Soccer: Curbishley - I’ll be here next season
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has told the club’s fans that he would back at The Valley next season, although it was not necessarily the unequivocal statement that it may have seemed.
Curbishley was publicly put on the spot after Charlton’s final game of the season amid considerable speculation that he is West Ham’s number one target following the departure of Harry Redknapp.
After a lap of honour following a superb season despite a 4-0 home defeat by Liverpool, Curbishley was asked what his intentions were in front of almost 20,000 fans, many of whom had banners pleading with him to stay.
He responded: ‘‘I’m very happy at the club. I don’t want to say anything other than I’ll be back here next season.’’
However, he later reiterated his recent mantra that it is impossible to say for sure what his reaction to any approach by his former club West Ham would be unless or until he receives one.
While revealing that two other past offers from unidentified clubs to leave Charlton had been turned down, he maintained his position on the fence while the Hammers wait until after the end of the season to make their move.
Curbishley declared: ‘‘I said that I’d envisage being back here next season and I don’t see anything different from that.
‘‘I don’t know what people expect me to say. I’ve not been offered anything and I’m contracted here at Charlton.
‘‘The club were talking to me about extending my contract three or four years ago. So how can I comment on something that is just gossip?
‘‘Everyone was shocked with Harry’s departure and it was obvious speculation would start but I’ve seen another name Manchester United assistant Steve McClaren in the frame now.
‘‘I haven’t been approached. Unless someone actually offers you something, only then can you have a gut feeling and make a decision. I’m quite happy here.’’
Curbishley is reported to have a buy-out clause in his contract, but he added: ‘‘I don’t think the chairman would let me go and talk to anybody.
‘‘It’s happened a couple of times before, the chairman has come to see me and we’ve taken a view on it.
‘‘But he hasn’t come to see in the past couple of weeks, so I assume there’s nothing going on. The speculation is nice but it’s getting on my nerves a little bit.’’
