Eddie Firmani
The Addicks legend was Bob Stokoe's assistant and decided to hang up his boots when he took the hot-seat.
He just missed out on promotion in his first season, but worse things were to follow.
The Addicks legend was Bob Stokoe's assistant and decided to hang up his boots when he took the hot-seat.
An initial caretaker role soon became a full-time position, and Charlton went on to win more games than they lost and eventually finished 17th.
The next season began in fine style and, after losing on the opening day of the season, they then went nine games unbeaten. A great run of form in the last quarter of the season saw them finish third in the table, and it would be another 17 years before they matched that feat. Rivals Crystal Palace would just pip them for promotion, despite a great season for the likes of Charlie Wright, Alan Campbell and Peter Reeves.
The following season was soon going the wrong way when Firmani's side suffered a 5-0 humbling by Swindon Town and a 6-0 defeat at Bristol City. A run of seven consecutive defeats would follow at the turn of the year.
By March 1970 the Addicks were at the foot of the table having won just once in 12 games and Firmani was dismissed - two days after a 5-0 home defeat by Leicester City.
A legend as a player he proved not to be a great Charlton manager, and it was reported many of the players did not appreciate his strict disciplinarian style.
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