New investor in place?

'Jimmy Seed' has tweeted that a new investor may be in place. The Australians have had difficulty raising the money need for the purchase and the five year development plan.

Ricky Holmes loses his mojo

It hasn't worked out for former Addick Ricky Holmes at Sheffield United and there are calls to get rid: Falling down the pecking order

However, judging by comments on social media, there is little appetite among Charlton fans for the prodigal's return.

Welcome, Lyle Taylor

Louis Mendez has welcomed the signing of Lyle Taylor from AFC Wimbledon, tweeting 'Obviously Taylor comes on a free which you’d assume may well be the way we’ll have to do our business whilst Roland Duchatelet still owns the club, but a good capture nonetheless.'

Bristol Rovers, Wigan and Sunderland were all interested in signing him.

The 28-year old Greenwich born forward scored 18 goals for Wimbledon last season.

He was Wimbledon's record Football League goal scorer with 44 goals: Career details

Andy Marshall has been appointed as the club's new goalkeeper coach. He was a keeper with Aston Villa and Norwich City.

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.

That takeover transcript in full

The discussion between Roland and the British consortium has been leaked.

'Is that Roland Du Chat Er Lay?'

'C'est moi qui parle. Bon jour.'

'Bon joor. C'est Derek of Trotters Independent Trading of Peckham. I understand that Charlton Athletic is for sale.'

'C'est vrai'.

'Trez bon.I would like to buy it. We have a long association with the club, Charlton being my kid brother Rodney's middle name.'

'But do you have the readies as they say in Angleterre?'

'Yes, we have been doing well with our luxury imported goods down the market recently, so we are flush. How much do you want?'

'It would be 40 for the club and 60 to pay off my debts.'

'A ton? I think we could run to that. Any more than that and I'd have to get the bank involved and I might get accused of money laundering.'

'Then you would be taken to the cleaners' [Roland laughs at own joke]'.

'Does that include Sparrers Lane?'

'That is a problem, there are former directors who have a veto and are being difficult'.

'Do you know where they live? I know a few faces who could go round and have a word and rearrange their faces if needed.'

'That would be good for that prune face Richard Murray.'

'Nice to do business with you.'

'There are also some Australians interested but now we have a top class British entrepreneur with an offer they will have to put up or shut up.'

Welling friendly moved again

First the start of the season Crown Berger cup match between Welling United and Charlton was set for 14th July, then it was moved to the 7th, now it's back to the 14th again: Moveable feast

Quite what this means for a pre-season tour is not clear. First that was off because Roland couldn't afford it, then it was thought to be on again.

Of course, there could be a cut price tour of Bromley, Dulwich Hamlet and Ebbsfleet where one would encounter some former Charlton fans.

Bowyer close to completing two deals

While confusion reigns over the future ownership of the club, Lee Bowyer is doing his best to shore up the playing staff with two signings nearing completion, one aided by a friendship with an agent he used to play with: Close to two signings

The club has announced that Igor Vetokele will return to Sparrows Lane for pre-season training this week. Whether this precedes a sale, another loan or a return to the club remains to be seen.

Richard Cawley of the SLP has tweeted, 'Charltonm set to appoint goalkeeper coach by the time that team report back on Wednesday for pre-season training. Might not be in building for day one but fitness work to start with anyway. Two candidates for the job.'