Former Bristol City head coach Dean Holden is firmly in the running to return to management and fill the vacant role at Charlton.
The League One club are searching for a new man in the dugout after sacking former Bristol Rovers manager Ben Garner on Monday. A run of five games without a victory leaves the Addicks 17th in the table.
Holden, 43, has been without work after leaving Stoke City in August following the sacking of Michael O'Neill. He was previously linked with managerial roles at Rotherham and Exeter but the two clubs opted for a different direction.
As reported on Monday, he has also reportedly been in talks to become Thomas Frank's assistant manager at Brentford after his former No2 Brian Riemer left to take over at Anderlecht. A move to Sheffield United to become their new defensive coach could also be an option for Holden as he plots his return to football.
However, the temptation to step back into management for the first time since leaving Bristol City in February 2021 could prove difficult to turn down. According to the bookies, Holden is the second favourite to join Charlton at 2/1.
Former Queens Park Rangers and Millwall midfielder Marc Bircham is favourite to take the role at 5/4. Beyond those two, there's a handful of outsiders starting with Kenny Jackett and Lee Bowyer both at 10/1.
Interestingly, another former City boss Steve Cotterill is 12/1 to leave Shrewsbury and take the position with ex-Cardiff manager Steve Morison a 16/1 shot.
Holden spent four years on the coaching staff at City before replacing Lee Johnson as interim manager following his sacking in July 2020. He picked up eight points from five games to earn the role permanently and made a flying start by winning his first four consecutive matches.
City's form would later fall off a cliff and he was sacked following his 41st game in charge following a run of six consecutive defeats with Nigel Pearson coming in to replace him. Holden left the club with a respectable 43.9 per cent win record.
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