With national newspapers continuing to suggest Alan Curbishley has
been targeted as a candidate to fill the vacant managerial hot-seat
at White Hart Lane, Charlton chief executive Peter Varney has
reiterated that the Addicks boss still has more than two-and-a-half
years remaining on his contract.
This season saw Curbishley embark on his 13th campaign with the
club – his ninth in sole charge after initially talking joint control
with Steve Gritt in July 1991.
"My response to every question so far has been that Alan is under
contract," said Varney.
"That contract ran for three years from July 1st, and as far as I am
concerned, Alan is happy at the club. "If Tottenham approached us,
our response would be `no thank you, he's under contract'."
Varney also expanded on comments attributed to him in the Daily
Mirror regarding the current perception of `big' Premiership clubs.
"The suggestion is that I said that Tottenham can't be considered to
be a big club because they hadn't won anything since the 1960s," said
Peter, "and that is a gross distortion of my comments.
"The point I made was that the Premiership is effectively dominated
by two teams – Manchester United and Arsenal – at the moment and has
been for many years.
It's possible that Chelsea could join that group because of the
finances available at Stamford Bridge at the moment, but the other
clubs are, in my opinion, competing in a different league.
The Premiership landscape has changed; in the league containing the
other 17 clubs the successful teams qualify for Europe and those at
the bottom are relegated."
He added:
"Many years ago, you could argue there was a large number of big
clubs that could win the top division. If you go back to the 1960s,
70s and 80s, there were other teams that were regarded as live
championship contenders.
But I don't think that's possible now due to the whole financial
structure of football, and the fact that the Premiership has changed
completely."

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