Independent hints at Curbishley arrival

There was an article today in The Independent which was largely based on the back of John Wardle's comments following the Wigan game which I commented on yesterday.

Picking out the main paragraph:

His words were not so much a vote of confidence in Stuart Pearce as a public declaration of despair, but the warning signs will not have been lost on the beleaguered City manager at a time when Alan Curbishley is preparing to make his Premiership return.

It seems to be an interesting move that Curbishley made by announcing he would come out of his self-imposed exile at the end of October, perhaps knowing that leading upto ten games gone in the season there would be at least one manager who was under pressure.

The article also went onto say:

Curbishley's deal to stay out of football, agreed with Charlton when he ended his 15-year tenure at The Valley last season, expires in eight days time. Under the terms of that arrangement Charlton can claim compensation from any club that appoints Curbishley as manager before 1 November but with the cut-off point fast approaching, the 48-year-old has made his intentions clear. "When I left Charlton I said I needed a break from football and I feel I have had that now," Curbishley announced on television this weekend. "Now I am just waiting to see what happens."

At the time of his departure from The Valley, Curbishley was widely thought to have taken Charlton as far as he could and the fans and players had perhaps grown too familiar with him over the years.

But, looking at the position Charlton are in this season under Dowie it has only served to enhance Curbishley's stock as they are looking a side who will face a serious battle against relegation this season - painting Curbishley in far better a light than when he left.

Looking at the obvious candidates out there for the first Premiership job to become available, then Curbishley must surely be a front-runner?