Missing men

On Christmas Eve 2006, just four days after the Chief Executive of Charlton Athletic had declared that the position of the club’s newly appointed, but beleaguered manager Les Reed, to be secure, his contract was terminated. He had lasted 41 days! His apparent faults: he had failed to inspire the players, had been too cerebral in his approach, had never played professionally and had become a professional coach after a career as a physical education teacher. ¹