Has Aussie takeover failed?

Drinking During the Game is one of the longest running Charlton blogs and is to be relied on. They are reporting that the Australians are pulling out of the takeover: Aussies to pull out

The essence of the story is that Roland hasn't been able to get the directors with outstanding loans to play ball. That has stopped him hanging on to The Valley and Sparrows Lane and the Australians have realised that unless they have control of those assets, there is no point in going ahead.

The second British consortium may now come into play, but Drinking During the Game is rightly sceptical about that. From all I have heard, it may be more credible than the Trotters Independent Trading bid, but not by much.

An underlying problem with any bid is the £60m of debt built up by Roland.

Drinking During the Game says that next season now looks like a car crash in slow motion. While I have confidence in Lee Bowyer, he needs players of the right calibre to succeed. A goalkeeper is one priority.

There has been speculation about Southend's well regarded keeper Mark Oxley: Shot stopper. However, he has three years left on his contract at Roots Hall and would cost more than Roland is prepared to pay, even if Chris Powell would let him go.