Curbs eyes major overhaul

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley is ready to make his 15th season in charge a time for major changes - after revealing he has been working hard on signing new faces since early March.

Curbishley stepped up his moves in the market as the Addicks endured a miserable end to the campaign - yet again.

The team that makes a nasty habit of fading at the finish dropped from seventh to 11th in the Premiership with a miserable last-lap of one win in 10 games - and six defeats.

So far Curbishley has only laid off youngsters Stacy Long, who has joined Notts County on a month's contract, and Neil McCafferty who has gone back to Ireland to consider his options.

He has also offered one-year extensions to Icelandic defender Herman Hreidarsson and Finland striker Jonatan Johansson.

"But before anybody says it looks just like my 15th year here, I think it is obvious we've got to get some new faces in," said Curbs, who was bitter about Charlton's poor finish to the campaign.

"I thought we would easily be a top ten side when we beat Tottenham in March and I'm really disappointed we have only made 11th.

"Too many seasons now we have slipped badly during the last few weeks of the season and I don't want to see it next year. To be honest, our first port of call as soon as we had collected 40 points this season was to start bringing in new faces.

"We've been actively trying to do that and now it looks as if it is a must."

Francis Jeffers could be one of the first off-loaded to raise cash for purchases and record £4m signing Jason Euell could also go up for sale. Neither figured in the squad who gained a 2-2 draw last Saturday to relegate neighbours Crystal Palace.

The form of goalkeeper Stephan Andersen, however, has earned the youngster a recall to the Denmark squad.

With only one cap to his name, he had faded out of the international picture since arriving at The Valley as understudy to the long-serving Dean Kiely.

But the 23-year-old was given a vote of confidence by Denmark when they announced their provisional squad for a couple of World Cup qualifiers this summer and he joins Athletic compatriot Dennis Rommedahl as the Danes prepare for their home qualifier against Albania.

Curbishley stunned Charlton fans by plunging the £720,000 signing from AB Copenhagen into a shock debut against Manchester United two weeks ago, but despite crashing 4-0, things could have been far worse but for a series of spectacular saves.

Andersen retained the gloves for the trip to Stamford Bridge six days later where he saved a controversial late penalty from Claude Makelele only to be beaten by the rebound. And although Kiely was back between the posts for Sunday's showdown with Palace, Andersen had done enough to impress the selectors.

Rommedahl has never earned consistent favour at The Valley, making only 19 starts but is still a regular on the Danish international scene and is another star being tipped for a move to protect his status next season.