Varney: Coaching Is Second To None

Luke Varney has praised Dario Gradi as he begins life at his new club Charlton Athletic.

The 24 year old made the £2.5million move in June after scoring 25 goals in League One last season. Whilst the likes of Michael Higdon and Billy Jones have come out with words against the club, fans favourite Varney has nothing bad to say about Dario Gradi.

He told ICSouthLondon: ‘People say his man-management isn’t brilliant but his coaching is second to none. He spends so much time on you it’s unbelievable.’

‘He spent a lot of time on me and Nick Maynard last season and we saw the benefits because we scored 50 goals between us.’

Luke also says that a couple of Premiership clubs were interested in him but he felt Charlton was the club to be at after a phone call to Dean Ashton, about Charlton manager Alan Pardew.

Ashton had nothing but praise Pardew, who says he would have made Varney a West Ham player if he was still their manager. Varney said: ‘I spoke to Dean Ashton, who’d worked under Alan at West Ham and he said he was a great manager – that the things he does for the forwards, the techniques,is a step up.’

Varney now hopes to impress his new club in more ways than one. Following his little ‘jig’ after scoring the opener vs Brighton at Gresty Road last season, he’s planning a new dance for the Addicks supporters.

‘I’ve been thinking what I can do for this year – I want to get one that the fans will remember.’