 Reed's spell at Charlton became infamous, as the media attacked him frequently, nicknaming him "Les Misérables" and "Santa Clueless", and he was later voted in an unofficial online poll "the worst manager of all time".He was replaced as manager by Alan Pardew on 24 December, leaving Charlton Athletic by mutual consent.Reed was linked with a consultancy role helping Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez, who approached him after a League Managers' Association meeting at West Bromwich Albion in February 2007.