Reed put in charge of Charlton after Dowie sacking

Basement club Charlton have put Les Reed in charge of the first team after Iain Dowie was sacked on Monday following just 12 Premier League games as manager.

A statement said Reed, a former FA Technical Director, had been promoted to head coach and would be assisted by former Charlton player Mark Robson.

Dowie became the first Premier League coach to lose his job this season after a terrible start which reaped only two victories and eight defeats.

"It goes without saying how hard it was after only 12 matches to reach the decision we have," chairman Richard Murray said.

"Over the past two weeks we have conducted a review of the structure we put in place during the summer which involved all senior football management staff.

"The results of this review have, we believe, left us with little option but to act in the manner we have."

"What we need at this time is as little disruption as possible and accordingly the club has promoted Les Reed to head coach and Mark Robson to assistant head coach," he added.

"Both have a solid Charlton pedigree and I am confident they will do everything within their power, together with the players, to turn our season around."

Reed joined Charlton in 1995. Dowie's appointment in May to replace Alan Curbishley, who quit at the end of last season after 15 years in charge, caused a bitter war of words with rivals Crystal Palace.

Dowie left Palace last season after they were beaten in the second division promotion play-off semi-finals with Palace chairman Simon Jordan believing that Dowie had resigned to spend more time with his family in the north of England.

When Dowie then opted to take the vacant Charlton position Jordan served him with a legal writ, claiming he had made "fraudulent statements about his reasons for leaving the club."