Johnnie Jackson a hit as Charlton caretaker boss – would he be prepared to go back to assistant’s role?

Johnnie Jackson spelled out again his desire to be a full-time manager after his Charlton side toppled League One leaders Plymouth at The Valley.

Ben Purrington and Conor Washington scored in the second half as the Addicks moved up to 12th in the table.

Jackson has never lost a match since when in caretaker spell and his record since replacing Nigel Adkins is five wins and one draw.

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard told the South London Press earlier this week that Jackson would revert to his assistant manager’s role if he felt there was a better managerial option.

Asked if he would be prepared to go back to his old role if the US-based Dane opted to go in a different direction,  Jackson said: “I’ve made my ambitions quite clear – I want to manage. That’s always been my ambition since I stopped playing. You go through the coaching roles and I loved my time doing all that but ultimately my ambition is to manage. I think I’ll be a success at it – wherever that is.

“Obviously I’d love that opportunity to be at Charlton because I love this football club. I want to see it back to its glory days and I want to be a part of that.

“I’m just trying to do my best in the job. I believe in myself and that I’m getting the best out of the team. We’re playing well with the ball and creating a hell of a lot of chances every game – we probably could’ve scored more today but I’ll take the 2-0.

“I’m giving it 100 per cent and the lads are giving me 100 per cent.

“It is what it is. I’m not going to have too long to dwell on it because we’ve got another game Tuesday. Tonight I’ll be thinking about Morecambe and then on Tuesday night, after that, I’ll be thinking about Shrewsbury. That’s my focus. I want to keep picking up points. We’ve got to climb the table. We’re still not where we want to be. We want to aim high.”

Charlton had their biggest attendance of the season – 26,090 in attendance. Sandgaard was determined to attract a huge crowd, with season-ticket holders able to bring along three family or friends.

Jackson said: “The support was magnificent. You hope they are going to make the noise they do. The support was scary good. This is the third tier of English football, so to get The Valley full like that – it is like a 12th man. I told the boys before the game ‘just give them something to shout about and they’ll get behind you’. There seems to be a real harmony at the moment between players and supporters, good things can happen when it’s like that.

“It was right up there with anything I’ve experienced. The crowd were absolutely outstanding and my team responded to that and was equally outstanding. Really, really pleased with how it went.

“It should give them some belief because Plymouth are a very good team and they are top of the league for a reason. Ryan Lowe has got them playing some really good stuff and they were unbeaten since the opening day of the season.

“For us to win, and win with a clean sheet and play the way we did – the boys should take a lot of belief from that, that we can compete with anyone in the league.

“We’ve got quality in that dressing room. It’s getting that endeavour out of them. They are doing it, to a man, how they are running, pressing and working. They are doing it as a team, not as individuals – one is going and their mate is backing them up. That’s the makings of a good team.”