SOCCER: Iain Dowie was last night sacked as the Charlton Athletic manager but fans will have to wait until today to discover details regarding the circumstances of his departure.

A brief statement was posted on Charlton's website at 7.30pm last night but it failed to offer any detail about the reasons behind the former Crystal Palace manager's dismissal.

"The Addicks announced on Monday night that head coach Iain Dowie had left Charlton," read the statement. "The club will issue a further statement on Tuesday morning."

Dowie's mobile phone was switched off after the announcement and when contacted by the Guardian the club's chairman Richard Murray expanded on the statement only to say: "It was our decision, that is all I can add."

Neither the Charlton chief executive, Peter Varney, nor the general manager, Andrew Mills, would return calls to explain how the decision had been reached. There was indeed no indication even as to who will take the reins as an interim manager before Dowie's permanent replacement is appointed; it can only be assumed that the assistant manager Les Reed, the former Football Association technical director, will take temporary charge.

Remarkably, sources suggest the mood at the training ground has been more upbeat than in the final seasons of Alan Curbishley's tenure, and put that down to Dowie's naturally positive demeanour. But it is the Premiership performance over the course of the season so far that appears to have determined his fate.

The Addicks remain the top-flight's bottom club and with eight losses from their 12 matches, have its worst goal difference. However, there will be a sense of intrigue surrounding the pronouncement since Dowie had seemingly put his side back on an even keel after suffering six defeats in the first seven matches.

There is no question that last night's announcement was unexpected: prior to Saturday's 3-2 loss at eighth-placed Wigan they had put together a five-match unbeaten sequence in the league and League Cup and were just three points off 16th position.

A place in the last eight of the cup competition had been earned through a laborious 3-3 draw against the League One side Chesterfield, the win having been secured on penalties, but that achievement turned out not to be enough to provide Dowie with a stay of execution.

The manner of the goals that Charlton conceded on Saturday, two of which came through long balls that were simply not defended, apparently alarmed the Charlton board as to the side's future direction. With a 50 per cent hike in revenues from the new television deal starting next season, relegation has become unthinkable for all the Premiership's established clubs and Charlton's board has moved in an attempt to avert it.

There is bound to be sympathy for Dowie, who, in succeeding Curbishley, was considered to be occupying the Premiership's most invidious managerial position. Support came from a most unlikely source last night, from Palace chairman Simon Jordan, who is suing Dowie over the manner of his departure from the club to take over at the Valley.

"I think Charlton haven't really given him a chance," Jordan said on Sky Sports News.

"It's a shame because Iain is a bright young coach, and he's a strong character.

"One of the things Iain brings to a football team is strong leadership.

"I don't wish anybody the sack.

"Gutless, faceless people take those decisions, don't they?

"You don't get people after 12 games pulling the trigger because something hasn't gone right. You get behind the guy if he is doing things the right way."

Dowie quit Palace on May 22nd and joined Charlton eight days later after winning the position ahead of more than 20 candidates, prompting Jordan to sue him personally for £1 million - equivalent to the release clause in Dowie's Palace contract - over alleged "fraudulent misrepresentation". The case begins at the high court next month. Charlton had been set to pay Dowie's legal fees but whether that will remain the case is unclear.

Steve McClaren's hopes of solving the mystery of England's "enigmatic" midfield have been wrecked by Aaron Lennon's knee injury.

Of the eight withdrawals from McClaren's original 28-man squad for tomorrow's friendly with the Netherlands in Amsterdam, Lennon's departure will be felt most keenly.

With McClaren admitting he is still searching for the right midfield combination, a first international start for the 19-year-old was seen as a prelude to Lennon becoming a fixture in the side.

Guardian Service