Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has urged the FA
and UEFA to put their heads together and dangle the
carrot of a Champions League place in front of the FA
Cup winners.<br> The Addicks chief believes the
prospect of a chance to play in Europe's leading club
competition rather than the UEFA Cup would prevent some of
England's bigger clubs from not taking the FA Cup
seriously.<br> Curbishley insists his men were fully committed
for last year's tie with non-league Dagenham and
Redbridge, which Charlton won 1-0 in a nervy replay, and is
shocked some top flight clubs could ever consider
fielding weakened sides.<br>"I still can't get my head
round the fact it's not as important as it used to be -
because I think it is," said Curbishley, whose side face
Second Division Blackpool at The Valley on
Saturday.<br>"Perhaps they should make it a Champions League place,
let's make it worth a little bit more. I can't tell you
how other teams approach it, but the third round of
the FA Cup is one of those days everyone looks
forward to.<br>"I don't know if it's possible to have
Champions League place at the end of the FA Cup, but it
used to be a Cup Winners' Cup place and that was as
important as anything."<br>Curbishley added:<br>"The FA
have put more money into the FA Cup so it is
financially more important, but I don't think players go out
there thinking about the money.<br>They want to go out
and win the cup."<br><br>©Teletext