CHARLTON boss Alan Curbishley has dropped another broad hint that he is interested in the vacant manager's job at Blackburn Rovers.
As we revealed on Wednesday, Curbishley kept his name firmly in the frame after refusing to dismiss talk of a move to Ewood.
And now he has indicated he could be ready to quit the Addicks and move to a bigger club.
Rovers would certainly fit that bill and Curbishley is known to be one of four names on the club's short list.
Curbishley has worked wonders at Charlton, managing to achieve consistent success on a shoestring budget since taking over nine years ago.
But the prospect of a new challenge and the lure of Jack Walker's spending power could prove too tempting a combination to resist.
Curbishley has been quick to stress he has not been approached by the Ewood board.
But he has hinted he could be ready to talk if they approached his chairman and asked for permission.
"If Blackburn were interested in me then I'm sure they would make the right approaches to Charlton, and it would be up to them to say whether or not they could talk to me," said Curbishley.
"I was grateful nine years ago to get a chance in management. "I'm 42 now. I've got lots of experience and my main aim this year was to go back up to the Premiership."
He added: "Some people get a short cut and some people, if they are successful, have to wait a little bit longer.
"I've had nine years and that is quite a long time now.
"Perhaps if I'm ever going to get a chance to go to a top club, and that's not being disrespectful to Charlton, I might have to go on and wait a bit longer."
Rovers have not yet made any official approach to either Charlton or Norwich where their manager, Bruce Rioch, is another name on the short list.
He staying more tight-lipped than Curbishley when pressed about the Ewood link.
He said: "I don't read the papers, so I don't know what people are saying.
"We just get on with the job in hand."
The question of Glenn Hoddle entering the frame can safely be ruled out.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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