Charlton manager Alan Curbishley today revealed that he was close to signing former England striker Teddy Sheringham.

The boss admitted that Sheringham slipped through his hands back in 2003, after he had just left Tottenham.

"I was quite interested in Teddy before West Ham signed him in the summer of 2004. I also remember when he left Tottenham in the summer of 2003, because he was available and local," said Curbishley.

However, Curbishley feared that Sheringham would go to Portsmouth, and so opted for Paulo Di Canio.

"But in the end, it looked certain that Teddy would sign for Portsmouth, so we went for Paolo Di Canio instead."

Curbishley's Charlton face Sheringham's West Ham on Sunday, for what promises to be another crucial match in the build up to the climax of the season.