Dean Holden has become the first EFL manager to be sacked this season after being shown the exit door by Charlton.
The Addicks confirmed late on Sunday night that they had parted company with the former Oldham and Bristol City boss after a hugely disappointing start to the 2023/24 campaign that has seen them win just one of their five fixtures so far in League One to sit 18th in the early table.
Assistant manager Danny Senda and goalkeeping coach Glyn Shimell have also left The Valley, with academy coach and former captain Jason Pearce taking the first-team reins on an interim basis while the hunt for a new manager begins, supported by another assistant in Anthony Hayes.
“I would like to thank Dean and his staff for their hard work and dedication and sincerely wish them all the best in their future careers,” said Charlton chairman James Rodwell.
“Dean’s work in steering the club clear of relegation last season should not be forgotten, nor his development of many younger players.”
Former Stoke assistant and caretaker manager Holden was only appointed by Charlton last December, succeeding Ben Garner, who was sacked just six months after leaving Swindon for south-east London.
The Addicks were 18th and only four points above the relegation zone when he arrived, eventually steering them to an impressive 10th-place finish after an upturn in fortunes.
Holden signed a new three-year contract at Charlton in February but his side have made a hugely underwhelming start to the new campaign, opening with a win over newly-promoted London rivals Leyton Orient but suffering four consecutive losses since to Peterborough, Bristol Rovers, Port Vale and early leaders Oxford.
They were also dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the first round by League Two outfit Newport County earlier this month.
Holden’s dismissal means that Charlton, who host winless Fleetwood next before beginning their Football League Trophy campaign against Crawley, are now looking for their sixth manager in less than three years.
