No manager, but Roly picks his coach

“Charlton Athletic Assistant Manager Kevin Nugent will take on the role of Caretaker Manager until a permanent replacement for Russell Slade is appointed. Nugent will be supported by Simon Clark and Chris O’Loughlin, a new addition to the club’s coaching staff who, contrary to reports, will not become the club’s new Manager.” (more)

Contrary to reports….. You have to laugh. Bit like contrary to reports that Russell Slade is the way forward. I’ll tell you what, let’s wait and see shall we.

Kevin Nugent takes over the caretaker role, which makes sense, but I can’t see him having a future beyond a new managerial appointment, although the addition of network flunky Chris O’Loughlin tells us all we need to know again about Duchatelet and his jobs for the boys. The nomadic O’Loughlin has coached before in South Africa, Australia and for St Truiden, where promotion to head coach didn’t go too well for him.

The 38-year old Irishman may be qualified and a nice bloke, but he admitted recently that he was still working for Duchatelet as a football consultant. “I have a good relationship with him” he said. Nugent and Simon Clark will regard him as no more than a spy I suspect.

Then of course any new manager or head coach will be told that O’Loughlin has to be part of the their plans, narrowing the field down once again although I am sure Nebojša Vignjević will be very happy with the selection.

As far as the bookies see as the next hapless fool to take on the Meire and the mad professor, Gary Caldwell is favourite with Nigel Adkins, O’Loughlin, Karl Robinson, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Johnnie Jackson all in the running. Nebojša Vignjević is 25/1. But so is Kevin Keegan!

In player news it is understood that Ricky Holmes could be out as long as two months with a broken bone in his foot. Not good.