Cefnogwyr bywiog Charlton yn anelu am Gymru

Wrexham will be automatically promoted if they beat Charlton tomorrow and Wycombe drop points against Orient.   Wrexham captain James McClean [sic] has understandably called it a 'huge' match: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/wrexham-captain-james-mcclean-demands-his-side-deliver-in-huge-league-one-match-against-charlton-athletic/

Wrexham supremo and former Charlton manager Phil Parkinson is said to be 'relaxed' ahead of the encounter, although he looks grim faced in the accompanying photo as if someone has been spotted in the Charlton end in a clown costume: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/enjoy-it-wrexham-boss-parkinson-staying-relaxed-ahead-of-pivotal-league-one-meeting-with-charlton-athletic/

Charlton fans seem to be in an optimistic mood as they prepare to cross the Welsh border and sample the delights of Wrexham.   I had the Wycombe game down as a win at the beginning of the season and this as a 3-1 defeat, but a draw may now be more likely.   However, I don't think one can read the results of this game off the win at Wycombe.

After I congratulated a Burnley fan the other day, he responded 'Good luck in the play offs' and that looks like a realistic call.

CAS Trust preview here: https://www.castrust.org/2025/04/wrexham-showdown/

Parky expects 4-4-2

Phil Parkinson expects Charlton to play 4-4-2 when he brings his table topping Bolton Wanderers side to The Valley tomorrow. He also has given the local Bolton paper further reflections on his time at The Valley: London calling

The CAS Trust preview of the game can be found here: Preview

Odds are: Charlton 7/5, Draw 23/10, Bolton 19/10.

Apparently such was the interest in Charlton's view of the match that no one turned up for the press day. In other news, Charlton chief executive Katrien Meire is reported to have turned up quarter of an hour late for her first FA Council meeting and missed her introduction.

There will be an alternative free programme available tomorrow and many fans now have their special black and white protest shirts.

The prodigal returns

Phil Parkinson returns to The Valley with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday and reflects here on his time at Charlton: Parky

He claims he stabilised the club against a difficult financial background which is fair enough.

Curbs complained about the music

Former pitch announcer 'Big Dave' Lockwood gets a double page spread in the Currant Bun today. He makes clear his dissatisfaction with the current regime at The Valley.

Looking back on his long service since 1993, Dave says, 'Alan Curbishley had me in his office when he was joint manager with Steve Gritt. He told me the music had to be more upbeat. So we changed it and the fans complained.'

Dave started off doing reserve team games and recalls, 'When I started we were in a Portacabin with a disco deck in the corner. The first match was a freezing night in March, so I played "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner as my first song.'

'Phil Parkinson asked me to give a goal to David Mooney because he was low on confidence. I couldn't, it was a blatant own goal, so Parky got the hump with me.' When there was an own goal in the play off semi-final against Swindon, Parky said 'You know what you have to do' and this time Dave obliged.

His best moment was yelling out 'Champions' when we won League One in 2012. His worst moment was trying to be upbeat after losing to Swindon on penalties in the 2011 play offs. His most embarrassing moment was when had to interview two actors who had pretended to have sex in the centre circle for a tacky video made by the club.

Dave notes that the club had a tradition of welcoming back former players, but he was told to stop after he did it for Yann Kermorgant who criticised Rolamd Duchatelet when he left.

The final straw for him was last March, when Roland claimed that protesting fans wanted the team to lose: 'The hardest thing was forcing myself to walk away. In the end I could not continue as a mouthpiece for those running the club. I don't know what Duchatelet's end plan is, but I don't think it would be good for Charlton.'

Parky: Charlton are a 'great club'

Phil Parkinson talks about Charlton in an interview in The Football League Paper today.  He recalls, 'I was quite philosophical after my exit from Charlton.   They were going through a tough time financially and [had] a lot of problems.'

'When the club was sold I didn't expect to be there long.  I was proud to keep their heads above water and we nearly got promoted.   I have a lot of friends there and I wish Chris Powell all the best.  It's a great club behind the scenes and I'm glad to see them doing well.'

'When I left Charlton there was a chance to go to some Legue One clubs, but the challenge of Bradfod appealed to me.'

Challenge is the operative word.   The Bantams are currently third from bottom in League 2 having drawn at home to fellow strugglers Plymouth yesterday.   However, Parky is not worried about them slipping down to the Conference.   He's targeting a return to the Championship which he sees as the natural level for the one time Premiership club.

My favourite memory of a game against Bradford City was when we were both in Division 1 and targeting promotion.   It was a televised game (I still have the video) and the Bantams thought they could do a number on us and settled for all out attack.  We won 4-2: Morts was brilliant that day.

Parky to splash the cash on Benno

Paul Benson is likely to join Bradford City on loan soon.   The League 2 club managed by Phil Parkinson are then prepared to splash the cash on a six figure fee for the striker.   This will be the biggest sum they have paid for a player since the club went into administration in 2002.

Bradford City fans seem less than enthralled by the price that is to be paid: http://www.advertiserseries.co.uk/sport/city/city_news/9371387.Bradford_City_poised_to_splash_the_cash_on_Paul_Benson/

Parky snaps up Reid

Phil Parkinson has 'snapped up' Kyel Reid in his first day in charge at Bradford, he has also confirmed his interest in a reunion with Paul Benson but doesn't think it will be easy to get him, possibly because he does not fancy a move that far 'oop north: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/parkinson_marks_his_city_arrival_with_first_addition_1_3724599

The Cherries now appear to be leading the race for the signature of Ryan Lowe which doesn't fit well with the notion that he wouldn't come to Charlton because of the upheaval it would cause to his family.  Sheffield Wednesday have also expressed interest which would mean that we would face him again next Monday: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/30082011/63/cherries-eye-lowe-move.html

Parky pounces for Benson

New Bradford City Phil Parkinson looks like he is going to pounce for Paul Benson and the Addicks may get less than the £150,000 price tag: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/9220918.Parkinson_appointed_Bradford_City_manager/

Former Charlton player Andy Gray is interviewed and he takes the view that Parkinson did as well as he could in the circumstances as Addicks manager given the club's financial problems at the time.

If Benson does go, we need to get another striker in as cover, but time is running out.