New Charlton boss Lee Bowyer says he never intended to be a manager
Friday 23 March 2018 12:00, UK
New Charlton boss Lee Bowyer insists he never intended to become a manager and still is not sure whether the role is for him.
After taking over the Addicks on a caretaker basis from Karl Robinson, who resigned to take up the Oxford job on Thursday, Bowyer admits this is a trial period for both himself and the south London club.
The 41-year-old described his trajectory into management as "crazy" and admits his future in charge is as shrouded as the club's itself, which is the subject of a potential takeover.
"I had no intention of becoming a manager. I had no intention of becoming a coach," Bowyer said ahead of his first game in charge against Plymouth at the weekend.
"It's crazy the way I'm sitting here now. I literally came in last season two days a week to help out with the midfielders. Richie Barker then left in the summer and Karl asked me to be the assistant.
"I'm here until told otherwise. I don't know how long that will be, but hopefully it will be until the end of the season. Ask me at the end of the season if I want the job full time.
"I'm excited to be doing it, to show what I can do on this side. I know I can do it. It's whether I wanted to do it. I've worked with five or six international managers; if I haven't learned anything from them, then what have I been doing my whole career?
"I played with I don't know how many international players, and a hell of a lot of unbelievable players. I haven't just been passing on knowledge from myself, but players I played with, players I played against.
"Terry Venables, for example, would never have a meeting after a game, he'd have it on a Monday. I was like 'why would you do that?' Everyone wants to know what went wrong or what went right.
"[But] why am I going to ask a player when his emotions are all over the place, and his head is ready to boil? Why would I ask him I front of everyone? He's just going to explode.
"On Monday morning, when everyone has had time to think, and the adrenaline and emotions are back to normal, then I will ask him. Then we can have a civilised conversation. It's small things like that [that I've learned]."
With Charlton ninth in League One and five points off the play-offs with eight games to go, Bowyer could end up promoting the club at which he began his playing and coaching careers.
He said: "We've got the squad to get in the play-offs. It's probably putting more pressure on myself, but I believe that. What I can promise those players will go out and give 100 per cent in every game, because I won't accept anything less."
