After a painfully disappointing season in which the club had three different permanent managers, Charlton Athletic fans will be looking for significant changes ahead of the new season.
Under former manager Michael Appleton, the team was on the verge of relegation, but made a significant turnaround near the end of the season, coinciding with the arrival of Nathan Jones.
The Addicks would finish 16th, nine points clear of the relegation zone, but with only one loss in their final 15 games, there is plenty of promise for the future, despite drawing ten of those games.
Nonetheless, there were improvements under Jones, and the London-based club will at the very least aim for a play-off spot next season. Fortunately for them, they boast the league’s best scorer, Alfie May, who scored 23 goals and won the League One Golden Boot. Building a team around the striker is critical to future success, and recruitment will be a hot issue this summer.
Jones has sought to get the ball moving early on, which is not surprising considering that Charlton has known they will be playing in the third division next season for quite some time. They may be able to add someone to their ranks shortly, as the South London Press reports that the club is in talks with Dunfermline defender Josh Edwards.
The 23-year-old was a constant in Dunfermline’s defence this season, starting every Scottish Championship game. Edwards, who is somewhat versatile, has been employed both as a left-back and more up the left-hand side this season, resulting in 11 strong goal contributions. A transfer to League One would be a step up, but considering his age, the defender is anticipated to improve.
He may not be the only one to walk through the doors at The Valley in the coming days, as the same publication reports that the club is in talks with Luton Town’s Luke Berry.
The midfielder made 17 appearances in the top division for the Hatters, two of which were starts, but he is due to be released this summer. It is thought that competition for his signature would be fierce, but the Addicks are now among those interested.
Writer’s View
It’s quite improbable that Charlton will have a season as poor as this one next year, and the crowd is optimistic following a relatively decent end to the season. However, it appears to be a very strong League One renewal, so significant improvements are required if they wish to finish in the top six.
Jones’ first summer window at the club will allow him to make his own judgments rather than inheriting signings.
Both Edwards and Berry would have a spot in the squad and could play important roles if they signed.
They will undoubtedly have other teams interested in them, but Jones’ appeal as a manager, combined with the club’s ambition, may be enough to entice them.
