Charlton dismiss announcer for taunts

Charlton have sacked their stadium announcer Brian Cole for taunting bitter rivals Crystal Palace before Wednesday night's League Cup tie at The Valley.

Charlton have sacked their stadium announcer Brian Cole for taunting bitter rivals Crystal Palace before Wednesday night's League Cup tie at The Valley.

Palace officials made a formal complaint to Charlton after Cole had made a series of inflammatory comments against Iain Dowie's men.

Peter Varney, Charlton's chief executive, tried to pacify the visitors by removing Cole from the microphone at half-time.

"Brian Cole's comments were totally unacceptable, very embarrassing and the sort of thing Charlton Athletic do not want to be associated with," Varney said. "We simply cannot have someone performing a very public role for the club who makes such comments.

"I would like to apologise to Crystal Palace and their supporters for this total lack of respect and also to anyone connected with Charlton who felt as embarrassed as I and my fellow board members did."