Alan Pardew has revealed that his rebuilding programme at Charlton has already begun as he primes his side for an instant return to the Barclays Premiership.

The Addicks boss saw his side relegated from the top flight after Monday's 2-0 defeat against Tottenham at The Valley.

It confirmed that the former West Ham boss had arrived too late in the season to pull off an unlikely escape act, and now he is looking to the future in his effort to return the south-east London club to the top flight, where they stayed for an impressive seven years.

Pardew is aware the job of overhauling his playing staff may be more difficult than he first envisaged, with the likes of Darren Bent, Dennis Rommedahl, Scott Carson and Luke Young heading for the exit door, and others likely to be released.

He revealed, however, that he is close to making his first signing of the summer as early as this weekend, and that the player's identity could be known by the time of Sunday's meaningless trip to Champions League finalists Liverpool.

"We're very close to signing a player and I'd like to make an announcement before the end of Sunday's game," said Pardew, who took over at The Valley on Christmas Eve.

"I want to make a point to the Charlton fans that we're acting quickly and positively. I am going to try to spend as much as I can as quickly as I can on quality players.

"I like to think that my record in recruitment is very good and I want to continue that here.

"We will find out very quickly next year that we're going to be a big scalp in the Championship so we had best be ready for that.

"I like to think that we'll have a side that will be technically better than most, but one thing I do know is that when you're losing 2-0 away at Burnley you need the character to be able to come back from that, and that's the type of player I'm looking for."

Charlton may have been relegated but in Pardew's view there is still plenty to play for this weekend.

With several of the club's current players out of contract at the end of the month, he is viewing the Liverpool clash as a chance for players to prove their desire to remain at The Valley in a match that sees them come up against the potential European champions.

"I've said to the players this week that they have got a lot to prove to me," Pardew revealed.

"If I feel that their professionalism is open to question, I won't hesitate to act on it, so it's a big test for them and a chance to enhance their reputations with myself and [assistant] Phil Parkinson, because we pick the team.

"There have been a couple of things on the training ground this week that have disappointed me in all honesty, but I've also seen a couple of things that have surprised me.

"But I know one thing and that is that the XI that I put out on Sunday will be fully focused and a side that I believe can get us a result."