pressley, who is available on a free transfer following his acrimonious split with Heart of Midlothian after a row with owner Vladimir Romanov.

The Scottish international would help shore up the leaky Charlton defence as Pardew looks to deliver the club to safety. However the Addicks are not the only club in the chase for the defender’s services, SPL champions Celtic would like him to ply his trade at Parkhead even though he would be unable to contribute to the Bhoys successful European Champions League campaign.

Pressley may fancy a move south of the border however he may not choose to go to a premier league club that look like they are in free fall, especially if managers from more secure clubs are knocking at his door.

Les Reed left his post as Charlton manager by mutual agreement, giving him a place in the premiership history books as the manager with the shortest tenure so far, just 41 days and eight games.

Reed has been immediately replaced by Alan Pardew, who was a recent casualty of the Icelandic take over at West Ham United, Pardew has a mountain to climb if he is to save the club from relegtion. He is rumoured to have a bonus of a million pounds if he can save the club from the clutches of the Championship.

Pardew had expected a quiet Christmas in front of the television, but after receiving a call from the chairman. Pardew admits it was an easy decision to make as the valley is a home from home with friendly faces from his days there as a player.

He has the January transfer window to equip himself with the personnel needed to fight for survival. He also believes that former Addicks manager Alan Curbishley has what is needed to guide his old club to safety. Which must mean that two of Wigan, Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United will join bottom club in the drop to the Championship.

Charlton Athletic continued their desperate run of form crashing out of the Carling Cup to a side from League Two. Les Reed will be wondering if the board will stand by him or if he will suffer the same fate as Iain Dowie. He may well be one of the most qualified coaches in the game; but from recent performances he has not demonstrated that he has the ability to motivate top-flight footballers when it matters most.

Paul Lambert’s side dictated the play to the Premiership side. Forcing a number of great saves from Addicks keeper Scott Carson, eventually the pressure brought the visitors a goal and a deserved lead through a Jermaine Easter strike. Easter has scored in every round of the competition so far and will be hoping that he can help his side get through the semi finals.

Lambert had no problem in motivating his side, employing Martin O’Neill ethos “I am a great believer, as Martin O’Neill used to say at Celtic, if your in something you may as well go and try and win it.”
Charlton did not have their strongest side out but it was a team sheet littered with big names, who can and should have done better. They didn’t and Les Reed will have to find some inspiration under his Christmas tree if he is to guide his side to safety.

With the other game postponed due to bad weather, Paul Lambert and his team can sit and watch the other games to see who they might face in the semi-finals next year.