Varney: "We will not welcome any approach for Curbishley"

"It's all very predictable," Varney said. "As soon as someone gets the sack, Alan is the first manager people turn to and we've "The situation is that Alan signed a new three-and-a-half year contract at the beginning of the year, and he is happy here at Charlton.

"We've just finished seventh in the Premiership and he's got the biggest transfer budget a Charlton manager has ever had so why would he want to leave?"

"Alan is the only one that can answer whether or not the Liverpool job is too big to turn down," he said.

"No disrespect to the other clubs that have shown an interest, but none of them have been top-four clubs.

"But I repeat that Alan is happy here and was confident enough to sign a new contract. He has a significant amount of money to spend on new players and the club is progressing all the time both on and off the pitch.

"He has the funds to make us as competitive as we can be on the pitch so these are good times for Charlton.

"To walk away from that into a situation where there is far more pressure and instant success demanded, we hope that Alan will feel he can fulfil his objectives here at Charlton."