Dowie relishes Charlton challenge
Iain Dowie has insisted it was the lure of a 'new challenge' that saw him take charge of Charlton - and has promised he will target European qualification using attractive and entertaining football.
The former Crystal Palace manager was unveiled at a Valley press conference on Tuesday afternoon, and wasted no time in revealing how he will take the club forward following the end of Alan Curbishley's reign.
Dowie was also keen to pay tribute to Curbishley's efforts, and played down any ill feeling between himself, the Addicks and his former club.
"I'd like to say how privileged I am to be here,” said the 41-year-old.
"It would be remiss of me to start without mentioning the part that Alan has played, and I'm very excited with the plans in place here.
"There are some fantastic things being done behind the scenes and it matches my ambition. It's a forward-thinking club. It's a very stable club as well, and they match my energy and passion of making a football club what it should be."
He added: "We've got to push for the top half of the table and Europe.
"I want a side that's full of energy and drive but also that plays attractive football.
"I think the fans want to see me put out a side that plays attractive football and hopefully we'll add to what Alan's achieved here.
"I want to take the club on. It's daunting to following in Alan's footsteps but this is a fantastic opportunity."
Despite just eight days elapsing between the end of Dowie's time at Palace and the start of a new role as head coach with the Addicks, he insisted there had been no contact before he left Selhurst Park.
He gave short shrift to suggestions that his time at Palace had ended due to geographical problems, with his family remaining in the north of England, and despite subsequent events that saw an unexpected interruption anticipated no backlash from his move between the two rival clubs.
"The first conversation I had with Charlton was a few days after I left Palace," said Iain.
"I was one of a number of people interviewed and I'm fortunate to be sat here now. I'd had no contact whatsoever beforehand. "I said I wanted a new challenge, and that's what this is about. I'll be getting a property in the area and my family will stay where they are, with my children at the school they're at.
"As far as I'm concerned everyone is happy. I put an awful lot of time into my work and I can't wait to get started.
"In terms of the two clubs there will be no backlash from me. I don't think I'd be sat here if I hadn't done a good job at Palace. This is a new chapter for me - this is about Iain Dowie and Charlton."
In his role at The Valley Dowie will head a coaching triumvirate that includes Les Reed, who will return to the club after leaving his first-team coach job for a post at the FA in 1998, and Mark Robson.
And he is looking forward to getting started. "I've known Les for a long time and we've always got on very well," he said. "We had a good discussion for about an hour and a half the other day - which only ended when the chairman said he had to get going!
"Les has been to cup finals and World Cups, while Mark's enthusiastic and bubbly and it's good to retain a link with the academy.
"I'm very inclusive, I'll be working closely with everyone and that includes coaching the academy at times. I've done it everywhere else and that will continue here." Alongside Dowie at the press conference was Richard Murray, and the Charlton plc chairman was clearly delighted to land his man.
"I've followed Iain's career closely," he said. "He did well at Oldham and at Palace he got them up and if Jon Fortune hadn't gotten that goal 10 minutes from the end he would be a Palace legend and I don't think he'd be here now.
"His CV is excellent and when you're in his company you can see the energy and intelligence that he brings to the game. We want to have a bit more entertaining football, we want to be in the top 10 and bring some silverware to The Valley."
The appointment of the new management structure comes a week after the departure of three strikers - Francis Jeffers, Jonatan Johansson and Shaun Bartlett, while Jonathan Fortune has signed a new three-year contract.
But both Murray and Dowie refused to be drawn on players, either existing or potential arrivals or departures.
"Those were three players out of contract," said Richard. "Jonatan and Shaun have given us great service and unfortunately it didn't work out with Franny.
"It's good for Iain that there are a few out of contract. He's got plenty of ideas and he's done his homework."
Added Iain: "I know a great deal about Charlton and there are some good players. There's one or two things I want to do here and everyone will be given a fresh chance.
"I'm not going to talk about names, because lots of good things have been done here over the years. What I do want is a honed, lean, fighting machine. That's what you've got to have at first-team level.
"When it comes to any changes the first people to know anything will be the players; that's the only way to do business."
- Click here to watch the full press conference on Valley Vision.
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