Charlton Athletic are facing off against Blackpool today in League One but the side are still on the hunt for a new manager, having sacked previous head coach Michael Appleton this past week.
The Addicks have been on a dreadful run of form in recent weeks, failing to win a single match in Appleton’s last 12 outings in charge in all competitions. The final nail in the coffin for the 48-year-old’s tenure at The Valley was a 3-2 defeat at home to Northampton Town on Tuesday night.
The decision to relieve Appleton of his duties was announced an hour after the loss in midweek, with former Republic of Ireland international Curtis Fleming being placed in charge on an interim basis. This was Fleming’s second caretaker job this season, having coached Bristol City earlier in the campaign after Nigel Pearson was dismissed.
Charlton Athletic have found themselves in an unprecedented relegation battle after a string of bad results. The former Premier League outfit currently sit 16th in England’s third tier, level on points with Wycombe Wanderers, Port Vale, Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town who are all below Charlton on goal difference.
Furthermore, the Addicks are just four points above the relegation zone, although Reading still have a game in hand, with the two clubs set to face off against one another in two weeks.
Nevertheless, Charlton’s board are working hard to find a successor for Appleton and have identified Gary Rowett as a possible replacement for the ex-Lincoln City boss, according to a report from the South London Press.
However, the outlet have also revealed that Rowett, who was sacked from Championship side Millwall back in October, is unlikely to be willing to drop down a division, having guided the Lions close to the playoffs last season.
Rowett was in charge at The Den for four years and accumulated a 38.8% win rate with the club, winning 76 of his 196 matches in charge.
Writer’s View
This would be an incredible appointment for Charlton Athletic if they can pull it off. Rowett has a wealth of experience in the Championship and with big clubs, including Derby County and Birmingham City. Additionally, Charlton is close in location to Millwall, which could also entice Rowett.
However, given he has managed in the second tier for almost a decade, it seems unlikely that Rowett would want to drop down a division to take a team in a League One relegation battle.
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