CHARLTON chief executive Peter Varney remains confident manager Alan Curbishley will resist Liverpool’s overtures and stay with the club.

No sooner had Gerard Houllier parted company with Liverpool on Monday afternoon than 46-year-old Curbishley was installed as a favourite to succeed the Frenchman.

It is the first time Curbishley has been linked with a top-four club and is evidence of his growing stature within the game.

But he recently signed a contract that keeps him at Charlton until 2007 and Mr Varney believes that, plus money to spend, will see him honour that agreement.

He said: “It’s all very predictable. As soon as someone gets the sack, Alan is the first manager people turn to. The situation is that Alan signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at the start of the year and he is happy at Charlton.

“I don’t think he’ll find a better working relationship than he has at this club where he enjoys complete control over football. We’ve just finished seventh in the Premiership and he’s been given the biggest transfer budget a Charlton manager has ever had, so why would he want to leave ?”

He added: “Alan is the only one who can answer whether or not the Liverpool job is too big to turn down. No disrespect to the other clubs that have shown an interest, but none of them have been top-four clubs.

“He has the funds to make us as competitive as we can be on the pitch, so these are good times for Charlton. If he walks away, he would be going into a situation where there is far more pressure and where instant success is demanded. We feel Alan can fulfil his objectives here at Charlton.”

Also in Charlton’s favour is the fact that Curbishley’s wife is well settled in their Essex village home and would be reluctant to uproot the family for the North West.

Mr Varney believed Liverpool would start making their approaches straight away but he confirmed he had received no official approach from Anfield.

Jose Mourinho, coach of Champions League finalists Porto, is also strongly linked with the job along with Rafael Benitez, coach of Spanish champions and UEFA Cup winners Valencia.