FORMER Colchester United favourite Johnnie Jackson says he is ready to take his chance with both hands after being placed in caretaker charge of Charlton Athletic.

The ex-U's midfielder, who made more than 100 league appearances for Colchester between 2006 and 2009, has been placed in caretaker charge following Nigel Adkins' departure.

Jackson, 39, who played in the Championship for Colchester and was their player of the year in the 2007-08 season, will take charge of Charlton's League One clash with Sunderland tomorrow and will have Jason Euell as his caretaker assistant.

The former Spurs youngster says he will aiming to impress owner Thomas Sandgaard by proving his worth and getting results for the Addicks.

Jackson told the Charlton website: “I’ve had a brief conversation with Mr Sandgaard this morning and he’s just hinted at me to take the team going forward and that I’ll be afforded the opportunity to impress him.

“I’ll throw my hat into the ring. It’s long been an ambition of mine to manage this football club. To get the opportunity to play for it, captain it, coach it – to become the manager would be fulfilling the ultimate ambition, really.

“That doesn’t change and I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got to try and win games and get us out of this position that we’re in because we shouldn’t be there, not just for me but for this football club.”

Jackson takes over a Charlton side who are struggling for points, having claimed just two wins in their opening 13 league games.

Former U's midfielder Alex Gilbey is also currently plying his trade with the Addicks.

Jackson added: “I’ve been here long enough to see the affect the crowd can have on the team.

“I know that if a Charlton team is at it, and working, running and hassling from the first minute, the crowd will get behind them, I know that. It’s my job now to get that out of the players.

“The past is the past, we can’t change what’s gone on. It’s my job and focus now to portray that to the players – if you give the fans everything you have for the shirt, they’ll give you everything back. And that needs to be the bare minimum.

“I believe that we’ve got enough quality in the squad that, if we can bring that, we can go and win football games and hopefully go on a run.

“It’s my job as manager to really get that extra ounce out of them. While I’m afforded the opportunity, I’ll push them as far as I possibly can and let them know about what it requires to play for this club.

“[Sunderland] is a very difficult start and it’s been a bit of a whirlwind morning, so we’re not going to have loads of time to prepare like you normally would.

"It’s a good game for us to get our teeth into, a difficult test against a team in good form, but what a place to go and play your football.

“For me, personally, to lead a Charlton Athletic team out there as caretaker manager will be a real honour.”