Kiely’s pal Scott is Addick-ted to being in football

DEAN KIELY spent five years in the trenches with Scott Parker when they were team-mates at Charlton.

So he knows exactly what drives him – and it’s not money or fame.

The former Republic of Ireland international watched the young Parker emerge from the fringes of the first-team squad into the heart of midfield in Alan an Curbishley’s Addicks XI.

“He worked for everything, Scotty,” said

Kiely (right).

“He took responsibility on the pitch and worked hard every day to get better and to understand the game and d what the team m needed.

“I can’t sit here and tell you he was destined to be a Premier League manager but then again I didn’t see myself being a coach until my late 30s.

“It was written in the stars as destiny for Scotty to be a manager but in saying that you could always see his appetite for football and his willingness to learn was exemplary. They are the attributes you need to be successful at anything you do.”

Parker (bottom) will need his Fulham team to deliver something special at home to champions Liverpool this af afternoon. A And Kiely has no doubts a about the character

– or ability – of the man a aiming to ke keep the Cot Cottagers in th the Premier L League.

Kiely is goalkeeping coach o on Roy Ho Hodgson’s Cry Crystal Palace staff a and sees a lot of the same traits in his current boss, who is the oldest in the top flight at the age of 73.

“The former players and the people who choose to stay in the game these days will not do so out of necessity financially,” added Kiely.

“They love football. Scotty worked to get Fulham promoted and he will continue to try to keep them there.”