Curbishley extends Charlton contract

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley has extended his contract at the club until 2007.

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley has extended his contract at the club until 2007.

The 46-year-old, strongly linked with the vacant manager's position at Tottenham Hotspur, has been in charge at Charlton since 1991, making him the premier league's second-longest serving manager behind Manchester United's Alex Ferguson.

"I have always said I was happy at Charlton throughout all the speculation and stories that have been written about me," Curbishley told the club's website.

"I would not have signed this new contract if I didn't feel totally content," he added. "The club has continued to move forward, both on and off the field, and I firmly believe we have still not fulfilled our potential."

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The former West Ham United, Aston Villa and Birmingham City midfielder was appointed Charlton's joint manager with Steve Gritt in 1991 and took sole charge when Gritt left in 1995.

Curbishley guided Charlton to promotion to the premier league in 1998 and after suffering relegation the following season they immediately returned to the top flight in 2000 as first division champions.

Currently sixth in the league, they finished ninth, 14th and 12th in the past three seasons despite Curbishley having far less to spend on new players than most other premier league managers.