Curbishley wants Todd to issue an apology

Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager, will this morning expect a contrite Andy Todd to knock on his door and ask forgiveness. If he does not the defender is likely to have played his last game for the club.

Todd, 27, was placed on the transfer list last week after a training ground incident rumoured to be connected to the black eye being sported by Charlton goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

"I think that [apologise] is something he has to do," said Curbishley. "I would like to think he would but there has been no expression of regret yet. I think he should realise he's got it wrong and the action that we took was the correct one.

Curbishley does not, however, want to hear any more from Colin Todd, father of Andy and manager of Derby. Todd senior said Charlton had handled the incident ''appallingly''. He also suggested his son should be allowed to join Derby on a free transfer. Yesterday Curbishley responded: "I was disappointed with his comments. It's one thing to talk like a father. To talk with a Derby tracksuit on is a little bit different. Andy won't be going anywhere for nothing.

"Colin has reacted like a father and, perhaps, has had his say without knowing all the facts. I played with him for four years at Birmingham and I've spoken to him and cleared up one or two things.

"It's his son and he thinks he is hard done by but it has been done in a fair-minded way. Most people, if asked about Alan Curbishley and Charlton, would say he's fair-minded, not someone who jumps to rash decisions. I've looked at all sides and felt Andy was wrong. I've already lost Richard Rufus and Radostin Kishishev to long-term injuries, the last thing I want is to lose another defender."

He might not if Todd junior, who has been fined two weeks' wages, transfer-listed and told to train apart from the first team, can swallow his pride. "It was one of those incidents which happens every now and then in a football club. I've been around long enough, I could name you a dozen similar incidents. But a decision had to be made. It is done now and we will all have to get on with it. He's on the transfer list, we'll have to see what happens. He has not been in contention for a first team place since as he wanted a cooling-off period. We will assess the situation again on Monday."

Todd joined Charlton, whose next match is on Sunday at Arsenal, after a similar incident at his and his father's old club Bolton two years ago. Then, he was involved in a fight with Phil Brown, the assistant manager, shortly after the club parted company with Colin. Charlton subsequently signed him for a cut-price £750,000.

The League Managers' Association has applauded Sir Alex Ferguson in highlighting the plight of lower-league managers. The Manchester United manager is urging his colleagues to boycott clubs that sack a manager and fail to compensate them properly. Nigel Spackman became the season's 19th casualty last Thursday when he was dismissed by First Division Barnsley.

Premier League rules bind clubs that sack managers to agree a financial settlement within 28 days or go to arbitration. But no such deal exits in the First, Second and Third Divisions and the clamour for change is growing. "It's worked very well in the Premiership but there is no such regulation in the Football League," LMA chief executive John Barnwell said. "It leaves the door open to clubs to take advantage. If a club want to sack a manager, fine, it's their decision but they have a contract which both parties signed and should be honoured.

"If there was a regulation about settlement in the Football League as there is in the Premier League, clubs would be more reluctant to make those sackings."