Curbishley signs new Charlton deal

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley today signed a new four-year contract, ending the club's fears that he was about to leave them to join West Ham.

Curbishley was West Ham's top target from the moment Harry Redknapp left last month but he has agreed a deal which will keep him at The Valley until 2005.

The highly-rated 43-year-old had talks with Charlton chairman Richard Murray, who sanctioned a pay rise and promised a transfer budget of around £9 million for the coming season. It is now unlikely that Curbishley will work part-time with England.

He said: "Following all the speculation about my future, I am pleased to commit myself to Charlton. We have a very talented squad of players and there is money to spend strengthening it.

"Capacity at The Valley is also rising and the income from that will enable us to be more competitive in the transfer market. We have a real opportunity to establish Charlton as a strong Premiership club."

Curbishley has been in charge at The Valley since 1991 and his new deal will make him the longest-serving manager in the Premiership when Sir Alex Ferguson leaves Manchester United at the end of next season.

Murray said: "We have built up a friendship over the years and Alan always wanted to stay. In many respects we were the success story of London football last season. Stability has been an important ingredient of our success in recent years, so I am delighted he is staying."