Charlton Athletic appoint Russell Slade as manager on three-year contract

Northampton Town’s Chris Wilder was first approached
Club have gone through six managers in just over two years
Russell Slade left his role as head of football at Cardiff City.
Russell Slade left his role as head of football at Cardiff City. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Charlton Athletic have appointed Russell Slade as their manager. The 55-year-old joins the Addicks from his role as head of football at Cardiff City and has signed a three-year contract at The Valley.

Slade told the club website: “I am very pleased to be appointed manager of Charlton, a club with a fantastic tradition and history.

“I was attracted to Charlton as it has great facilities, passionate fans and a very successful academy. This is a hugely exciting opportunity and I cannot wait to get started.”

Katrien Meire, Charlton’s chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to have agreed terms with Russell. We don’t underestimate the challenge of getting Charlton back into the Championship [and] we believe Russell is the man to help us achieve this.”

Charlton had initially approached Chris Wilder, who led Northampton Town to the League Two title, but they failed to reach an agreement and he subsequently joined Sheffield United.

The club have gone through six managers in just over two years, José Riga having resigned in May from his second spell in charge with the club relegated from the Championship, and there has been widespread discontent among fans at the way the club are being run by Roland Duchâtelet, the founder of Belgium’s Vivant political party who bought Charlton in January 2014.

Slade is a managerial veteran, his 20-year career having taken in Sheffield United, Notts County, Grimsby Town, Yeovil Town, Brighton and Orient.