Pardew's Best Christmas

Alan Pardew celebrated his best Christmas ever as he landed a £7.5million present. Pards signed a £4m deal to become Charlton’s new boss after the struggling Addicks axed Les Reed. And West Ham gave him £3.5m in compensation following his sacking as manager two weeks ago.

Pardew had penned a new £20,000-a-week contract under the old Upton Park regime which still had 3½ years to run. When new owner Eggert Magnusson took over it was agreed he would be paid up within two weeks if given the boot. That deadline arrived — along with £3½m — at the weekend.

Then late on Christmas Eve Pardew, 45, hit the jackpot again when he was amazingly unveiled as Reed’s replacement at Charlton.

After just 13 days out of a job, he signed a 3½-year contract worth £3.5m plus bonuses. He becomes the third manager in six weeks at The Valley following the departures of Reed and Iain Dowie.

Reed, nicknamed Les Miserables, was in charge for just 41 days — the shortest tenure in Premiership history. He recorded just one win from his eight games in charge. Addicks chairman Richard Murray said: “Les has Charlton in his blood but this decision’s best for the club.”

£1M BONUS IF PARDEW CAN SAVE ADDICKS

ALAN PARDEW will be handed a £1million bonus if he rescues Charlton from Premiership oblivion after the ruthless Christmas sacking of Les Reed. And Pardew, the Addicks' third manager this season, will raid his old club West Ham with a £3m bid for midfielder Hayden Mullins after signing a three-and a- half-year contract at The Valley.

Charlton made a swift U-turn in appointing 45-year-old Pardew, on the scrapheap himself just a fortnight ago when he was sacked by the Hammers. They brutally axed Reed, 53, late on Christmas Eve after just 41 days, the shortest managerial reign in Premiership history, and his pay-off is thought to be only £250,000.

Murray claimed: "We are very fortunate a manager of Alan Pardew's calibre is available and we have moved very, very quickly to secure his services. Les has Charlton in his blood, but this decision is best."

Pardew, who spent four years as a player at Charlton, opens his reign with tomorrow night's home derby with Fulham. He has been given a £6million transfer war chest to keep Charlton in the Premiership.