CHARLTON manager Alan Curbishley will delay discussions over his future with chairman Richard Murray until the end of the season.

Curbishley, who has a year left on his contract and is second to Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson as the Premiership’s longest-serving manager, disclosed that it was he who took the decision at the start of the season.

He said: "It’s the latest we’ve done it but it’s something I wanted to do when I spoke to the chairman at the start of the season when we were second.

"There’s nothing sinister it. I just wanted to get the season out of the way to see how we got on."

Curbishley reached a milestone in his managerial career with Charlton at the start of the season when he celebrated 10 years in sole charge.

He remains one of the most respected managers in the country and is a strong contender to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England coach.

He added: "I’ve been here 15 to 16 years, which is a long time. When I sit down with Richard Murray, we’ll have a long chat.

"I’m happy here, pleased we’re through to the FA Cup quarter-finals and what I got from the game is that Brentford came here talking about us as a big club.

"Perhaps we take it a bit for granted. We’re not the biggest, as a certain player (Danny Murphy) left here and told us recently. We try our hardest and we have come a long, long way."

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