CHARLTON’S board of directors are bracing themselves for a clamour from supporters demanding that manager Alan Curbishley be given more money to spend on players when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Within hours of announcing record profits of £11.1 million, the board of the club’s plc discovered the news had become a double-edged sword as the team laboured under the statistic of one win in eight games which had set off the tinkling of alarm bells.

Charlton’s programme for Saturday’s home game against Middlesbrough promised supporters that all of the £11.1 million had been allocated for further investment in the first team squad - though more than £8 million had already been spent.

Asked about the fans’ predicted reaction to the financial report and the now certain demands for him to spend, Curbishley said: “If you look at the figures they are the result of selling better players and replacing them - that’s the difference between us and Middlesbrough.

“Steve McClaren added to his squad. I didn’t see him selling Gareth Southgate, Schwarzer or Downing before he bought Viduka, Hasselbaink and Parlour.

“It’s a different situation completely because we replaced players who left our club.” In their previous set of accounts, Charlton announced an operating profit of £2.8 million with turnover up 15 per cent - by £4.5 million to £35.1.

This latest set exceeded all expectations with turnover rising by 21 per cent.

In his report, Richard Murray, chairman of Charlton plc, said: “The transfer income of nearly £11.7 million is a significant figure in the financial results.

“Nearly all this income came from the reluctant sale of Scott Parker to Chelsea in January, 2004 with the majority of proceeds being received during the financial period.

“Before profit from player sales is accounted for, Charlton made a net operating loss of £500,000. But the sale of Parker resulted in a profit on player sales of nearly £11.7 million and a net profit of £11.1 million.

“The net profit will be used to further strengthen the first team squad.”

Charlton, who failed to win a game in October, will be hoping for better results with the arrival of November and Saturday’s match at Tottenham