Charlton make Dowie the first Premiership casualty of the season

14 April 2012

Iain Dowie last night paid for Charlton's dismal form when he became the first Premiership manager to be sacked this season after just 12 League games in charge.

Dowie saw his side crash to their eighth defeat of the season on Saturday — 3-2 against Wigan — and chairman Richard Murray moved swiftly to fire his manager.

Out-of-work former England coach Glenn Hoddle is among the early contenders for the vacant position. He is available without the need to pay compensation and is admired by Murray, despite his failure to turn Tottenham around before leaving three years ago.

Charlton have won only twice in the Premiership this season and are bottom with only eight points. Although they are through to the Carling Cup quarter-finals, Murray could not afford to accept the slide towards relegation with the crippling financial cost that comes with it.

Sportsmail revealed on October 18 that Dowie's position would be reviewed after their Premiership game at Newcastle 10 days later, but it is understood Murray gave Dowie a stay of execution after the goalless draw.

Although they scraped past Chesterfield on penalties in the Carling Cup last Wednesday, defeat at Wigan left Charlton, who employed Dowie on a £1million-a-year contract, unable to rise off the bottom, and Murray sacked the former Palace chief after crisis talks at The Valley yesterday.

Dowie spent almost £15m on a string of disastrous summer signings and Murray fears financial meltdown for the club if they are relegated. Despite Murray's public support over Dowie's impending court case with Palace chairman Simon Jordan, behind the scenes the Charlton chairman was fearful that it was affecting their survival hopes.

Jordan is taking Dowie, who is alleged to have told the Palace chairman he wanted to manage a club nearer his family home in Bolton when he left the club, to court over claims of "fradulent misrepresentation".

Charlton's ground is just eight miles from Selhurst Park and insiders fear the court case, which could be scheduled as early as next month, could affect the club's future.

Murray jumped at the chance to employ Dowie to replace Alan Curbishley in the summer, but it is understood senior figures at the club thought it a mistake early in his regime.

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