Charlton nx Gaffer..
Charlton are likely to put assistant Les Reed in charge for the
weekend Premiership clash at Reading.
The likes of Billy Davies, now at Derby, and Peter Taylor were
among the 20 candidates interviewed for the post, before the late
availability of the former Northern Ireland striker.
Dowie took up the reins at The Valley in controversial
circumstances, having just left south-London rivals Crystal
Palace.
He was involved in a high-profile fall-out with Eagles chairman
Simon Jordan, who claimed Dowie misled him about his reasons for
quitting Selhurst Park.
Dowie had a compensation clause in his contract which meant if he
left for another club, they would then have to pay Palace
£1million.
However, Jordan agreed to waive the clause - and this prompted the
Palace chairman to take action for 'fraudulent statements about his
reasons for leaving the club', with a court representative issuing
Dowie with a writ at his inaugural press conference in May.
The allegations were denied by Dowie, who was promised Charlton's
full backing for a court case on the dispute that is due to he
heard next summer.
How Dowie's departure will affect that case remains to be
seen.
Despite admitting he had no sympathy for Dowie, Jordan insisted the
Addicks were wrong not to hold on to him.
'I think Charlton have not really given him a chance,' said the
Palace chairman.
'Gutless, faceless people take those decisions, don't they?'
'Iain went and joined a club who were not strong enough. I am
disappointed for him. Given time, he would have done well because
he's a winner.'
After a playing career which took in spells at West Ham,
Southampton and Palace as well as a distinguished international
career with Northern Ireland, Dowie took his first steps into
management at Oldham.
He led them to the Division Two play-offs in 2003, but after
financial trouble hit the Lancashire club, he moved on to Palace in
2003.
The Eagles were languishing in 19th in the Championship, but a
sensational run of form saw them reach the end-of-season play-offs
and earn promotion to the Premiership.
It was to all end in tears, however, when Palace were relegated on
a dramatic final day following a 2-2 draw at, ironically,
Charlton.
Dowie guided his team to the play-offs again last season but lost
in the semi-finals to Watford.
