Reed: Media got me sacked

The Charlton board sacked Reed on Christmas Eve, less than two months after he replaced Iain Dowie.

It was Reed's first high-profile managerial post, and he insists he was not helped by the media, who he feels influenced the fans' view of his ability to keep The Addicks up.

'There was tremendous criticism from pundits on TV who don't know me, who found, I think, an easy story.

'It was very easy to focus the problem on this man.`He's never done it before, he quite clearly can't do this, can't do that' which are all fallacies.

'The fans listen to that and begin to believe that, and that made it a very, very difficult situation, despite whatever I tried to do.

'Everything I tried to do was professional and proper. All the training ground stuff was right, all the back-up stuff was right, but there was always this underlying feeling of me being undermined.'

Alan Pardew has now taken control of the first team, but Reed insists he never felt threatened by the former West Ham United manager's availability.

He added: 'I wasn't (fearful) at the time. The problem is when there are people like Alan Curbishley and Alan Pardew not in work, they are a threat to anyone who is and who is struggling.

'At the time I felt I did have strong backing from the board and I would have the opportunity to change things and freshen things up in January to rebalance the squad.

'I spoke to Alan Pardew and wished him all the best and that's continued in the reverse. Circumstances change.

'When I had the meeting with the chairman and we discussed Alan Pardew, and Pardew's pending or possible appointment, it got my full backing. I'm just glad Alan was available because I think he was the right choice.'


Reed still remains a big Charlton fan and he still watches The Addicks games from his family owned box in the east stand.

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