Charlton flexing muscles to keep Parker

But assuming that Chelsea have acted entirely correctly, Charlton considered the ?6million offer for Parker last weekend derisory.

It was, after all, equivalent to the deal the Stamford Bridge club agreed with West Ham in the summer for the then unproven defender Glen Johnson.

Curbishley said: "This could get messy. Any club outside the top four or five is vulnerable if the big clubs come calling, but you don't have to do it. Chelsea didn't offer any player, they made a cash offer that was unacceptable. We've not put a price on Scott's head and have just said 'go away'."

The latest bid for Parker was only a small increase on the one that was made last summer and in the first half of this season Parker has shown genuine international form.

He also signed a five-year deal last July and has since found himself at the centre of a side with realistic prospects of qualifying for Europe.

Curbishley has dropped him for tomorrow's game at Everton and given him a few days off training saying "his head is not right".

But that does not mean he is ready to sell. The Charlton manager hopes he can convince Parker to stay and weather the storm after the trip to Goodison Park.

Curbishley said: "The next fortnight could give Scott time to settle down. We've got two weeks without a game and it could be a long two weeks."

The England international is vital to Charlton. He is the sort of driving force that would be sorely missed but even if there is ill feeling between his current employers and Chelsea, a deal cannot be ruled out.

In many ways this week represents a watershed for The Valley club. Until now, they have only sold established players to balance the books or when the time has been right for them. Departures such as Danny Mills's to Leeds for ?4m in 1999 and Mark Kinsella's ?750,000 move to Aston Villa in 2002 fall into these categories.

But Parker is somebody they want to keep, a former academy boy who is one of the symbols of the club's transformation from all-round poor relations to genuine Champions League contenders.

As Curbishley said: "In years gone by we were desperate for phone calls but that's not the case now."

It is to Charlton's credit, then, that team and business management at the club are prepared to fight to keep their player and maintain their ambition.

But if Chelsea offer around ?15m Charlton would find it very difficult to say no. Charlton's history of good housekeeping suggests they would accept such a bid and use the money to extend The Valley and bring in new players.

Although the fans would reluctantly accept such a sale, it might leave Curbishley thinking a little harder about his future.

Whether moving to Chelsea would be a good move for Parker is another issue. Kinsella, who was sold to make way for Parker in 2002, thinks it would be better for his career if he remained at The Valley.

The ex-Charlton captain has seen his move to Villa go sour and yesterday joined West Brom on a shortterm contract because he was not playing regularly.

He believes his former midfield team-mate Parker will establish himself in the England team if he stays.

Kinsella said: "From a footballing point of view he doesn't need to move. He doesn't need a bigger club.

"He's played well enough this season to double the price that was talked about in the summer too, but I'd be disappointed if he was sold.

"Scott has been one of the best midfielders in the Premiership this season and he has probably got another couple of years before he reaches his peak.

"Charlton are no longer a small club and at this stage of his career he needs to be playing games, particularly-with the European Championshipcoming up in the summer. "He must be the first name on the team-sheet at the moment but it might be more difficult at Chelsea.

"Joe Cole joined them from West Ham in the summer and has found that manager Claudio Ranieri chops and changes his team."

Life for Parker probably feels a little difficult at the moment and with two clubs fighting over him and two weeks of the transfer window remaining, it will get worse before it gets better.