Pardew Blasts Blanc

Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew has taken a swipe at former France international and Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc.

Blanc is now manager of French side Bordeaux, and the former Man Utd defender has annoyed Pardew over his declared interest in Addicks central defender Souleymane Diawara.

Blanc went public over his intentions to sign the former Sochaux player who joined Charlton for £3.7million on a four-year contract last August.

Pardew said: ‘I always think it’s incorrect for technical directors or managers of other clubs to talk about players who are under contract elsewhere. It’s unsettling and it’s unfair.

‘Souleyman Diawara has become an important part of what we’ve done here pre-season. It would be a blow if we lost him.’

Diawara however may have other plans and following our relegation he could favour a move away from The Valley.

‘I really hope it will be settled as soon as possible. I would like to sign on Friday or Saturday,’ Diawara told L’Equipe.

‘I won’t play the first Ligue 1 day, but I would like to play on the second weekend.

‘I talked about Bordeaux’s interest with my coach Alan Pardew. At first, he was not very keen to let me leave, but then, he understood my desire.

‘I quickly found an agreement with Bordeaux. The project of Coach Laurent Blanc and Chairman Jean-Louis Triaud attracted me.’

With Jon Fortune expected to sign for Stoke after a £400,000 bid was accepted, Alan Pardew has lost two central defenders and we could be left short on a back line good enough to win promotion. Pardew needs to make some new signings and fast!