
ALAN PARDEW toasted his best Christmas ever as he landed a £7.5million present.
Pards signed a £4m deal to become Charlton’s new boss after the struggling Addicks axed Les Reed.
And West Ham gave him £3.5m in compensation following his sacking as manager two weeks ago.
Pardew had penned a new £20,000-a-week contract under the old Upton Park regime which still had 3½ years to run.
When new owner Eggert Magnusson took over it was agreed he would be paid up within two weeks if given the boot.
That deadline arrived — along with £3½m — at the weekend.
Then late on Christmas Eve Pardew, 45, hit the jackpot again when he was amazingly unveiled as ReedÂ’s replacement at Charlton.
After just 13 days out of a job, he signed a 3½-year contract worth £3.5m plus bonuses.
He becomes the third manager in six weeks at The Valley following the departures of Reed and Iain Dowie.
Reed, nicknamed Les Miserables, was in charge for just 41 days — the shortest tenure in Premiership history. He recorded just one win from his eight games in charge.
Addicks chairman Richard Murray said: “Les has Charlton in his blood but this decision’s best for the club.”