Sunday 9 January 2011, Keith Peacock had overseen the Addicks valiant attempt to upset the odds in an FA Cup third round tie at White Hart Lane.

Spurs went up a gear in the second half to eventually run out comfortable 3-0 winners.

As darkness fell, back at The Valley an important meeting was about to take place. The new owners were interviewing the man they wanted to replace the recently sacked Phil Parkinson. They decided on a young, up and coming manager but faced competition from local rivals, Crystal Palace. Palace were also in the market for a manager, having parted company with George Burley.

The Addicks thought they had their man, he was desperately close to agreeing a deal that night. But he didn’t.

He returned to his club and signed a new, improved deal. Just a few days later he managed Bournemouth in a televised game at Colchester, it was his last game in charge.

A local lad, Eddie Howe seemed genuinely sad to be leaving Dean Court to take up the challenge of trying to return Burnley to the Premier League.

There was a conspiracy theory that the whole saga was an exercise to get more money from Burnley for Howe’s release.

Howe travelled to Turf Moor after that game at Colchester and watched the Clarets draw 0-0 with Queens Park Rangers. After a goalless draw at Scunthorpe, Howe took his new team to Portsmouth, a club he had played for. The return to the South Coast was a happy one for Howe, his team won 2-1.

Burnley were tenth when Howe took over but only managed eighth place by the season’s end, no quick return to the Premier League for them.

Last season the Turf Moor outfit never looked like mounting a serious promotion bid and finished in a disappointing thirteenth place.

This season they are currently in sixteenth spot, one place below Charlton in the table. The move has not worked out well for either Burnley or Howe.

Similarly, Bournemouth have struggled to find a manager to emulate Howe’s achievements and parted company with Paul Groves a few days ago.

Where will the Cherries turn for their next manager? On Thursday evening they asked Burnley for permission to speak to Howe.

The move may be in the best interests of all concerned. Eddie Howe would willingly swap the satanic mills of Lancashire for the elegant splendour of Bournemouth, his spiritual home. The Cherries fans would welcome him home in the same rapturous way that Charlton fans welcomed Chris Powell back when he took the job that Howe turned down.