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29th April 2006 Alan Curbishley announces his resignation from the club after 15 years as Valley manager, citing a need to take a break from football. Charlton Immediatley Set Out On The Look For A New Manager. There we're were Names Being put in the hat such as Iain Dowie, Paul Jewell And even Bryan Robson. But the odd's on favourate's were a group of 3 called Phil Bush, Matt McCourt And James Bibby. These three had worked with each other since their early 20's in management. Derek Chappel was very keen on making these three men his manager, assistant and development coach respectively. The three had been managing Burscough for the past 2 years and had managed to push them up to league 1 using small ammounts of money and limited rescources. Phil recieved a phone call from Derek Chappell and Told his staff that they were due too meet some of the Charlton board at a restuarant in London on June the 23rd.
On the 22nd of June ,Me,Matt and James we're picked up in a black Bmw by a chauffer. As we travelled down we all knew that we would have loved the job at Charlton. We arrived 7 or so hours later and we're greeted by Derek Chappel and Peter Varney who showed us inside of a posh restaurant named "The Left Bank". We Discussed what they wanted from us and how we needed to push on with Charlton and establish them as a mid-table team. Derek told us that if we we're to become the manager's we would be given around £7million too spend but their could be an investment in Charlton soon worth around another £15-20Million. So we we're offered a contract worth £7,500 a week each. I was first to sign the dotted line, Matt and James soon followed.
So that was it, we were know the co-managers of Charlton Football Club. Derek said that he had set up a Hotel where we would be able to stay until we all found houses and we're settled. We wouldnt take over Charlton until the 1st of July 2006.
I rang home after the meeting in order to tell my wife, and parents about the superb news. They we're overjoyed to hear that the meeting had gone well. We stayed in the hotel and a few days later went too see the training ground and the facilities, i expected them too be superb compared to the burscough one's. We we're picked up and driven for 20 minutes and arrived at the training ground. The players were still away for their summer holiday. As i walked around with my new chairman and backup staff, it hit me that this was actually real. I was the manager of a Premiership team.
The 1st of July soon came and i was too have a press conference with matt and James on either side of me. I wasnt used to interviews as i only did them for the local paper in Burscough. The interview was nerve wrecking but i scraped through it by mainly saying that "I would do my best to help Charlton push on".
When i got into my Office at Charlton, i realised we only had 3 staff members and needed too bring in ...
Knowing that i had just the 3 of us and that the players would be returning too the club in less than 5 days. I had a few contacts from my old team Burscough but wasn't sure whether they would be up too standard for Charlton. I asked Matt and James and they said well it could just be a short-term thing, so we agreed it would be good too stay together as a set of staff. I had 2 coaches that i rang who were called Aaron Ballantyne and Tom Vandermeer. I then had my Goalkeeping and Fitness Coach who were Jamie Sorenson and James Cooke. Finally my scout who was called Peter Molyneux. They all jumped at the chance too come down south and coach with players of a better standard and said they could get here by 2-3 days which was perfect because the contracts would'nt be too hard too sort out.
The Contracts. They Arrived on the Thursday with the players being due back on the Saturday. All of them agreed contracts of around £1000 a week , which was a huge improvement to what they we're earning up at Burscough.
The Players Arrival.
Obviously the players knew that they had a new manager and they we're all due too arrive at the training ground at 8.30 sharp saturday morning. Andy Reid was first too show, followed by Matt Holland. By 8.33 they we're all at the training ground and ready too meet the new coaching staff. As we all got introduced and said our hello's there was still one problem i had'nt managed too sort out.
The problem was that i had no idea how a premiership team was supposed too be coached :O and either did my staff!!! This was disaster. I told the players too go and get changed in the changing rooms and get ready for our first training session. I called an emergancy meeting with my staff and they had no idea what they should do. I decided too ring my old pal David Moyes.He was more than likely busy with his Everton team but this was drastic for me. "Hello" " Itee Davie, it's bin a while" "haha, hello mate, great too hear about youu and your new job" The conversation carried on with him congradulating me about Charlton etc etc. "I need a huge favour please Davie, is it possible you could send one of your coaches down for a few days in order too help me with my staff, because we are not 100% sure on how too coach premiership standard. " David replied " Suree Matee, i shall send the experienced Jimmy Lumsden down too give you a hand." "Thankss, when will he be able too come?" "I will have him flown down for tomorow if he agree's to go down" "That is superb, thankss Davie I owe you one." "It's okay , you would have done it for me" "Bye for now mate". "bye"
So i managed too arrange a Premiership standard coach too come for a few days and help us out. I told the players that they would be doing a light warm up and then i would have a few 5 against 5 games going on just too get used too the ball again.
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