Championship Visit Will Be Short

The board have to take a lot of the blame for our fall this season. The wrong choice of not one but two first team managers has hit us hard and we are now paying the price.


Had it not been for the early season managerial merry-go-round, Charlton Athletic probably wouldn`t be preparing for life in the Coca-Cola Championship next term.

As it is Alan Pardew is likely to have to try to restore top-flight football to The Valley without several of our star players, with Scott Carson already back at Liverpool and Darren Bent and Luke Young both likely to move to Premiership clubs. Add to them the release of Hasselbaink and Hreidarsson`s exit to Pompey plus other departures which are expected within the next week, our first team squad will look very different from this season.

Pardew has already set about reshaping his squad for next season, with Crewe Alexandra`s Luke Varney and Colchester United`s Chris Iwelumo coming in to bolster his striking options. There will be further additions, with Cork City midfielder Joe Gamble (formerly at Reading under Pardew) and Gillingham midfielder Danny Spiller being two of the most recent links. A number of further signings are promised and it would be no surprise were Charlton able to secure a few high quality loan deals, given both Pardew`s contacts and the club`s excellent reputation.

The board are sure to give the manager a decent amount should they agree the sale of Bent, to spend on bolstering the squad and that could be key. With over 16,000 season tickets sold before the end of the last campaign, talented youngsters such as Darren Randolph and Osei Sankofa coming through into the first team and Pardew`s experience in the Championship, Charlton look to be capable of ensuring that their stay in the second tier of English football is only a short one.

As fans we have to stick by Pardew and the board and back whatever decisions they feel are in the clubs best interests. Now is time for change and I`m sure a few fans favourites will leave us over the summer, but as fans we will remain and loyally so.


Keep The Faith