Charlton to hold Pressley talks

Pardew hopes to lure Steven Pressley to Charlton

New Charlton boss Alan Pardew is set to hold talks with former Hearts captain Steven Pressley in the next 24 hours over a possible move to The Valley.

The 33-year-old defender watched the relegation-threatened Addicks draw with Fulham in the Premiership on Wednesday.

And Pardew said: "There is a good chance he will be at Charlton."

The Scotland international is a free agent after leaving Hearts earlier this month following his criticism of majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov.

What I like about him is he is a leader Charlton boss Alan Pardew on defender Steven Pressley

Pressley also claimed there was "dressing-room unrest" at the Scottish Premier League club.

Pardew, who replaced Les Reed as manager of Charlton on Christmas Eve, did, however, add a note of caution after revealing his attempt to sign Pressley.

"We are interested in bringing him here before the transfer window but I am never confident about signings until they are done," he added.

"What I like about him is he is a leader. I think we have got some very good centre-halves here but he comes into a pack where we need characters and leadership and that is one thing that attracts me to him."

Celtic, Rangers, Southampton, Derby and Leeds have also been linked with Pressley, who is ineligible to play for any new employer before the opening of the transfer window in January.

Meanwhile, Pardew has insisted that striker Darren Bent will be staying at Charlton until at least the summer.

Bent has been linked to a number of Premiership clubs, plus Championship side Sunderland.

"Darren is definitely staying through the transfer window and carrying the fight for us through the rest of the season," stated Pardew.

606 DEBATE: Would you like to see Pressley at The Valley?