Charlton Athletic Online

News broke today that not only is Alan Curbishley a Queen fan, but Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is a Curbs fan too!

On the occasion of her 80th birthday celebrations (her birthday is actually tomorrow...), Lizzy visited the BBC studios at White City. There, among a whole host of questions that were fired her way, was the one that has been troubling the nation ever since Sven decided that a large pay off was better than paparazzi pestering for another year -
Who should be the next England football manager?

Ever diplomatic, her majesty responded by saying that she had every confidence that the FA would pick the best man for the job, but she added that she personally would prefer an Englishman to be given the responsibility. When pressed further on who, among the English managers in the running, would she like to see, she firmly said that Alan Curbishley would be her pick.

This, it is thought, is as a result of Prince William's visit to the New Eltham training ground earlier in the season as part of his Princely duties, and the positive feedback he gave to his mum as a result.

It is well known that Curbs is a big Queen fan too, though only musically, and he even owns several copies of Freddie Mercury's autograph, which came to him via his band manager brother, Bill. Bill has also already provided Alan with several copies of Roger Daltrey's and Robert Plant's monickers, though Curbs is known to have wanted but failed to get the signatures of other musical luminaries such as Alexei Smertin and Eider Gudjohnsen previously.

Curbs has promised his many loyal supporters to try to get some of the following signatures in the summer according to various media over the last month - Owen Garvan, Shane Supple, Jason de Vos (all Ipswich), Lee Bowyer (Newcastle), Francois Clerk (Lyon), Boaz Myhill (Hull), Jermain Pennant (Birmingham), Stephen Warnock (Liverpool), Curtis Davies (WBA), Zat Knight (Fulham), Antony Gardner (Spurs), Marlon King (Watford), and Cameron Jerome (Cardiff). No doubt every other decent player from the relegated Premiership clubs, and also those from the non-promoted Championship teams will be linked with a move to The Valley soon too.