Reed leaves Charlton on Christmas Eve

Addicks reign ends after 41 days

Pardew takes over at The Valley

—– Les Reed sensationally loses his job, by mutual consent, as Charlton Athletic’s head coach on Christmas Eve after only eight league games in charge at The Valley.
An official statement released by the Premiership strugglers at 7pm confirms that Alan Pardew - deposed as manager of West Ham United only 13 days ago and a former Charlton player - has been appointed with a three-and-a-half year contract.
Reed - a self-confessed Charlton supporter - was promoted from the role of assistant manager in mid-November following Iain Dowie’s sacking.
His 41-day reign is the shortest in Premiership history.
The Addicks are second from bottom of the Premiership and seven points from safety.
In the last week, they have crashed out of the Carling Cup quarter-finals (losing 1-0 at home to League Two Wycombe Wanderers) and yesterday slide to a 0-2 defeat at fellow strugglers Middlesbrough.
Charlton become only the second Premiership club to part with two managers before Christmas following Southampton (Paul Sturrock and Steve Wigley) two years ago.
Speculation suggests that the former FA technical director had lost the support of the players.
Alan Pardew has since been replaced at West Ham by Alan Curbishley who ended his 15 year reign as Charlton’s manager in the summer.