Charlton chief executive Peter Varney has backed Les Reed and Mark Robson to
rescue the club from their perilous position at the foot of the Premiership.
Reed has been promoted to head coach following last night's decision to sack
Iain Dowie, and Robson will be his assistant.
There could be another member added to the management team - with Glenn Hoddle
an early favourite among bookmakers - but Varney insists much of the
responsibility will fall on Reed and Robson, who were both on Dowie's staff.
Varney confirmed on
Sky Sports News: 'Les Reed and Mark Robson will step up
and run the team, and we are probably looking for a third person to come in and
help them.
'We feel we need stability more than ever. They are both Charlton people and
we're very, very confident they will start to turn this club around.'
Describing Reed as 'an exceptional coach', Varney also defended the
appointment of Dowie, who arrived at The Valley soon after leaving Crystal
Palace in the summer but lasted just 12 Premiership matches.
'When you appoint someone in the summer, that is based on an interview
process,' said Varney.
'We think we backed him to the hilt, both in terms of the £11million we gave
him (for signings) - we've got the biggest wage budget this club has ever had in
its history - and off the field we've backed him tremendously in terms of his
court case.
'People can say that 12 games is too early but, if that's what we feel, we
have to change.'
Varney, who considers Charlton to be 'in serious trouble' after taking just
eight points so far this season, added: 'We don't take decisions like these
lightly, but if we have to act because it's in the best interests of the club
then we will.'
In a message to supporters, some of whom wanted Dowie to be given more time,
Varney said: 'Everybody is entitled to their opinion. They have to trust us -
we've been here a long, long time.'
He stressed: 'This is not a panic measure. It is a cold, considered look at
what is going on here.'
Varney revealed Dowie, 41, took the board's decision 'not very well'.
There will be no return to Charlton for Alan Curbishley, Dowie's predecessor
who stood down at the end of last season after 15 years in charge.
Curbishley has declared himself ready to return to management, following a
long holiday, but he has ruled himself out of contention for the Addicks post.
Varney said: 'I think Alan came out straight away (after Dowie was sacked)
and said he didn't see going back as being an option, and I think that's right
from both perspectives.'
