JASON Pearce says he will remain as Charlton’s interim manager for as long as it takes until a permanent replacement for Dean Holden is made.
Holden was relieved of his duties on Sunday evening following a run of five straight defeats with interviews still currently ongoing to appoint a successor.
A host of names have since been linked with the vacancy, the latest being Stockport’s Dave Challinor and Northampton Town’s Jon Brady.
But there is no official deadline in place so Pearce will pick the team until the big reveal is made, starting with Saturday’s Valley encounter with fellow strugglers Fleetwood Town.
He explained: “I’ve come in to help out as interim. I’m doing my best for the club.
“My main concern is obviously Saturday. I know they are interviewing people so I’m expecting a manager to be announced, whether that be in a week, whether that be in two weeks, in a couple of days, I don’t know.
“All I’m doing is just trying to prepare the team to get a result on Saturday.”
Pearce also revealed he has been in contact with Holden since his weekend dismissal.
“I gave him a call early on in the week just to express to him obviously I was disappointed for him because he is a good person but I didn’t hear back from him straight away,” the interim boss said.
“But I’ve got a message from him today. I obviously wanted to give him a little bit of space because I know it is a difficult period for him and his family.
“Dean is a good person, a good guy and a good coach.
“Ultimately these things happen in football and that is just football, isn’t it? You have to move on.”
Pearce admitted the players needed a lift earlier this week in the wake of Holden’s exit but added there has been a noticeable improvement on the training ground as the Fleetwood game approaches.
He said: “When we got together on Monday the group was a little bit down. I don’t know if the lads were expecting what happened to happen so it was just about trying to bring the lads up, getting a positive attitude and just changing the mentality really.
“I think as the week has gone on, the lads’ attitude has been really good.
“The mentality is growing and has been positive.
“My job has just been to get across simple messages, speak to the lads and just find out how things have been going.
“Is there anything they would like to change? Just to get their views on things and then obviously implement how I want things to happen.”
Pearce added: “It has been a nice few days to work with the players.
“The lads have been really receptive in terms of what I’m asking.
“It is now about Friday with match prep in terms of being prepared for the game and then ultimately once they go over the white line it is down to them to try and implement the game plan and get a result.”
