Can't Say I'm Happy

but if Iain Dowie is to be announced as our new manager on Tuesday then I'm gonna make damn sure I get right behind him. He's got one hellavu job to do anyway without the fans on his back from the very start.

Personally, I don't think he is the right man for the job and it has nothing to do with his Palace connections. I just don't think he's good enough. I'm still holding out hope that it'll be Sammy Lee paraded in front of the world's press on Tuesday but being realistic it is going to be Dowie. However much I don't agree with his appointment I do feel that having interviewed over twenty candidates we have to trust Richard Murray and Peter Varney on this. Both are Charlton Athletic through and through and the decision they have made is, in their opinion, the right one for the Club and so I support them in that respect.

Fans who are suggesting that they will not renew their season tickets because 'it is Dowie and he's Palace' are really not worth bothering with. If you don't renew/buy tickets because you don't like the manager then half the grounds in the country would be half-full every week. You support a Club, not even the team, and you do so because you love the Club. To be so fickle as to base your support, or lack of it, on whom the manager may be that week is nonsensical.

As to whom will make up the triumvate announced on Tuesday opinion is divided. Dowie seems a stick-on as manager. Les Reed seems a stick-on too, as either assistant or coach (and I'm VERY happy about that). The third appointment is more contentious. Some say it's already been made in the shape of Andrew Mills, General Manager - Football, brought in earlier this month to deal with transfers and other football related matters. I'm not so sure. We need to replace not just Curbs but Day and Peacock too, so I feel that another appointment on the coaching side is forthcoming (plus Mills appointment was made known a few weeks ago). If another coach is appointed most seem to believe it will be either Mark Robson or Chrissy Powell. Either way, I'd be happy but Robson is the more qualified and I feel he should get the nod.

Whatever happens we have a very important season ahead and we all need to get behind those in charge and give them our FULL support. So, let's hear it for

Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!
Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!

Give It to Little Sam !!

There I was writing a long, probably too long, appraisal of the candidates to succeed AC when the lap-top decided to crash so losing my unsaved masterpiece. I know, I know, I'm an idiot. However, it has saved you from reading such unadulterated tosh and so this time I'm gonna cut right to the chase.

Give the job to Little Sam, or Sammy Lee to his friends. He is, in my opinion, the best man for the job. He has worked in the Premier League for a number of seasons, firstly at Liverpool under Houllier and for the last couple of seasons under Big Sam at Bolton. Unlike many of the other candidates he has a working knowledge of the Premier League and not knowledge gathered just from watching Match of the Day and dreaming 'if only'. Having also played at the highest level, including European competitions, and having played for England he knows what it's all about. He is a highly respected coach hence the reason he is part of the current England coaching set-up and has the ambition to become a manager in his own right. Bolton have thrived the last couple of seasons under his coaching and Big Sam has spoken very highly of his qualities and his abilities. If asked, I'm sure Sammy would be able to tell you exactly where the strengths and weaknesses are in the current Charlton squad. I'm not sure many of the other candidates would be able to do the same.

Sometime very soon Sammy Lee is going to become a successful Premier League manager. That success should come at Charlton Athletic.