How Selling Scott Parker to Chelsea Cost Charlton a Shot at European Qualification: Former Addicks Star Reveals Managerial Disagreement as Key Factor in 2003/04 Season Slump

During the 2003/04 season, Charlton Athletic came tantalizingly close to securing a place in Europe, with only four points separating them from qualification. However, the unexpected departure of midfielder Scott Parker midway through the season dealt a devastating blow to the Addicks' aspirations of a continental adventure.

Prior to his move to Chelsea in January 2004 for £10m, Parker had started 20 of Charlton's 21 matches in the Premier League, helping them climb as high as fourth in the table with 37 points.

Following Parker's departure, that form didn't continue in their final 17 games, with Charlton picking up just 16 points as they ended the season in seventh, on 53 points. They finished three points behind both Newcastle in fifth and Aston Villa in sixth, both of whom also had superior goal differences. Liverpool, meanwhile, had 60 in fourth.

Charlton suffered a big dip in form after Parker left

Newcastle qualified for the UEFA Cup as a result, while Middlesbrough's League Cup victory also earned them a spot in Europe's second-tier competitions the next season.

For Jason Euell, an important player for Charlton that season thanks to his 10 Premier League goals, losing Parker ultimately proved a key turning points in their European hopes.

"The sale of Scott Parker to Chelsea made the difference," Euell tells FourFourTwo. "We had a good balance, especially in midfield, where Scott and I combined well. With me dropping back, Claus Jensen and Matt Holland were on the right and left, and we could all score goals.

"It was a big thing when Scott left. Curbs [Curbishley] didn’t want him to go; there was a bit of a disagreement. But we had our chance to qualify and let ourselves down after he departed."

Get FourFourTwo Newsletter

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Euell himself only lasted two more seasons at The Valley, with the Jamaica international moving north to join Middlesbrough for the 2006/07 season, despite his Charlton side having finished higher the campaign before.

'I hadn’t played much the season before, and was close to joining Birmingham in January," Euell says. "Then Curbs left and Iain Dowie came in. Dowie said I wasn’t in his plans and wanted me to go to Wigan.

"I wasn’t involved in the first couple of games and knew I’d be moving on. Dowie told me to play in a reserve game, but I didn’t want to risk injury so asked to be excused. He fined me a week’s wages. He was trying to show power over me, which I thought was wrong, and a week later I was off to sign for Middlesbrough."