Curbishley To Villa (updated)

Alan Curbishley has confirmed that he is leaving Charlton at the end of the season.

Chairman Richard Murray announced on the pitch at The Valley before the game v Blackburn:

‘We sat down yesterday to have a chat and we both decided it was best if Alan left at the end of the season.’

Curbishley is still being linked to the England job but others have linked him several times to the soon-to-be-vacant (?) job at Aston Villa.

O’Leary is under immense pressure and the best he has been able to achieve despite improving the squad this season will be 16th and if we lose/draw v Sunderland and Pompey win, we could finish 17th. Fans have turned on the manager as he has had a few public rows with the fanbase and following a survey of season ticket holders, 2 in 3 have said they won’t renew if the manager stays.

The press are bound to start linking Curbishley with vacant positions and there will be a Premiership void to fill you would assume when the FA finally get their act together and appoint an England boss (unless they go for O’Neill). There is also the job at Newcastle but whispered links to Villa have rumbled on for a good few weeks now.

My prayer is the rumour that Martin O’Neil wants a return to football and wants a Midlands based team are more than pure fantasy – that said, we’ve a) got to get rid of David O’Leary first b) remember that whilst Ellis remains in charge, we’ll do very little anyway!

What was this article about again? Oh yes, Alan Curbishley to Villa…. you heard it here first, unless you heard it elsewhere, then you heard it here second!

Wonder if Charlton would like a certain Mr David O’Leary, I hear he might be available soon? 😉

UPDATE:

Alan Curbishley has been interviewed by Sky Sports and said he would be taking a break and didn’t see himself at the helm of a new club in time for the new season.