CHRIS POWELL, Charlton’s most senior professional, has urged chairman Richard Murray to appoint a man who fits the fabric of the club as Alan Curbishley’s successor.

Although Mr Murray, the plc chairman, has expressed a preference for an English manager, Powell said: "The nationality of the manager should not matter as long as we get the right man for the job.

"What matters is getting the right person who fits into the fabric of Charlton. If someone comes in and we’re fighting against relegation, then people will realise what a great job Alan did in establishing Charlton as a Premiership club.

"We try to look up because we’ve never been near the bottom three. Sometimes you only appreciate the job someone has done after they’ve gone. Under Alan we’ve had no relegation worries."

Powell had no complaints with the decision – which clearly annoyed Curbishley – to break the news to the players 15 minutes before kick-off.

He added: "There was never going to be a right time and it was strange being told just before kick-off."

In paying a personal tribute to the man who signed him twice, Powell, the recently-elected chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, said of Curbishley: "We have lost an outstanding man who leaves a massive legacy.

"I would be amazed if he were not picked up by another Premiership club."