Dean Holden in The Times this morning....

When Charlton Athletic were losing at half-time against Oxford United in Dean Holden’s second game, he showed his players his frustration. “The tactics board got snapped in half,” Holden recalls.
“That’s not in my nature normally but we were terrible in that first half [with] players not running and a performance I wasn’t prepared to accept.” His players reported in for training at Sparrows Lane, New Eltham, for what they feared would be a loud, challenging debrief on the League One defeat. “They were expecting a bit of a video nasty,” Holden adds.
Instead of a video, Holden showed them a cherished photograph of him with his daughter, Cici Milly, who contracted meningococcal sepsis while on holiday in Lanzarote in 2012. The blood infection spread rapidly to Cici’s brain and she never recovered. Cici was 17 months old.
“I know that trauma has made me a better parent, better husband and better manager because of the empathy it gives you,” Holden says. “I was open to the players about the situation and what that meant to me in my life. I said to them, ‘Don’t waste tomorrow, don’t waste today, you’re a young professional footballer, it’s the best time of your life.’ ”Seize every second. Charlton won their next two games. Such has been Holden’s impact that he has been given a three-year contract and they head to Bristol Rovers on Friday afternoon on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, including Saturday’s 6-0 thrashing of Shrewsbury Town.His players come into his office to open up about any concerns or problems. On the wall opposite Holden’s desk is a picture of him with his family, a larger photo of Cici and the exhortation: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”Talking in his office on Tuesday, Holden looks at the picture. “When Cici died, I couldn’t get through the day,” he says. “The stats within two years of a child dying — 88 per cent of parents separated. I said this to the players after the Oxford game that there was an 88 per cent chance against me and my wife Danielle [Nicholls, the television presenter] making it and we did.


Comments
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He’s such a decent human being.
Interesting if not worrying comment re “new consortium to help the finance with Thomas.”6 -
Its impossible not to like the guy.
I thought he was very good on Charlton Live and as much as we might like more complete answers, he has to remain diplomatic.
Seems like a thoroughly decent bloke.
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Weegie Addick said:He’s such a decent human being.
Interesting if not worrying comment re “new consortium to help the finance with Thomas.”
Surely trying to finance a football club single handedly is more worrying than having a number of people helping with the load, assuming of course that everyone is on the same page?
I don’t particularly mind TS retaining a small percentage in the club because hopefully it would suggest those with controlling interest will be making all the important decisions, one of which will be getting rid of or reducing the role of MS?2 -
Weegie Addick said:He’s such a decent human being.
Interesting if not worrying comment re “new consortium to help the finance with Thomas.”I feel it’s more about getting money back in future and getting some credit by being part of any turnaround than him continuing to influence how the club is run.3 -
Good piece. Good bloke.4
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He is the most stabilising influence we have had at the club in 10 years. I hope he gets the backing he deserves with the Summer signings to take our club back to the levels of success we all want to see.
He is a very special individual and has arrived at the right time.
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I really like this guy and he’s working well with what he has. Hope he gets the backing to develop the squad over the summer rather than another short-term rebuild.4
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Hard not to have a good feeling about him as boss.But…it’ll be the same old story if we don’t get the ownership sorted. It’s been the same since Powell got us up and the money ran out.
Right man, wrong time? Hopefully not.1 -
I really really like him. Perhaps next time when people dig him out for nipping in the pub for a pint after a loss, maybe have a think why….10
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Top man - I hope he is with us for years.
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I just hope the takeover provides the stability and support Holden needs. If it’s more of the same we’ll drift and he’ll eventually get sacked. He deserves that support.16
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Another decent interview from Deano,top bloke,glad we have him as our manager,pray that he is given the funds,players & the time to take us forward,so many false horizons,more down to management than the managers…100% support from me
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If he manages half as good as he is as a person we’ll piss the league next season*
*providing he receives the right support from whatever nutbag owns us4 -
I think he is the most "Charlton" manager we could have got. His empathy is amazing.
Best bit of the story is when the hack describes Miles as "the son of Charlton legends Carl and Tracey..."24 -
We should buy him some big gloves.
He really is a keeper.
Just need funds and off we go.0 -
Cold water therapy.
A Ganesh.
Yoga.
Get yourself over here for a break with the Missus Deano.
You’ll have all that & a cold pint of the black stuff after 💚
Top lad.7 -
I wonder whether through sheer good fortune (because I'm sure TS would have had no idea of DH's merits) we have ended up with a really good guy as manager.
Only problem is if he doesn't get properly supported , good guy as much as he is, he will be pushed out the door if we go on a losing run.1 -
I have a great feeling about this bloke.4
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The more I hear from the bloke the more I want him to succeed. If his outlook cant influence, guide and inspire players I dont know what would.8
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If we keep players like Ness and Leaburn, how good are they going to be next season? I would say we are already well on the way to being very competitive.1
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cfgs said:I think he is the most "Charlton" manager we could have got. His empathy is amazing.
Best bit of the story is when the hack describes Miles as "the son of Charlton legends Carl and Tracey..."
Superb interview btw.0 -
cant help but like and be impressed by him.1
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On the assumption that he was recommended by CM and kronies..they did something very good just hope the takeover happens and he gets some support0
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I don’t think there’s anything really new in that piece, but it’s brilliant to see it all getting a wider audience. I think he’s already made a huge, positive, difference for us and is the type of man who will improve players not only on the pitch. I hope he gets the support from whoever our owners are in the future.P.S. @KBslittlesis - we never called it “cold water therapy” when we were kids at da’s family farm in Cavan. It was the only water we had 🤷🏻♂️😂3
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I really like the cut of his jib. Top man.2
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Through all the desperation and despondency, through all the nonsense from TS, somehow we've managed to find ourselves a gem.8
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Really well written bit and DH being a top fella was known already but just more evidence of that. Hope he stays and hope he is a success.2
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so so good2
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Covered End said:Great article apart from this, which is not true at all -
"Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, the 20-year-old on loan from Crystal Palace, showed why he is highly regarded with a stream of accurate crosses from the left."
He's rarely played on the left and put in a stream of accurate crosses has he?
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