Charlton At Risk Of Losing Key Players
Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has admitted that several key players could be leaving in the summer after the club were relegated from the Championship last Wednesday.
The Addicks fell short of safety by just one point following their 4-0 battering at Elland Road against champions Leeds United, whilst Barnsley grabbed a last-gasp winner at Brentford as they came away 2-1 victors, which will see them stay in the second division for next season.
It is expected that a number of players will be on the move in the summer, with Bowyer already resigning to losing right-back Adam Matthews who is out of contract in a matter of days.
Furthermore, fellow Welshman Tom Lockyer has a relegation release clause in his contract, allowing him to leave the club for free.
Player of the Year Dillon Phillips and Young Player of the Year Alfie Doughty have just 12 months left on their contracts – the latter was subject to a £2 million bid from promotion-chasing Fulham in January.
The club are also set to lose Lewis Page, Ben Amos, Jake Forster-Caskey, Jonny Williams, Tomer Hemed and Naby Sarr, who will all become free agents on August 1. Loan players Josh Cullen, Sam Field, Matt Smith, David Davis, Aiden McGeady and Andre Green have already returned to their parent clubs.
When asked about academy products Phillips and Doughty, Bowyer said: “Of course I don’t want to sell them – but we all know how the game works.
“If someone comes for Dillon, then with your club’s state at the moment are you telling me they are not going to sell him? Of course they will. They are going to sell Alfie as well.
“Tom can leave for nothing – so that’s another one we’re going to lose. Adam Matthews is gone. You’re not going to replace Adam Matthews. He’s been excellent – outstanding. I’ll be amazed if he isn’t playing in the Championship next season. It was the only reason he came to us.
“Where do you start to build [a squad]? You don’t know what you have got to work with”.
Bowyer’s future at the club is also in doubt, having been linked with the vacant positions at Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City.
Charlton were placed under a transfer embargo in January, after the EFL were unsatisfied with the club’s owners East Street Investments and their source of sufficient funds.
It means that they are unable to register new players without going over their budget from last season. Furthermore, they are unable to retain players that are out of contracts next month.
With the current uncertainty surrounding Charlton and it’s future, as well as the manager and several players looking set to depart this summer, you can imagine that there are dark times ahead for the club.
