Charlton Athletic head coach Appleton expecting to add to his backroom team

Michael Appleton is looking to add one more coach to his Charlton Athletic backroom staff after Stephen Henderson landed the goalkeeping slot on a full-time basis earlier this week.

Henderson was brought in as temporary cover after Addicks boss Dean Holden was sacked at the end of August, writes Richard Cawley.

Goalkeeping coach Glyn Shimell and first-team assistant manager Danny Senda also had their employment terminated.

Interim boss Jason Pearce turned to Henderson, a former team-mate at both Portsmouth and Charlton, to work with the League One club’s goalkeepers.
Appleton was appointed as Holden’s successor earlier this month.

He said: “When I first came into the building Stephen was around anyway – because Jason had brought him in to help him out for the week he took the team, building into the Fleetwood game.

“Stephen is someone I know anyway and he was a friendly face – he was in the Pompey team when I went there (as manager) in 2011 – as was Jason. I made Pearcey my captain after the January transfer window, when a lot of players had to be sold as part of the administration.

“So I knew a little about Stephen anyway and what his temperament and character was like. I’d spoken to the likes of Roy Hodgson, who had worked with him and he spoke glowingly about him.

“So it was a dead easy decision. I’m delighted to get him on board.”

Richard O’Donnell, who worked with Appleton at Lincoln City and Blackpool, arrived as first-team coach before the 1-1 draw at Stevenage.

“I want to bring one more coach in,” said Appleton. “I’ve had a couple of interesting conversations. There are a few coaches, and we are hoping to move that along a little bit.

“I’m not sure if anything will get done before Saturday, probably unlikely, but it is definitely something we have been doing behind the scenes.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS